The Chess Hotel, Paris, France

With a recent spate of high profile launches – that includes New York’s lavish Baccarat Hotel – to their names, it seems Paris-based design duo Patrick Gilles & Dorothée Boissier have firmly cemented their standing within the hospitality world. Back in their hometown, their latest project is a monochrome concept for the The Chess Hotel, the fifth property from local group La Compagnie Hôtelière de Bagatelle. Expressing their affinity for sleek, clean lines and plush materials, the public spaces are a bold statement of polished checkerboard floors and daring graphic murals, dotted with distinct custom furnishings. While in contrast, the guestrooms are haven of soothing oaks and marble in understated neutral tones. The lack of restaurant is more than made up for by the hotel’s high tea, which serves an indulgent selection of Mariage Frères blends and Popelini choux pastries, making it an excellent rest stop after exploring the storied halls of Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, located mere minutes away.