Sneak peek: the Montcalm Mayfair recultivated

Stepping up to the Georgian doorway of the Montcalm Mayfair, this sneak peek tour of the ‘sensitive luxury’ property briefly felt like an exposé; the hotel’s grade-II listed façade gives no hint of the sweeping transformation known to have been undertaken inside, or of the significant building works still ongoing. A testament to the sensitive craftsmanship of award-winning architecture firm Holland Harvey, and the creative synergy of several design studios, internally, the hotel is totally reimagined.

Image caption: Render of the public space | Image credit: Montcalm Mayfair

Starting from the outside and looking in, an almost invisible extension blends with the building’s traditional mansard roof to give space for 15 additional guest rooms and suites, to bring the hotel’s total room count to 150. All guest rooms are now home to floor-to-ceiling glazing too, which mirrors the sash style of the façade’s existing listed windows, and maximises natural daylight to great success — even on a grey January day, the guest rooms were warm and bright.

All guest room interiors have been thoughtfully designed by Studio Mica to beautifully complement the Montcalm Mayfair’s panoptical botanical theme. Feeding this aesthetic, the background tones of the bedrooms are warm and earthy and include beige, mushroom and taupe tones. During the hard hat tour, the bedroom furniture was yet to be placed, but renders offer visions of terracotta and mossy green furnishings to complete the look.

Earthen colourways also flow into the guest bathrooms, where herringbone marble tiles line the walls, bronze fittings add warmth, and dual Laufen hand basins and Penhaligon’s amenities each help to deliver the ‘spathroom‘ effect.

Not yet installed, but exciting nonetheless, Culture A, who began researching for this Montcalm project in 2022, has curated more than 800 pieces of antique, modern and contemporary artworks for the Montcalm Mayfair. Currently part way through its renovations, an art wall in the hotel’s new lobby will feature the work of London-based fine art artists.

Image caption: Render of the bar | Image credit: Montcalm Mayfair

The lobby, public bar and restaurant spaces, once made up of several walled off rooms, have now been opened up to form one vast ground floor space. Cleverly designed by the Louise East-founded Studio Est, each area retains its individualism while encouraging guests to glide between them. These now light-filled public areas, described by Louise as a “real labour of love”, are incredibly sophisticated — there isn’t a spot in the space that hasn’t been considered.

Image caption: Render of the restaurant area | Image credit: Montcalm Mayfair

The most advanced spaces in the redesign, bespoke furniture, joinery, lighting, and a hand-painted ceiling mural adorn the public areas, to delicately marry the hotel’s botanical theme and give an exciting glimpse of what is to come from the final product as a whole. Rich, natural, earthy tones come through in organic materials: oak, marble and brass, and are brought to life with pieces designed and produced by social-impact businesses, such as hand-made, naturally felled-wood furniture from Goldfinger Factory, and embroidered linen accessories made by refugee artists through SEP Jordan.

The hotel bar is an impressive focal point at the hotel’s heart, with a beautifully illuminated, curved, fluted glass gantry. While a 150-shade sculptural chandelier, an ode to a blossoming flower, takes centre stage in the restaurant area which will serve afternoon tea and the soon-to-be-named chef’s menu.

Image caption: Render of a bedroom in the Botanical Suite | Image credit: Montcalm Mayfair

Also new with the redesign are three signature suites, including the standout ground floor Botanical Suite. Offering a private street entrance for ultimate seclusion, this suite is ideal for those seeking complete privacy or a residency-esque retreat. Accommodating up to four guests with its two double bedrooms, the Botanical Suite is thoughtfully designed for extended stays and features an open-plan lounge and dining area, complete with wet bar.

All in all, the Montcalm Mayfair — even under the dust sheets and building materials that remain — looks to be a fresh re-addition to London’s hotel scene. Combining current trends like biophilic, locally and historically-inspired design, and conscious or ‘sensitive’ luxury, I look forward to seeing the completed redesign in March, when the subterranean Studio Est spa will also be nearing completion.

Main image credit: Montcalm Mayfair