A Guide to Hotel Design Pt 8: With Drawer

Having dealt with three of the four main criteria in a hotel bedroom I wasn’t sure where to go next. The three so far – a good bed, a room with blackout and a room that is quiet – are so essential that they select themselves. The fourth is a good bathroom but that takes me out of the bedroom and I’m not finished there yet. If this guide is to work it has logically to look at the different areas in turn. Of course there are bits that should be mentioned in passing, so let’s dispose of two of them now.

Firstly cleanliness. It doesn’t matter which inspection body you look at they will, like the AA Guide available in our download area, tell you that the prime requirement of any hotel at any level is that it should be clean. In my travels I have found biscuits stuffed down the side of chair seats, knickers left under beds, pubic hairs in baths, and even semen stains on bed throws. In every case I have made a nuisance of myself, and moved room or hotels. So above all else housekeeping and housekeepers are of prime importance in an hotel. Why then are they the lowest paid staff?

Secondly star ratings. I deliberately am not going to look at these until the end of this series as these are so variable as standards, and awarded everywhere in such a corrupt way – yes in the UK too before the majority of my readers start saying it couldn’t happen here. I will however be discussing these as we move through the various areas of the hotel, just drawing them together in my own rating guide at the end.

Right, so what comes next in the bedroom? We have a good bed specification, a guide for creating blackout and some rules for ensuring the room is quiet. Our guest has arrived, bounced on the bed, inspected the bathroom (q.v.), looked out the window and now turns to their luggage. Here your research into the likely guest profile conducted as a part of defining the brief for the designer will start to pay off. If the guest is a business traveller they will probably first of all put their laptop on the desk. If someone with a family is arriving for a break, they will start to unpack.

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.