A classic fairytale updated

150 150 Daniel Fountain
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JOI-Design has recently renovated the public areas of the Hotel Landhaus Wachtelhof, a fivestar superior hotel nestled amongst green forests, flowing rivers and wild meadows in the heart of the German state, Niedersachsen.A modern-day castle originally constructed in the 1980s, for over a quarter of a century this family-run grand hotel close to the hub of Rotenburg has been warmly welcoming guests with its personalised and sophisticated touch. Now it presents itself in a new light, with every nook inviting guests to feel at home within the luxurious and exquisitely comfortable and setting.

The picturesque landscape, the quails which inspired the namesake of this country estate and the provenance of its site – a former tannery – all influenced the designer’s concept for the new interiors. An intricate tapestry of the traditional and the modern translates the quiet beauty of the surrounding forests with a meticulous attention to detail.

The bright, open lobby and reception form a welcoming area for guests to gather and ‘kick back’ in comfort. A calm palette of warm earthy hues and finely textured surfaces evokes the hotel’s pastoral locale and sets the mood – here is a place intended for relaxed enjoyment away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Smart new sofas, club chairs and poufs accommodate guests varied seating preferences and are complemented by occasional tables fashioned from burnished metal tops and tinted glass bases, all of which are placed on strié carpeting with delicate tone-on-tone floral motifs.

A fireside bar located between the lobby and restaurant has at its heart an impressive rustic stone fireplace with logs stacked below and sumptuous armchairs arranged in readiness for cosy indoor evenings. Accent lighting from tall floor lamps and artfully arranged candles adds to the inviting ambience.

The restaurant ‘Die Wachtelei’, or ‘The Quail Egg’, is an attractive light-filled space serving seasonal cuisine with regional accents that draws gourmands from near and far. The designers have refreshed the décor, transforming the restaurant into a stylish dining room with contemporary furnishings chosen to complement the classic interior style. Modern glass lamps reflect the shimmering sunlight, while artwork that alludes to the destination’s avian muse and woodlands encourages diners to linger over a leisurely meal.

Daniel Fountain / 25.06.2014

Editor, Hotel Designs

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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.

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