Nestled among upmarket Belgravia residential blocks and embassy buildings, behind a bland 1970s façade, is the surprising and luxurious boutique hotel ‘Belgraves London’. The first hotel outside of the US for the Thompson Hotel Group, Belgraves offers the intimate appeal of a private club combined with chic city design that brings a touch of Brooklyn to Belgravia.With interior design by Tara Bernerd & Partners, Belgraves has a New York loft feel inside with exposed brick walls, casual-cool doormen and an alluring glass-fronted fire. The hotel facilities combine New York attitude with British hospitality. These include a bar with cigar terrace – framed with green walls of flowers, a lobby lounge complete with plush seating and library, private dining or meeting space for up to 22 guests and a state-of-the-art gym. Eclectic dining, fusing Mediterranean, Californian and Australian influences, is provided by Sophie Mitchell – Britain’s youngest female executive chef, in the Pont St. hotel restaurant.
The 85 rooms, including 14 suites, are spacious and glamorous with wide-plank hardwood floors and sleek contemporary lines warmed by rich textures from grey wool, purple velvet and eclectic artworks. The bathrooms are clad with Arabescato marble and feature dark wood vanity units with smoked glass tops and brass beaded curtains along the glazed wall that divides bathroom and bedroom. The brassware and showers that ensure guests enjoy a pampering and refreshing experience in the bathroom are from German specialist Hansgrohe.
Axor Citterio was the collection of choice for the opulent bathroom of the 70m2 Penthouse. Created by internationally renowned architect and designer, Antonio Citterio, Axor Citterio is characterised by a strong geometric design with gleaming, perfectly crafted surfaces. First launched in 2003, its harmonious combination of straight angular edges next to rounded curves have suceeded in elevating this collection to a global design classic for the bathroom that works equally well in traditional and contemporary settings. The 3-hole basin mixer with cross-handles make an elegant statement on the Penthouse wash basin and the handles are easy to grip and turn. The same cross-handle design is echoed in the luxurious shower area and is joined by another celebrated Axor designer, Philippe Starck.
Uncompromising minimalism and modularity are the two principles behind the Axor ShowerCollection with Philippe Starck. Square shower modules, 12 x 12cm in size, can be positioned singly or in groups in order to provide luxurious showering wherever needed. In the case of the Belgraves London Penthouse bathroom, four modules provide stylish and invigorating body showers. Fitted flush in the ceiling above, the matching 24 x 24cm overhead shower interprets the same basic principle of the square to deliver a refreshing downpour.
The accompanying hand shower in the Penthouse and other hotel bathrooms is the popular Raindance S100 Air. Using pioneering Hansgrohe technology which infuses water with air, the resulting Air Power delivers a voluminous spray that envelopes the body and feels like natural rain. Available in various sizes and models with multiple spray options, there are also overhead versions of Raindance used througout the hotel for a luxurious shower experience.
Metris S from Hansgrohe is found in the bathrooms of the 44m2 Studio Suite and 51m2 Thompson Suite. Created by the studio of Phoenix Design, the single-lever basin mixer is minimalist in its design with clean and exact lines. The horizontal control lever (pin handle) represents a back-to-the-basics ergonomic design that maximises user comfort. Complementary pieces from the same range are specified throughout the hotel, including the 4-hole rim-mounted bath and shower mixer on the Studio Suite bath tub.
With the quality of the bathroom ranking highly as a priority for hotel guests, Belgraves London made the decision to install fittings that ensure reliable performance and timeless design.
Expert interior design including sympathetic lighting schemes ensure the bathrooms all feel inviting and special. In the Studio Suite, the marble-clad bath is surrounded on three sides by windows affording stunning views across the Belgravia rooftops – surely the epitomy of city hotel bathroom luxury.
