In The Cool Air

As we enter the ninth month of the year and the nights draw in, we are making the most of our outdoor spaces. When designing our London and New York hotels, we are conscious of utilising outdoor space and we always aim to create spaces where you can enjoy fresh air, relax and connect with nature in the midst of these bustling cities. Here are some examples of how we have designed our outdoor spaces, where space is often limited.

These charming street lamps outside Charlotte Street Hotel are vintage and have become part of the hotel’s character which is located in the heart of London’s Bloomsbury. We gave special attention to these lamps and stripped back the paint to their original colour and repaired delicate details that had been damaged over time. They frame the hotel entrance with its iconic flag that welcomes guests. We think this makes a perfect spot for a romantic date!

You can also take a seat on the outdoor dining terrace to enjoy seasonal menus from Oscar Bar & Restaurant. It’s the perfect way to enjoy fine cuisine whilst watching the world go by.

Covent Garden Hotel is rich with history and used to be a ‘dispensaire’ in the 1890’s. Set back from a cobbled street, this hotel exudes English charm. Find a spot under the striped awnings, in between green leafy potted trees. There are decorative ladders on each side of the entrance which are adorned with seasonal foliage, bringing nature to the heart of Covent Garden.

When designing The Orangery at The Whitby Hotel, we wanted to create a feeling of being outdoors. Large Crittal windows and doors connect the space to a leafy courtyard and light from The Orangery travels throughout the hotel’s public spaces.

As you step down and into the Terrace at Crosby Street Hotel, you’ll find an outdoor oasis with a planted tree in the centre. Spot the sculptural rocket light in the corner and the beautiful Moroccan lanterns we have placed at different heights. Timber slatted planters are a great way to block out any loud street noises too.

Arrive at Crosby Street Hotel and you’ll find a sculptural teak bench in the lobby, dressed with plants and friendly dog sculptures. It is an example of how outdoor furniture can be used effectively indoors too. Using natural materials indoors can be an effective way to create texture. Here the untreated organic teak has turned into a beautiful silvery grey. Nearby, a mythical stone beast is playfully celebrated and brought to life by adding a necklace of golden flowers.

At the centre of the hotel is The Sculpture Garden. A quiet sanctuary for residents and their guests, we have created areas to allow different clusters of people to meet. The space encompasses a variety of materials including driftwood table legs, decorative driftwood globes, marble tables, as well as concrete chairs designed to look like branches and lightweight, portable metal chairs.

Return to London and find an array of textures and materials in Number Sixteen’s Garden. To create a successful garden, it helps to have architectural and sculptural features. Here we added a slate circle by Tom Stogdon, which stands out beautifully against a curtain of laurel. It’s a real sanctuary at any time of day.

When building Ham Yard Hotel, planting four oak trees in the courtyard was one of the first things we did. They had to be lifted into place by crane.

We wanted Ham Yard’s Orangery to evoke a feeling of outdoors and the furniture, potted trees, pebble mosaic floors and Crittal windows all help to accomplish this.

A funicular structure creates shelter on Ham Yard Hotel’s Roof Terrace where woven basket lights hang at different heights. This outdoor space is another opportunity for us to use our indoor / outdoor textiles and earlier this year, we celebrated the launch of our collection with Annie Selke in London here, adorning the Roof Terrace with some of the collections’ 38 rugs and 28 accessories.

At our recent commercial office project Richmond Buildings, an outdoor terrace is complete with a fountain and herb garden. You’ll find plenty of seating beneath a veranda which pivots to allow the perfect amount of sunshine through.

Whenever we design an outdoor space and wherever that space may be, outdoor heating is a must! As the season starts to change, you can enjoy outdoor dining all year round at our hotels with outdoor heating and warm blankets to stay warm and cosy.

We recently introduced new cushions from our Annie Selke collection including our Always Greener Pink/Orange Indoor/Outdoor decorative pillows. Woven with sun, rain, dog and child-proof yarns, these cushions were born to be outside!

We always marvel at the magnificent petrified tree trunk and our quirky ceramic bird bath never fails to bring us cheer!

Thank you for exploring our outdoor spaces from London to New York and we hope these examples will give you ideas for how to make the most of your outdoor spaces.