Hotel specialist Richmond International has worked with Grosvenor and acclaimed London restaurateurs Corbin & King to convert a former Mayfair car garage into a five-star bespoke hotel.
The Beaumont, Jeremy King and Chris Corbin’s first hotel, will open in Autumn 2014. Richmond International has been commissioned to design the interiors, encapsulating the elegance, glamour and personalised hospitality of pre-war Mayfair. The Beaumont will offer 73 rooms, including 23 suites; a 100-seater classic grill room restaurant; American bar; private residents’ bar & lounge; boardroom and a spa, including a traditional hammam and treatment areas, as well as a resident’s gym.
The interior design has been realised by Fiona Thompson, principal of Richmond International, and her team, in close collaboration with Jeremy King, ReardonSmith Architects and Grosvenor. As with all Richmond projects, the interior is inspired by the building and its surroundings. Originally built as a car garage in 1926, and occupied by Avis Rent-A-Car until 2010, this Grade-II Listed building by famed 20’s architects Wimperis & Simpson offers a pure Art Deco style.
Overall, Richmond International’s design challenge was to create the ultimate 1920s inspired hotel, to capture the charm and excitement of the Art Deco era. Much research was carried out into materials, patterns and textures, in order to create a detailed and accurate evocation of the uniquely rich aesthetics of the time. Inspired by original Art Deco buildings all around Europe, Richmond’s interiors for The Beaumont pays homage to this first truly cosmopolitan and international design movement.
Antique and vintage pieces, as well as original works of art, posters and photographs sourced over the years by Corbin & King are placed throughout the public spaces and suites of the hotel. Richmond International have also worked with a number of selected, independent, high-quality makers, mostly based in the UK, for the creation of bespoke furniture.
Floor-to-ceiling steel windows run the full width of the building and the main Lobby and reception features a checked black granite and gold travertine floor and curved back wall in cherry leading through to the bar and restaurant beyond.
Food and beverage areas are an integral part of the hotel, with The Colony Grill Room and the American Bar forming the central hub. The classic Grill Room is on two levels, surrounded by specially commissioned murals and an eclectic collection of artworks, with an ornamental stained-glass roof light overhead, featuring linear geometric panes. The seating area features blood-red leather banquettes, 1930s bentwood and studded chairs. Behind a partition of rosy reeded glass panels, visitors will find the American Bar, adorned warm, bespoke period furniture in deep, dark browns.
The Cub Room, is a bar and lounge exclusively for the use of the hotel guests, and features a small bar, with the walls and ceilings lined in a European cherry wood with strips of bronze, a hand-made Art Deco carpet in taupe and brown, and a varied mix of original and bespoke chairs.
Inspired by the Turkish Baths at the quintessentially British membership club, Royal Automobile Club in London’s Pall Mall, and by the iconic New York YMCA late 19th Century building, the Hammam and Spa is dressed in small black and white marble mosaics, a circular marble plunge pool back with small silver tiles, heated relaxation slab, two treatment rooms, and a relaxation area.
The bedrooms and suites exude luxury in pure, but softer Art Deco style, with polished rosewood wardrobes and sliding room partitions, timber headboards, bronze mirroring, mohair velvet chairs, bespoke, geometric wool carpets, bronze handles and original of-the-period artwork and photography.
Marble, chrome and glass feature heavily throughout the bathrooms, floors with black and white marbled mosaics creating geometric patterns, and ceilings featuring elegant Art Deco lighting.
The Presidential Suite is located on the top floor. A sophisticated and comfortable ambience has been achieved with patterned silk curtains, handmade rugs and period antique furniture; the room is completed with lacquered white panelling, with feature brass inlays and parquet timber flooring.
A particular feature of the hotel is Antony Gormley’s ROOM, a suite in the form of an inhabitable sculpture by the artist. The steel figure was unveiled in June 2014, and overlooks Brown Hart Gardens in the heart of Mayfair.
Richmond Principal, Fiona Thompson said:
“The brief was to take the hotel back to the Art Deco roots of the original building. As the hotel is in the heart of Mayfair, we felt it was important to create an environment with a level of indulgence and richness of culture that would speak to any visitor. We have used a rich palette of colours and materials, geometric shapes and elegant, timeless pieces to capture the luxurious glamour and exuberance of this visual and influential period.”
HCE
HCE are one of the UK’s leading suppliers of commercial kitchens, specialising in the undertaking of projects in a variety of fields. Clients can range from small cafes, restaurants and schools right up to high quality projects such as The Savoy, The Bulgari Hotel, The Shangri La at the Shard and Ascot Grandstand to name but a few.
The firm, which has been in operation for an impressive 30 years, has recently been involved in The Beaumont Hotel project, located in Mayfair. We caught up with Jon Greep, HCE’s Managing Director, to find out more about the company’s involvement in the development.
He said: “At The Beaumont Hotel we undertook the supply, installation and commissioning of the kitchens and bars at the hotel. The kitchens were designed by Sefton Horn Winch to a high grade specification.
“It was important for us to be involved with this project to maintain our involvement with prestigious top quality hotels, as well as working with great consultants and to continue our successful working relationship with Chorus. This has enabled us to maintain our top quality service to high level clients.”
When asked what the firm prides itself on, Jon answered:
“We have a great team at HCE. The key is communication. Our project management and engineering teams ensure that we constantly deliver client expectations to a high standard in accordance with, or ahead of, programme.”
