Hotels have always held a unique place in the interior design space, part residential, part commercial, they operate under a banner of their own when it comes to how far they can stretch the aesthetic imagination.
Surely we all remember the first time we got to experience a hotel room, or even an Airbnb, that made us want to strip away the walls of our own home and start again. Where everything from the paint colour, to the crockery, set off sparks of inspiration that continued on long after the stay was over.
From lobbies that make you want to linger longer and retro resorts, to pied-à-terres bursting with small-space inspiration, book a stay in any of these interior design hotels and you’ll be leaving with a lot more than just a good night’s sleep.
The Best Hotels For Interior Design Inspiration
Ammamead House
Byron Bay
Best for: Fans of Melbourne-based design firm Flack Studio
Byron’s new art and design-led accommodation offering, Ammamead House, has recently opened its luxurious doors to the public. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom dwelling has been masterfully curated by Flack Studio, who worked with the owners to source all the furniture and art, meaning you’ll find original works from the likes of Tom Polo, Lindy Lee and Nadia Hernandez, adorning the walls.
Throughout the holiday home, lovers of 20th century design will find endless inspiration with statement lighting and a pair of Albizzate lounge chairs sourced from Nicolas & Alistair of Melbourne, among other iconic pieces from Space Furniture and Anibou. Venture outside where guests are treated to four distinct daybed zones, an in-ground heated pool, outdoor shower and alfresco entertainment area, decorated with pops of primary colours across the generous lounge area.
Key features:
- Four bedrooms
- Heated outdoor pool
- Sleeps eight people
- Optional concierge service
- Leif toiletries
Sea Sea Hotel
Crescent Head, NSW
Best for: Seventies style with a contemporary surf-inspired edge
Sea Sea might be located in a sleepy surf town, but there’s nothing tired about this vibey resort-style escape, trust us. Owners George and Cisco Gorrow – the duo behind Bali’s luxe lodging, The Slow, have designed a 25-room boutique bolthole made for switching off in style. Guest suites and communal areas take their design cues from airy Balinese villas and the local surf culture, with ’70s-inspired materiality and artisan-produced furniture throughout. Whether you’re into surfing or not, the laid-back allure of the communal surf club and hi-fi audio lounge will be impossible to resist. Outdoors there’s a large heated pool for the wave-averse, as well as a sauna and ice baths for those who like their holidays with a sprinkling of health. Each space is a masterclass in retro-style relaxation with an aesthetic edge that you bet we’ll be adding every inch of to our interiors moodboard.
Key features:
- Multiple lodgings
- Communal surf club
- Hi-fi audio lounge for live music
- Heated outdoor pool, fireplace, sauna and ice bath
- Free parking
The Hoxton Poblenou
Barcelona
Best for: Modern Mediterranean with a Scandi twist
If you’ve been to any of The Hoxton hotels – across any of its global locations – you’ll know the accommodation offerings are a design destination in their own right, with the Poblenou outpost being no exception. From the lobby to the restaurants and every inch in between, the 240-room interior design hotel is an ode to the sun-drenched streets of its Spanish locale, with terracotta flooring, sculptural accents and a serene yet vibrant colour palette that hints at the abstract architecture that surrounds.
The suites are all standalone design successes, but if you get the chance to check into the Roomy (Tub), Homey, or Homey (Up) suites then you are in for bathing bliss -see above for proof. Each luxuriously appointed suite includes a bathroom that might be considered bigger than most people’s apartments back home, with a freestanding bath, walk-in shower and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer unbeatable Barcelona views and some serious interior design inspiration.
Key features:
- Outdoor rooftop pool
- Free parking
- Free WiFi
- Family rooms
- 24-hour front desk
- 15km from Barcelona El Prat Airport and 1 minute from the metro
Hotel Bella Grande
Copenhagen
Best for: Nostalgic Nordic charm mixed with Italian grandeur
Copenhagen is renowned for timeless and sophisticated design and its latest opening, Hotel Bella Grande, offers it up in spades. Located in an historic building right next to City Hall Square, the 109-room interior design-led hotel is boutique at its best with luxe suites amenity spaces decorated with a mix of iconic pieces and elegant finishes. While the guest rooms are refined retreats, the central courtyard is a feast for the senses, serving up Italian fare in its restaurant with a side of aesthetic extravagance.
Rust and white marble checkerboard floor tiles form the base for a scattering of intimately rounded booths clad in oak and patterned upholstery, while off to the side an ornate galley-style dining area glows from within with sugary pink walls, cherry red ceilings and lush rose-coloured velvet tub chairs. If you’re looking for a stay to knock your aesthetic socks off, then look no further than one of the best interior design hotels in the city.
Key features:
- Free WiFi
- Family rooms
- 24-hour front desk
- Fitness centre
- On site dining
- Excellent location just 7km from Copenhagen airport
Camilo House
Mornington Peninsula, VIC
Best for: Mid-century-inspired barefoot luxury
Overlooking the raw beauty of the Bass Strait coastline, Camilo House is located in Blairgowrie on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, where it feels a world away from the rustic beach shacks or Hamptons-style mega mansions it sits among. But don’t get us wrong – there’s always a place for that style of home when you’re looking to escape – but there’s something about the mid-century magic of this contemporary charmer that takes our breath away. Maybe it’s the ultra-modern finishes swathed in vivid shades of pink and deep reds, or perhaps it’s the mix of vintage finds and bespoke furnishings expertly curated by owner Clare Hillier, that makes it such a design-lovers standout. Either way, this holiday home was dreamt up to delight anyone looking for interiors inspiration in every way possible.
Aside from its good looks, the property is just steps away from Blairgowrie’s back beach and sand dunes, a 10-minute drive from the Alba Thermal Springs, or, if a gourmet getaway is more your speed, then the wines available at one of 50 cellar doors within 30 minutes of Camillo, will be just what the doctor ordered.
Key features:
- Three bedrooms
- Free parking
- Self check-in
- Beach access
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
