| What is boutique hotel design, and why does it | | | | - The building - a good boutique design is |
| matter? | | | | sympathetic to the building. Many of these hotels |
| There are fashion trends in hotel design just as | | | | are in older buildings, or buildings that were never |
| there are in other areas. In the late eighties and | | | | meant to be lived in. Matching the design to the |
| through the nineties, that fashion was for clean, | | | | form and function of the building and using its own |
| stark, minimalist design, particularly in city hotels. | | | | internal and external features to shape the design |
| This was such a diversion from the traditional | | | | usually makes for a successful conversion. |
| way that hotels were put together that it | | | | - The location - the design of a city hotel is often |
| attracted a whole new generation of travellers. | | | | very different to that of a beach hotel or a rural |
| It's easy to confuse the minimalist hotel trend | | | | retreat. Including elements of the location in the |
| with the boutique hotel trend, but in fact the two | | | | design is vital if guests are to feel that the hotel is |
| are distinct. Boutique hotels are small, individual | | | | part of the experience of the location. A strong |
| places, that prize attention to design and detail as | | | | understanding of how location affects design is |
| well as outstanding service. Survey all the hotels in | | | | needed to make these hotels work. |
| the world that describe themselves as "boutique" | | | | - Individuality - no boutique hotel is like any other. |
| and only a minority would fall into the minimalist | | | | They draw on a range of influences and that is |
| class. The rest are design-led, but with a wide | | | | immediately apparent when you've stayed in |
| variety of styles that reflect their location, the | | | | several. Rich colours or white walls, stark furniture |
| buildings they occupy and the tastes of their | | | | or cushioned comfort - it's all up to the individuality |
| owners. | | | | of the owner. |
| The beauty of good design | | | | Boutique design matters because it's what |
| It's often said that good design is timeless. It's | | | | distinguishes these hotels from the run-of-the-mill |
| also the case that good design can transform an | | | | competition. It's essential that they're all different, |
| ordinary hotel into a great one. The challenge, and | | | | but that they uphold three basic principles - |
| ultimately the skill, is in choosing a design that | | | | creative design, attention to detail and great |
| works both for the owner and for the guest, and | | | | service. |
| that means a number of considerations: | | | | |