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