BOUTIQUE HOTEL SUSSEX

When I was approached to design this boutique hotel within a Regency-listed building, the brief was to honour its history while creating something that still felt luxurious and inviting. Working within a tighter budget meant every decision had to be considered, but that’s often where the most creative solutions come from.

I built the scheme around a palette true to the Regency era—soft, elegant tones that create a timeless backdrop. From there, I layered in chinoiserie fabrics across drapery, upholstery, and cushions, adding pattern, richness, and that sense of quiet opulence the client was after.

One of the most important elements was preserving the building’s original features. The exposed beams and wood floors were carefully restored and celebrated throughout, bringing warmth and authenticity, especially when paired with more refined, decorative details.

I sourced antique furniture and accessories to give each room its own story—ornate mirrors, vintage lighting, and layered pieces that feel collected over time rather than styled all at once.

The result is a hotel that feels deeply rooted in its history but still comfortable and elevated—proof that with thoughtful design, you can create something truly luxurious, even within constraints.

A bedroom with a bed featuring a gray tufted headboard, blue nightstands with brass lamps, a brown tufted sofa with striped pillows, green walls, and gray carpet.
A bedroom with a bed, orange velvet sofa, blue nightstands, a fireplace with a decorative mirror above, and a green accent wall.
Two teal velvet armchairs with yellow pillows on either side of a small round gold side table with a potted plant, in front of a window with gray curtains in a cozy living room.
A bedroom with a beige upholstered headboard, yellow and patterned throw pillows, and two blue bedside tables with brass lamps, against a green wall.
A cozy bedroom with a bed covered in white and beige linens, neatly folded towels, a yellow velvet headboard, and yellow pillows. The room has green walls, a fireplace with decorative tiles, a large mirror above it, and modern furniture including a blue chest of drawers, a wooden armoire, and two blue velvet chairs with yellow pillows. A side table with a plant and a bottle is near the window, which has gray curtains. The room is well-lit by natural light.
A vintage fireplace with a black cast iron insert, decorative ceramic tiles, and a white wooden mantel shelf, topped with a large ornate gold-framed mirror, in a room with mint green walls.
Modern bathroom with a glass shower enclosure fit with teal tiles, a white bathtub, a large mirror above a white sink, and a chrome towel radiator.
White freestanding bathtub with a towel hanging over its front, set on a dark braided base in a rustic bathroom with wooden and light-colored walls.
A neatly made bed with a padded gray headboard against a green wall, flanked by two blue nightstands with gold bedside lamps, and towels arranged on the bed.
Living room with green walls, a gold framed mirror above a white fireplace, a mustard velvet tufted loveseat, potted plants, a wooden armoire, and a wall-mounted flat screen TV.
A neatly made bed with a tufted beige headboard, decorative pillows with striped and floral patterns, and a light-colored striped bedspread in a room with a green wall.
A bedroom with a large bed covered in striped bedding and multiple pillows, two blue armchairs with striped pillows near two windows, a wooden wardrobe, a small round table with a wine bottle and glasses, and a green wall with gray curtains.
A neatly made bed with a beige tufted headboard, striped and floral pillows, a white bedspread, and a white towel on the bed. Next to the bed is a dark teal nightstand with four drawers and a brass adjustable desk lamp.
Living room with green walls, white fireplace mantel, black fireplace insert, large gold-framed mirror above the mantel, two potted plants on the mantel, gold bar cart with a wine bottle and glasses to the left of the fireplace, and carpeted floor.
Bathroom with teal tiled shower, white toilet, white sink, potted plant, chair with floral cushion, and wooden flooring.
A vintage wooden chair with a floral cushioned seat placed next to a radiator, in front of a bathtub with a glass shower door and teal tiled wall, in a bathroom.
Bedroom with a bed, two towel sets, and pillows, a pair of orange chairs by a large window with curtains, a mounted flat-screen TV, and a frosted glass door.
A neatly made bed with a padded gray headboard, decorated with light blue floral and striped pillows, and white towels placed on the bed. Beside the bed, there are small tables with gold lamps and green plants. A large ornate gold mirror hangs on the wall above a black radiator, with a white wall and a window with gray curtains in the room.
A cozy seating area with two orange tufted armchairs, white pillows, a round gold and glass side table with a potted plant, and a large window with gray curtains, overlooking rooftops and trees.
A neatly made bed with pillows and towels in a cozy bedroom, with a mirror and window with curtains, and an orange armchair.
Modern shower with blue tiles, a glass door, and a white sink with soap dispensers.
A modern shower with blue tiled walls, a metal shower head, and a clear glass door. The shower has wood-like flooring and a drain at the bottom.