HOTEL TO HOME
22 ways to bring five-star style home.
22 ways to bring five-star style home.
YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE
when the hotel you’ve checked into is a destination unto itself. Why not enjoy that pampered feeling all year round at home? The hectic holidays are the perfect time to introduce luxe hotel details throughout the house. “Hotel style is the art of creating a simple and elegant decor, with little touches to ensure comfort and to please the senses,” says Montreal designer Frédric Clairoux. Every detail is considered, nothing is left to chance. “It’s about creating a cozy environment when you walk in the door after an hour spent in traffic.” So take a trip around the house and use these tips to make your home a dream destination.
1 LUXE LOBBY
Hotels splurge on lobbies to make a grand style statement. Bright (but not blinding) light and a fixture that wows set the tone for the decor to come and increases functionality. Plus, no more fumbling for car keys on your way out the door.
2 IN THE DETAILS
Give polish to your rooms with a fresh floral arrangement. Flowers are an indulgent little luxury that’s a necessity in fine hotels, says Montreal designer Denis Bourgeois: “With natural flowers, the space is fragrant, and looks chic and refined.”
3 MAKE AN ENTRANCE
Hotels know that first impressions last. Ensure the front door area is decked out with seasonal greenery and well-lit with light fixtures that enhance the architecture of your home. In a condo, if allowed, enhance your entry door with a fresh or faux wreath.
4 WELCOME HOME
Smart space-saving storage in the entryway is a must to recreate that calm, uncluttered feeling you get when you walk into a well-appointed hotel suite. Consider a narrow console with a tray or bowl for small items, and a bench or pretty chair where you can put on your shoes.
5 FINE DINING
Pull out your best linens and china to create a more formal table that captures five-star style.
6 SWEET SEATS
Fine hotel dining is an experience beyond what’s on the menu. Comfort is paramount; choose gorgeous, cushiony chairs that invite you to linger and relax.
7HIT THE LIGHTS
Hotel dining-room lighting always makes a confident style statement, so don’t be afraid to go bold. Also, layer lighting by including multiple sources: an overhead pendant or chandelier for overall lighting; wall sconces to wash the walls with soft, romantic light; and candlelight for a flicker of glamour. Remember to use bulbs that give a warm glow, and keep everything on dimmers.
8 ON FIRE
Just like a hotel bar, a streamlined, modern gas fireplace creates a loungy mood at home.
9 BOUTIQUE STYLE
Long gone are the days when hotel style meant depersonalized, neutral decor. Boutique hotels, Airbnbs and private clubs are all about a distinctive look. Think of your favourite destination hotel and introduce a wallpaper, colour palette or artwork inspired by it that also communicates your style in a confident way.
10 A BOLD MOVE
Introduce a feature that gets people talking and makes you smile when you see it: dare to go dark with an indigo ceiling, a statement rug, or wall panels upholstered in a fab pattern.
11 ENTERTAIN ME
Every luxe hotel has a memorable lounge. Set up a record player with a good collection of jazz, stock a vintage bar cart, and group furnishings to enhance conversation. “Think about choosing a playlist that won’t steal the show when entertaining,” says Denis Bourgeois.
12 ROOM TO BREATHE
Key to hotel style is eliminating clutter – including the kind that comes from too much furniture. Curate your furnishings and limit accessories. “Everything must have its place, so that the room breathes,” says Bourgeois.
13 ROOM SERVICE
You might not be able to ring for a personal butler or room service, but the next best thing is a tray set up on a dresser with a beverage centre for bleary-eyed coffee making and a glass decanter of fresh water. Want to go deluxe? Add a small fridge in your dressing area or master bath for cream and milk, juice and maybe a bottle of wine.
14 BESTDRESSED WINDOWS
When it’s time to sleep in, classic hotel window treatments can’t be beat. Wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling draperies give you the classic hotel look – go for a fabric with block-out lining and add an airy sheer to filter daylight.
15 PERCHANCE TO DREAM
Dreaming of the crisp, ironed linens that impressed you at your favourite inn? Splurge on quality linens that will instantly transport you to dreamland. Even if you don’t iron your sheets, spritz them with a linen spray for a hit of just-laundered scent. A mattress topper and new pillows each year will add to that just-been-made feel.
16 BED MATES
Bedside sconces or a pair of pendants are functional and enhance the room’s decor. Opt for a pair with adjustable settings that are easily reachable before you nod off.
17TREAD SOFTLY
In traditional-style hotel rooms, quality carpeting adds softness underfoot, keeps the room warm and helps to buffer sounds.
18 TRÈS, TRAY CHIC
Splurge on your favourite toiletries in attractive containers and display them on a small tray, then banish all other products out of sight. Controlling clutter in the bathroom is key.
19 HELLO, GORGEOUS!
Go for glamour in the bathroom and install huge mirrors or even a mirrored wall behind the sink. You’ll increase light, create a sense of space and reflect beautiful surfaces.
20 BATHING BEAUTY
A deep bathtub is always welcome in hotels – bring one home in your next bathroom reno. If it’s a built-in model, add a stone ledge for in-out ease.
21 LUXURY TOUCHES
Towel warmer, wall-mounted illuminated magnifying mirror, Bluetooth music device and heated floors – these deluxe elements are standard fare in our favourite hotels.
22 THROW IN THE TOWEL
The best luxe towels – preferably white – you can budget for won’t disappoint when creating hotel style. Add a hanging hotel-style towel rack or free-standing towel warmer to get the look.