ROSEBANK HOTEL

A lounge with plush sofas and coffee tables festooned with the kind of books you’d collect for your own home, bunches of flowers and an open-plan kitchen-dining area; this is the scene that greets guests at Rosebank’s new Bristol hotel. Like the Labotessa hotel featured on page 116, Bristol Rosebank is part of a new breed of lifestyle hotel that’s all about blurring the lines between outstanding service and home-from-home comfort. Having entrusted the design to Tonic Design’s Greg Gamble and Philippe van der Merwe, a unique approach to the hotel experience emerged that challenges the status quo.

It’s the duo’s bold use of colour that is immediately obvious, eschewing the safe neutral-to-greige spectrum for rust, mustard, emerald, moss and butterscotch shades that wrap entire rooms and cover sofas and armchairs. It’s a clash that works, invigorating the interior and providing a punch that hotels here have not yet seen. Part of this can be attributed to the Johannesburg traits they wanted Bristol to reflect, one of which was energy, the others being luxury and vibrancy. With just 28 rooms, all of them unique in some way, Bristol could afford to be distinctive.

“Everything has been custom designed for this space specifically,” Philippe says. Barring a couple of high-end original lighting designs by brands like Vibia, one of which hangs over the stairwell spanning two to three floors, and some James Mudge chairs.“With so few rooms, we could afford to do something different,” he adds.The inventory is uncomplicated and the hotel small, but what they do, is done with distinction. Here, guests slumber on Hypnos beds (approved by the Royals), sip on the city’s best coffee courtesy of Father and are treated to the cream of the South African artist crop.

In keeping with Tonic’s belief that art lends interiors depth, the hotel features a glut of works, all of them originals by prominent South African artists. You’ll find names like Michele Mathison, Walter Battiss, Cecil Skotnes and Sam Nhlengethwa, among other greats, featured throughout and giving guests a taste of our country’s art pedigree. Objet and accessories fill the rooms, avoiding the standard hotel mould. Books on design, art and lifestyle, small sculptures and a collection of incredible ceramics share space, lending Bristol a lived-in feel that appeals to those seeking a styled dose of comfort from their travels. The open-plan kitchen amplifies the intimate atmosphere of the hotel, where guests can see what is being prepared and, if they like, gather around a large communal table for a meal. Here, emerald green tiles wrap the walls, Lievore Altherr’s Tempo wall lamp makes an appearance and a shelf teeming with trailing plants and ceramics envelops the room. The fruit bowl is always full and a cabinet of midnight snacks awaits.

Bristol is the first of the Home* Suite Hotels to open; another will open in Sandown, followed by two more, all of them expertly put together by Tonic.

Soon there’ll even be a resident rescue dog joining the team at Bristol. Are you surprised? homesuitehotels.com | tonicdesign.co.za

BOL D COLOURS like rust, mustard, emerald, moss and BUTTERSCOTCH wrap entire rooms and cover sofas and ARMCHAIRS.

With JUST 28 rooms, all of them UNIQUE in some way, BRISTOL could afford to be DISTINCTIVE.

The Bristol INTERIORS were designed to reflect the ENERGY, luxury and VIBRANCY of Johannesburg.

A Tonic Mulholland Slipper chair is teamed with T&Co Fabrics velvet curtains and a Streamlight lamp in one of the Blue Rooms. OPPOSITE Colour comes standard at the Bristol. Here a rich caramel hue lends the passageway a dose of luxury.

A stylish reception desk greets guests as they arrive, featuring the yellow Pillow and Alya chairs by Andreu World, available at Tonic.

At a luxuriously spacious 65 m2, the Apartment includes a fitted kitchenette complete with James Mudge table and chairs. OPPOSITE Small details matter. Even the Tonic-designed tables are customised with curved edges to provide a physically and visually softer improvement on the standard.

Rooms on the upper floor enjoy leafy views into the treetops of Rosebank. Here, James Mudge’s Hardwood and Spindleback chairs and Round Tapered-leg table are teamed with Tonic’s Sofia sofa.

The Green Room bathroom features a vibrant shot of colour by way of vivid emerald green. The tiles are from Tilespace and the mirrors were custom designed by Tonic to stand apart from the norm. The generous bath is from Bella Bathrooms.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The bedside lamp is a Nemo Lampe de Marseille (available from Tonic); the Parktown server was custom designed by Tonic; the pool deck offers spectacular views to the south of Johannesburg; the open-plan kitchen-dining area features Tonic’s Barrel Table, lit by a Flamingo lamp by Antoni Arola for Vibia. OPPOSITE A small but sassy rooftop bar provides guests with a cool spot from which to experience stunning Joburg sunsets, refreshing beverage in hand. The bar stools are from Sean Williams Contracts.