Here we are at The Knightsbridge Hotel, in the centre of Knightsbridge. It's three townhouses, which we've joined together. As the hotel opened early in the 2000s, it's organically developed and grown. We have actually added different artworks, different curiosities to make the hotel have a character all of its very own. When you come in, there's a wonderful Graham Fransella painting. Graham actually rang me up from Australia to tell me that I'd hung his painting the wrong way around. So, at least we're in dialogue with the artist.
In the Drawing Room, which is in the next room that we come to, I love the way that the things that have been added all tell a story. On the sofa itself, there are these wonderful doggy cushions that you couldn't find anywhere else. We've created a lamp out of this African bead work, and above him, a big buffalo lit from within and made out of just white paper, but looking rather elegant there. And then, on top of what we call our Min's Tubs is that soft, butter yellow leather. It's just a nice, sharp detail which also will create something which lasts. There are a lot of stripes and bold geometrics in this room, and they're not all necessarily going in the same way. The funny thing is, it does work. And it's a room that you actually want to sit in for quite a long time.
Leading on from the Drawing Room, we go into the Library. It's feeling very cozy. Above the fireplace is a painting by John Illsley. This, he said, is a bird's eye view of where he lives in the countryside. But, almost as a juxtaposition, we have nine wonderful illustrations of Victorian gentlemen on their trusty steeds. You can tell so much about the character of each of the people riding their horses by the way that they carry themselves.
In a Library I think you have to have a Chesterfield, and here we have two in a blue stripe. And then we have a much more contemporary fabric on the chairs facing the fireplace, and it's the details that makes all the difference to this design. A lovely fender, interesting lamps on either side, and at the windows we have a lovely, traditional paisley design, but with a metal-bead edging to the trim of the curtain.
At the moment, we're in 302, and here we are looking out over the treetops with all the leaves just fluttering in the breeze. The headboards are often the focus of the room, and we almost look upon the headboard as another artwork. The curtains have a design, but they're not overpowering, because the focal point is the headboard. We always say in a room that a room has to have the five Cs, and it's: Colour, comfort, craft, character, and of course, curation. And it's always at the beginning when you are thinking about the room and putting it together, how our guests love to use the room and that feeling of being in a lovely, tailored haven right in the center of a bustling city.
The largest room in the hotel is the Knightsbridge Suite. The room itself is memorable because it's so high. It's got a beautiful chandelier. The fireplace itself is a lovely focal point. And opposite the fireplace is a sofa, which is covered in one of my fabrics, called Ikat Weave. And again, our tall headboard, covered in Bookends, which always reminded me of books higgledy-piggledy against one another.
And on the bed, a couple of beautifully embroidered cushions by Fine Cell Work, which is one of the charities that we support. It's actually helping prisoners just find a new way in life. And within the prisons themselves, we are teaching embroidery, needlework, and upholstery. It's a beautiful, light-filled room. It's very fresh and airy. It doesn't matter if it's the height of summer or the depths of winter, it's a gorgeous room to stay in.