ummm - to sleep at seven

Here is a rather lovely take on a boutique hotel with real contemporary Thai spirit....Seven....

This special little five star hotel is a fabulous home away from home. The young owner Pylin Jane Sanguanplyapand has created a very unique hostelry, just six rooms, each with  it's own colour and design. Voted one of Bangkok's top ten quirky hotels, reviews have been outstanding not just for design but, for the wonderful staff and service.

The rooms are based on the colour of the day of the week derived from the specific god of the planet for that day of the week. This concept is taken from ancient Indian astrology where, Sunday is red for the Sun god, Monday is yellow for the Moon god, Tuesday is pink for the Mars god, Wednesday is green for the god of Mercury, Thursday is orange for the god of Juniper, Friday is blue for the god of Venus while finally Saturday is purple for the Saturn god. The rooms are decorated in the colours of Monday through Saturday. Reclaimed teak warms the floors of the guest rooms.

Seven's 7th space is the red reception and bar area called Seventh heaven....it is complimented by changing art work of new, emerging Thai artists. Cool polished concrete floors echo my design credo and ethos.

Taste - Special petite hotel in Phuket City

This is a very cool small hotel smack dab in the centre of Phuket City....created out of shophouses it is a very funky little spot....definitely not your beach side spot but great fun if exploring how real Phuket lives.

Taste is creative and original but unfortunately just after writing this it sadly appears to have closed. I hope they reopen soon as it is a breath of fresh air design wise.

Luxurious hotels in Phuket

So, finally, I am getting to some tropical hotel design right here in Phuket. We are spoiled with a plethora of some quite fabulous design here on the island.  Starting with three of my favorites...

Arguably the grandaddy of chic, smart, elegant Thai styled design is the Amanpuri [photo by Pasci_vaut and Wenn1].  It was the first resort in the Aman chain. Built in the 'Mock Wat' style it was the peak of chic in 1988.   However it is  still very much a classic and the service is superb. The  abundant use of wood through the decor is alludes to earlier days of the colonial plantation style, adopted by worldly Thais when travelling. Thailand has never been colonized by a foreign power. The midnight blue pools at the resort started a rage throughout the island copied by many developers. While lovely calm and serene in design it is no longer edgy in style and the maintenance bills must be something.

Another favorite of mine demonstrating the transitioning design styles of hotels on the island in the past ten years is Twin Palms Resort and Spa. Just down the road from the Amanpuri on Surin beach, Twin Palms was opened 5 years ago. The owners took the best of the new contemporary asian design ethos and blended it with tradition, more white, less wood. [Photos by Lisa Stegall]

Darling daughter #1 had her wedding at Twin Palms.

One of the newest resorts to open on the island is Sala Resort and Spa. Gorgeous clean contemporary architecture is a radical departure now from the Aman style. [All photos from Sala]

Dean Street Townhouse Hotel - London

Mmm.... check out these very sweet and very clever new hotel rooms in London...I know, I know, I am supposed to be posting about the Tropics but, at the moment I am immersed in the mundane finishing details of a house renovation where you wait for one trade, then wait for another then receive a bill from another. It is all dull, time consuming and a wee bit soul destroying so it sets one thinking of a bit of an escape although darling daughter #1 assures me it is very cold and she is inspired to leave London at the moment.... grass is always greener!

This sweet newly opened hotel so fabulously and centrally located in Soho is the
Dean Street Townhouse:



Located in a four story Georgian townhouse the bedrooms are sized and priced from tiny to small to medium to bigger. Starting at just 95 pounds they are kitted out with king size to super king sized beds,
free internet, flat screen TV's and Cowshed goodies in the shower.









For Joni of Cote de Texas I note what looks like one of her favorites on the floor, seagrass with a simple border, the whole room rather in the tones of Gret from Belgian Pearls or Brooke from Velvet and Linen.





Perhaps a few more of the tones that Vicki from French Essence would enjoy, while finally I could be quite happy snuggled up in the 'Tiny' room....(perhaps an idea for the barge dream).