Designed by
Paul Smith himself in collaboration with
Olga Polizzi , Design Director at Rocco Forte Hotels, the
‘Sir Paul Smith’ Suite at Brown’s Hotel by
Rocco Forte Hotels features an array of custom and vintage furnishings, handpicked artwork, collaborations and elements made from fabrics from Paul Smith’s décor collection.
“To be asked to design a space for such an iconic Mayfair institution is a huge privilege – and I’ve had a great time in the process!” says Paul Smith. “Just as Brown’s does with its rooms, we design each Paul Smith boutique differently to celebrate the individuality of the area, which is just one of the reasons why the project appealed to me. On a more personal level, I’m delighted that we’ve been able to include objects that inspire me personally and I hope will in turn inspire guests in the suite.”
Brown's Hotel is a quintessentially British institution. London's first hotel, it opened its doors in 1837 and has hosted royalty,
Pulitzer Prize winners, Oscar winners, musicians and scientists, explorers and politicians over its nearly 200-year history. The hotel was also the site of the first telephone call in London made by its inventor,
Alexander Graham Bell .
Drawing on Brown's Hotel's history as a favorite residence for literary greats—including
Ruyard Kipling , who famously wrote The Jungle Book there—the suite was designed as a space not just for rest and relaxation, but also to spark inspiration and creativity through art and interesting objects, as well as rugs and artwork.
The suite features furniture and art that resonate with the designer and his eclectic taste. Several pieces can be found in Paul’s office at his Covent Garden HQ, such as
Christopher Simon Sykes ’s striking photograph of Chatsworth House and, most notably, his 1970s leather chair by
Mario Bellini .
As another personal touch, Paul also curated a small library of art and design books for the suite. Several of Paul Smith’s notable collaborations feature in the room, including sofas, tables and leather goods from his recent ‘
Everyday Life ’ collection with Italian luxury furniture company
DePadova ;
Type 75 lamps from his long-standing partnership with British lighting brand
Anglepoise ; and plaid wool blankets designed by Paul for design firm
Maharam .
The partnership came about naturally, through Rocco Forte Hotels’ design director
Olga Polizzi , who is responsible for the design of each of the individual rooms at Brown’s Hotel and a long-time client of Paul Smith’s Albemarle Street store. “It’s exciting to have a Sir Paul Smith Suite at Brown’s Hotel. It’s elegant, bright, happy and has a lovely sense of fun. The living room is interesting with its photo wall, stylish sofas and extravagant cushions. The bedroom is surprisingly different, with its sense of calm and space. It captures the feel of Brown’s Hotel, but with a Paul Smith twist.”
Other nods to the Albemarle Street flagship store, located just a few doors down from the hotel, are sprinkled throughout the room. These include custom
Paul Smith + The Rug Company rugs and a
Maharam headboard, both featuring a geometric pattern inspired by the building’s iconic iron facade.
Uniquely quirky details like the banana doorknobs, the fire 'dogs' (which were custom-made to resemble Homer, Paul's first canine shopkeeper), a robot figurine made from a vintage camera, and the striped fireplace tiles abound in the space, a reflection of
Paul's 'classic with a twist' philosophy and whimsical sense of humor .
