02 Nov What makes a great Georgian House Hotel interior design?

We wanted to share with you some hotels located within Georgian properties in London, Bath and the English Countryside. All three either have an interesting history or have undergone a recent renovation and restoration programmes involving Georgian hotel interior design expertise.

The Royal Crescent Hotel – Bath

Drawing Room at the Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath

If you are looking for traditional Georgian style then look no further than the Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath. Spread over two Grade I listed townhouses in the centre of Bath’s iconic Georgian crescent (our Etons of Bath studio is nearby!). The Royal Crescent Hotel completed an extensive renovation programme in 2014, resulting in a luxurious place to stay that combines true Georgian heritage with modern day indulgences.

The elegant and refined interior design is reminiscent of a by-gone era. Both the Drawing Room and Library epitomize the elegant style of the Georgian period and classic Georgia interior design. Both of the rooms are timelessly elegant, have high ceilings, open fires and wonderful views overlooking either the Royal Crescent itself or one acre of gardens.

Library Room at The Royal Crescent Hotel

The 45 individually designed guest rooms and suites blend elegantly with the Georgian architecture, interior design and heritage. My favourite rooms have to be the master suites; each have been individually designed with timeless elegance in mind, ornate Georgian plasterwork ceilings and full-length picture windows with views either of the hotels private garden or across the Crescent lawns.

Master Suite at the Royal Crescent Hotel

The award-winning Dower House restaurant serves a Modern British menu under the direction of chef David Campbell. There is also a wonderful spa located in the coach house, where you can enjoy a dip in the thermal baths that Bath is so famous for.

Vitality Pool with Jets at the Spa in the Royal Crescent Hotel

Limewood – Hampshire

The impressive Regency facade that greets you on arrival at Limewood

Limewood is the quintessential Georgian country house retreat, showcasing a great combination of classic Georgian interior design with contemporary twists. You can relax in the Herb House Spa and enjoy delicious food at Hartnett, Holder & Co. run by Chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder both with Michelin stars to their name.

Chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder

For me the stand out feature is the property itself and its sumptuous Regency eclectic interior design. The original building is a Regency country manor house that was home to the Duke of Clarence in the 1740s. Limewood was built on the site of an earlier property originally established as a hunting lodge in the 13th Century. In 1999 Limewood was acquired by and the underwent a five year renovation and interior design programme under the direction of architectural designers Charles Morris and Ben Pentreath.

The duo re-designed Lime Wood and its ancillary buildings, built on a Regency vernacular, ensuring that both are traditional and of its time. Ben Pentreath of Working Group Design restored the main house and extensions. The design of the main house is intended to suggest a subtle evolution of a rambling, attractive country house that has grown over time.

The new entrance façade is a seamless extension of the existing fine Regency house. It draws on the original Regency interior design of stucco and Portland stone detailing. By contrast, the garden wing, overlooking the formal pools and the Pavilions, has an early 18th Century character that draws on local examples of handsome red brick Queen Anne architecture.

Herb garden and walkway near the herb house Spa

Internally, the existing building has been re-ordered to provide luxury accommodation, with a series of classically designed sitting rooms, library and private dining rooms, an elegant dining conservatory and sixteen bedrooms and suites. The rooms are laid out around a central arcaded courtyard, with stone columns and arches in traditional English Palladian style, fully covered with a glass retractable roof.

The two Pavilions are eye catchers viewed from the hotel along the axis of the two long garden “canals”. Recognition is given to “nature first, architecture second” by allowing one of the Pavilions to be partially obscured by a fine amelanchier tree which was carefully protected throughout the building works. The arches and columns give the Pavilions are a glorious homage to Palladian.

Limewood’s interior design approach for this Georgian House Hotel is best described as ‘laid-back luxury’. There is an eclectic mix of antique and bespoke furniture combined with carefully selected artwork and ceramics to pieces of art-work by Tracy Emin. The Courtyard Bar has comfortable sofas and Chesterfield-style bar seating perfect for enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail.

Private dining room

Courtyard Bar at Limewood

The Georgian House Hotel – London

Three houses in one form this London House Hotel

The Georgian House Hotel is a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to the London hotel scene and Georgian hotel interior design. Built in 1851 by Serena von der Heyde’s great grandfather William Chinnery Mitchell, it has been a family treasure for over 150 years. Those of you who know your architectural periods will spot that this means the house was in fact completed in the Victorian Period. However, after buying the land, William Chinnery Mitchell developed it under Thomas Cubitt’s instruction, the leading master builder in London during the Georgian era. Wishing to leave his mark on these grand, heritage buildings, William embellished his houses with a few signature Georgian interior design details, including ten panel doors and his string motif, a plaster decorative line on the exterior of many of his houses.

Over several generations the houses, which are now known as the Georgian House Hotel, have been handed down through the family. Serena von der Heyde took over the bed and breakfast operation in 1987, then with just 28 guest rooms. Today, the Georgian House Hotel boasts 63 bedrooms and apartments. Each room has a distinct approach to Georgian interior design to make the best of its daylight, size and original Georgian features.

Bedroom Suite at the Georgian House Hotel

Splashes of colour add a refreshing update to the classic panelling in this room

The hotel integrates contemporary design into the historic idiosyncrasies of the Victorian buildings and the rooms have been designed and decorated individually to offer a bespoke experience to each guest. The elegant guest rooms showcase a colour palette of some of Farrow & Ball’s timeless hues and feature many of the original interior design features of the Grade II listed building. The Georgian House is quintessentially English and brings the atmosphere of a country house hotel to the centre of London.

Drawing Room

Etons of Bath are currently working on several hotel and restaurant schemes based in Georgian buildings. Contact Etons of Bath today in Bath or Bristol if you’d like help with classically inspired interiors for your hotel or bar.