Inspired by the traditional blue and white delft tiles and the famous Dutch tulip fields, we were hoping to give Kimpton's first hotel outside the Americas a place people could call home.
For this project, I was managing the Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E) together with a team of three architects. My role was to ensure all materials, finishes and furniture selected translated the concept to reality. With my strong network of suppliers, my task was to source the most suitable supplier to deliver the project to the client. One example was the search to find a company who could supply delft tiles with custom Dutch patterns in an encaustic tile form. This was a challenging task given that this is a niche market with very few factories being able to provide the required product. I was able to secure a company named Focus Ceramics, who ultimately supplied us with a competitive price and could deliver despite short lead times.
Collaborating with Kit Miles, we ensured his cobalt blue fabric (Biophillia printed graphic) on cotton velvet ground would be suitable for the hospitality market with rubs high enough to upholster a Gubi Beetle lounge chair for the bedrooms. To add variation, we included a light and a dark scheme.
With the hotel’s history dating back to the Renaissance era, the importance of keeping old architectural details such as exposed wood beams and flashes of stained glass was crucial. In contrast, this is balanced out with modern touches by using off the shelf items such as the Cassina Utrecth chair used in the main lobby, followed by the Eclipse Round from Astro lighting which provided a clean and cozy atmosphere.
Whimsical elements including gold plated bee and dragonfly door knockers plus beetle artwork from local Dutch artist added character and fun, which ties with Kimpton's quirky branding and the initial botanical concept.
