Luxury Hotels Group Blog » Design & Decorations

How to give your home a top hotel decor

Archie Domville — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 18:20:43 +0000

Those who have stayed in luxury hotels around Europe will have enjoyed many aspects of what is on offer, from the great service and fine food to the great views and ease of access to local visitor attractions.However, one feature that may have proved particularly captivating is the decor. It may not be possible to recreate the local weather, scenery or tourism attractions outside your front door, but elements of luxury hotel decor can certainly be incorporated in the home.Art Deco is a great example of this. Many hotels come with this style, both in terms of the architecture and the furnishings. The latter is an element that you can certainly insert into your own home.Featuring the same curved corners, curved table legs and circular table tops, the distinctive style adds a hint of the Gatsby to any home. Add in some lamps with coloured patterned glass, a few period piece statues and the look will be complete.Style is not the only consideration. An area of particular focus should should be on recreating a lavish hotel bedroom in your own abode. Plump pillows and an extremely cosy mattress are essential, but so too are touches like a table and lamp on both sides.The same is true of a bathroom. How about adding a jacuzzi and walk-in shower? Heated towel racks are a must too, as these are something only the truly top hotels have.Even the entrance to your home can be given the luxury treatment. You may not have the space, but you can recreate the focal points, like fine artwork, attractive furniture or stand-out flowers such as orchids.Certain features are vital all over the house, such as fine curtains, since these will certainly present in a hotel. Lavish lighting adds the same effect, something that is so often brought about simply by the fixtures and fittings. You may not have room for huge ones, but small crystal chandeliers can still make a grand impression.By doing all this, you will be able to make your home look like a hotel, and ensure that when you stay in a hotel, it will truly feel like home!

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Inspiration for luxury present shoppers

Archie Domville — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 15:54:34 +0000

It is around now that some people start to get jittery about their Christmas shopping. Despite many trips to the shops, lots of online browsing and plenty of thinking, the ideal luxury Christmas gift has just not yet been acquired.With time running out, some inspiration is clearly needed. Many people will be easy to buy for at this time of year - particularly Star Wars fans - but others may need more help.So, what makes a great luxury Christmas gift in 2015? For ladies, there are some great fashion items out this year. Try the Dior Chromic Cat-Eye Sunglasses, or the Cartier de Panther white gold earrings, complete with a panther's head featuring green eyes made from emeralds.For those who love watches, there is a new Omega Seamaster out this year, a black bezel ladies' bracelet watch with a brushed steel case and bracelet. Made with scratch-resistant sapphire glass, it has a black dial and luminous hand markers, plus a date function at 3'o clock. For those who like diving, it is water resistant up to a depth of 300 metres.Watches may be a good option for men too. The Omega Seamaster Men's Watch is a great 'his and hers' option, with alternatives including the Breitling Avenger range.For kid's playthings, try the Emilio Pucci skateboards, made with lightweight but hard-wearing materials to make them a cut above what anyone else is using to whizz around. That said, this may just be the year when a lightsabre or rolling droid toy is exactly what they want.Of course, gifts need not always be things under the tree. Another alternative is to book a luxury holiday, with 2016 promising the trip of a lifetime to somewhere exotic and fascinating. That could mean a stay in a luxury hotel in Scandinavia to see the northern lights, a safari or a stay in one of Europe's top ski resorts.Whatever you chose, there is no doubt a bit of luxury will make Christmas seem that bit sweeter.

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See the finest hotel Christmas tree in Paris

Archie Domville — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:22:29 +0000

With Christmas fast approaching, visitors to any luxury hotel will be sure to see at least one Christmas tree, if not several. Indeed, a number of establishments will pride themselves on providing a spectacular display with their trees.This characteristic was noted by the Daily Telegraph when it observed how putting up a large and fabulously decorated tree can provide a top hotel with a spectacular centrepiece to its festive decor. What was perhaps most notable was the sheer variety of trees on offer. To some, a Christmas tree is simply a pine tree with a lot of baubles, tinsel and fairy lights, but while that may be true in the average household, many a hotel goes the extra mile.The Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, for example, has a red and white theme with a range of custom ornaments. At an imposing 18ft, this is a stunning centrepiece to the hotel and a great theme-setter for the rest of the decorations.Gold is the dominant colour for the New York Palace Hotel's tree, but its own twist is to have the tree outside, standing in the courtyard with a backdrop of St Patrick's Cathedral. However, perhaps the best of all is a multicoloured affair. The Intercontinental Paris Le Grand is, for the second year running, displaying a 14 ft high tree with a remarkable display of over 8,000 brightly-coloured Macaroons. resembling Venice Carnival Harlequins. Indeed, the tree itself is topped with a ruff collar. The effect has been designed by French patissier Laduree, who have complemented the big tree with 27 smaller ones dotted around the hotel, all of which come in pastel shades.While many a hotel will go for a different theme each year and others will stick with something year after year - particularly if it matches the hotel or chain's livery - the Intercontinental has done something many would regard as unusual by having a particularly innovative design one year and retaining it for the next, even if the level of novelty is inevitably diminished this year. However, that could mean that the management has decided the sheer excellence of what was on display 12 months ago has warranted bringing it back.

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Cooking the perfect Christmas roast

Archie Domville — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 19:14:26 +0000

Christmas day means many things: time with family and friends, presents under the tree, the Queen's Speech and lots of food.In the last case, there is no doubt that creating a superb Christmas dinner is a wonderful way of ensuring the day is a good one. For that reason, it's a good idea to get some top tips on ensuring the turkey (or even the goose) is done just right. It should come out nice and moist, with lots of flavour and accompanied by crisp roast potatoes. Exactly how long you cook the turkey for depends on its size. For example, three hours and 20 minutes at gas mark four is ideal for a 13 lb bird, whereas two hours and 45 minutes is best for an 11 lb turkey. However big the bird is, you should give it a 15-minute spell of sizzling at gas mark six before the long cooking period. This will caramelise the fats and add loads of flavour. You might have heard that this will seal in the bird and stop the moisture escaping, but this is not true. Basting is the other essential task. Every half an hour you should use a spoon or turkey baster to cover the top with buttery juices. This stops the skin and the top flesh from drying out. This should be done quickly to avoid affecting the cooking time.When you take the turkey out of the oven, check the thigh juices are running clear, as this will show it is cooked. Slip a knife into the thick meat between the thigh and breast. Only if it is pinkish should you pop the bird back in the oven for another 15-20 minutes.Once the turkey is out of the oven, allow 30 minutes for the bird to rest and the juices to redistribute themselves, during which time you can make the gravy.At this point, you can also brown off the roast potatoes. The trick is to give them a light coating of butter and then a few extra minutes to create a golden, crisp top. Once that is done, you can serve up your delicious, juicy turkey with all the veg, stuffing, cranberry and bread sauce. Just don't forget the crackers!

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How to have a great family Christmas

Archie Domville — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:44:39 +0000

Christmas is always a great time of the year to have a family get-together, but there can be no doubt that to make it a memorable day, you need to do much more than simply manage to get a group of relatives to inhabit the same room for a day.The first key point is to ensure that everyone's own tastes and needs are catered for. This is partly an issue when buying Christmas presents, where you may already know what they like, but could benefit from consulting with others. This way, you can avoid duplicating gifts such as two people buying the same person the latest book by their favourite author.It also matters when it comes to food. Make sure when preparing a big Christmas feast that you know if anyone has developed any food allergies, or indeed if there are any new dietary requirements, such as your teenage cousin deciding to go vegetarian.The plans for the day should also take into account routines. For example, if you are hosting on Christmas Day and tend not to watch TV programmes like the Queen's Speech but your family do, it may be wise to accommodate this. After all, it is only on for few minutes, so be flexible.Also, try not to be too rigid about what everyone is doing. For example, if it is a white Christmas you may want to head outside and doubtless any children present certainly will, but others may prefer to stay indoors and enjoy the warmth.Equally, don't try to rope everyone into the same activities all day. The time for everyone being together is at the dinner table and when presents are handed out. Trying to get the youngsters playing games that are for adults when they would rather be playing with their new toys is inadvisable. Let the kids use a separate room to play in later in the day.Finally, be sure to make certain the home is warm and welcoming. That means ensuring the heating is turned up nicely (it can always go off later when the crowded house gets hot) and that everywhere is beautifully decorated to look welcoming and cheery - and guarantee a great family Christmas.

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The key to a classy Christmas house

Archie Domville — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 15:47:19 +0000

With Christmas coming, nearly everyone will want to decorate their home on the inside and many will want to add some more touches outdoors as well.However, while many will go mad with the colour, baubles and tinsels, there is a risk of overdoing it. Many homes, for example, are festooned on the outside with Christmas lights and while some will regard this as spectacular, most people over the age of ten will be prone to consider it somewhat garish and tacky.The key is, therefore, not to overdo it. Leave that to others and let your home stand out for its elegance and style.Colour themes are one great way to make a home stand out. Whether it is your lights outside or in, or the colour of baubles and tinsels, using one two or three colours consistently throughout can add some real style and class. This is particularly so if you stick with white or silver, gold and red.The tree can play a key role in this. While artificial trees can be re-used and are very convenient, there is nothing more stylish than a real one.Rather than smothering this in a random splurge of tinsel and baubles, try carefully and sparingly spacing the decorations evenly.For the other decorations around the house, look to add plenty of light and bright colours. Again, rather than a kaleidoscopic scattering, keep the range of colours limited, and try to use warm ones.Candles can also be very effective in conveying warmth, both literally and metaphorically. They will also help add a great traditional look.Outside, the use of lights should be kept to one colour. A great idea is to attach these to a bush that bears berries or mistletoe, to highlight a Christmassy theme. Again, something warm like gold or yellow can help make your home look welcoming.Indeed, for an extra touch a Christmas wreath is a must-have for the door. It indicates that the home your guests will enter is celebrating the festive season with great style. If the interior matches that intent with reality, yours will be the most classy home in the street this year.

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