Designed by Paul himself in collaboration with Olga Polizzi, Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, the ‘Sir Paul Smith Suite’ at Brown’s Hotel features a range of custom and vintage furniture, hand-picked artworks, brand collaborations and soft furnishings from the debut Paul Smith home collection.
Drawing on Brown’s Hotel’s history as a favoured residence for literary greats, the suite is designed as a space not only for rest and relaxation, but to spark inspiration and creativity through art and interesting objects, with every detail of the room, from the rugs to the individual art works carefully considered.
The suite features furniture and art that resonates 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’ impressive photograph of Chatsworth House library and, notably, his 1970s leather desk chair by Mario Bellini. As another personal touch, Paul has also selected a small library of art and design books for the room.
Several of Paul Smith’s notable collaborations feature heavily 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 the longstanding partnership with British lighting brand Anglepoise; and checked wool blankets designed by Paul for design company Maharam.
The partnership came about naturally, through Rocco Forte Hotels’ Director of Design Olga Polizzi, who is responsible for the design of each of the individual rooms at Brown’s Hotel and is a long-time visitor to Paul Smith’s Albemarle Street shop.
Further references to the Albemarle Street flagship shop, which is located just metres away from the hotel, are dotted about the room. They include custom Paul Smith + The Rug Company rugs and a Maharam headboard, both of which feature a geometric pattern inspired by the building’s iconic iron façade.
Uniquely quirky details, such as the banana door handles, the fire ‘dogs’ (which have been custom made to resemble Homer, Paul’s first canine shopkeeper), a robot figurine made from a vintage camera, and the striped fireplace tiles, are abundant in the room, a reflection of Paul’s ‘classic with a twist’ philosophy and his trademark whimsical sense of humour.
Other key talking points from the room include:- Limited-edition prints from photographer Julian Broad, a friend of Paul’s who shot his wedding pictures.- A selection of soft furnishings, including blankets and cushions, from Paul Smith’s namesake homeware collection which was released earlier in 2022.- An art wall featuring a diverse selection of prints and original artworks – a signature detail in every Paul Smith shop.
Select pieces from the suite, including prints, custom details and the Paul Smith home collection, will be available to shop with an in-suite catalogue provided to guests.
Paul Smith says:“ Being asked to design a space for such an iconic Mayfair institution is a great privilege – and I’ve had a great deal of fun in the process! Just like Browns does with its rooms, we design every Paul Smith shop differently to celebrate the area’s individuality, which is just one of the reasons the project appealed to me. On a more personal level, I’m so pleased we’ve been able to include objects that inspire me personally and I hope, in turn, they’ll inspire the suite’s guests.”
Olga Polizzi says:“ It is exciting to have a Sir Paul Smith suite at Brown’s Hotel. It is elegant, bright and happy and has a lovely sense of fun. The sitting room is full of interest with its wall of pictures, smart sofas and flamboyant cushions. The bedroom is strikingly different, with its sense of calm and space. He has caught the feeling of Brown’s Hotel, but with a Paul Smith twist.”
About Paul Smith
Paul Smith is Britain’s leading independent design company. Paul Smith champions positivity, curiosity and creativity. These qualities underpin every Paul Smith design, whether its a shirt, a shop or a special collaboration. Paul Smith is a British company with a global outlook. What began in a small, 3 x 3 meter shop in Nottingham, England in 1970 has grown to 130 shops and counting around the world, with locations in over 60 countries.
About Brown’s Hotel
Brown’s Hotel is quintessentially British with a hint of the unexpected. London’s first hotel boasts 115 authentically designed rooms and suites designed by Olga Polizzi. Each pays tribute to the hotel’s illustrious heritage and world-renowned charm. The Kipling Suite, the jewel in Brown’s crown of suites, honours Rudyard Kipling who famously wrote ‘The Jungle Book’ at the hotel. Home to some of London’s finest dining experiences, Brown’s signature Donovan Bar takes inspiration from its namesake, iconic 1960’s photographer Terence Donovan; Charlie’s, the restaurant, serves contemporary British fare with European influences; and The Drawing Room, where Queen Victoria took tea, honours the quintessentially British custom of serving traditional afternoon tea.
About Rocco Forte Hotels
Established by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, Olga Polizzi in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels is a collection of 14 individual hotels and resorts. All of the hotels are landmarks, both old and new, occupying magnificent buildings in exceptional locations. Led by a family who has been in hospitality for four generations, the hotels are united by their distinctive approach to service ensuring guests experience the best of the cities and surrounding areas. Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de la Ville, Hotel de Russie and Rocco Forte House, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; Verdura Resort, Rocco Forte Private Villas and Villa Igiea, Sicily; Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; Brown’s Hotel, London; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; Hotel Amigo, Brussels and Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg.
Future openings: The Carlton Milan in 2024
