Lift lobby shows strong use of pattern whilst keeping clean uncluttered lines

Whilst the designers have created visual interest with a water feature at the back of the reception lounge area, some more dramatic lighting of the feature, or sharper accent lighting would also draw the eye to the back of the space and help create more visual depth in what is physically quite a small space. Passing the Reception desk takes the guest through to the lift lobby, beyond which lies the breakout space for the ground floor conference and meeting rooms. These busy spaces also add to the pressure on reception lobby, as delegates leave the conference area and head for the street or the bar through the lobby itself.

The lift lobby varies from floor to floor and has calm diffused lighting with neat set pieces against the walls on the bedroom floors lending a sense of place to the spaces. Bedroom corridor lighting is used to locate room doors and an asymmetric carpet design also helps to alleviate the straight vista of the corridors.

Bedroom is very contemporary and comfortable, with the warmth of the fabrics making the room welcoming. Rollover to see the bathroom

Bedroom layout and designs are successful in lifting a dated room plan into an acceptable contemporary feel that works in providing a 21st century setting. The work space is a proper desk unit, with a fully height adjustable desk chair. The hotel provides a free high speed wifi system – just turning on a suitably equipped laptop immediately links a guest into the system with ease, and sensibly sockets are provided at desktop level for plugging into power supply sparing the guest the need to get down on hands and knees to plug in equipment. The desk is a generous working space, and the generous room size allows space for a separate table for the coffee pot (thus is the USA – no kettle for tea making so no boiling water for making proper tea) adjacent to the bathroom. The area is separated from the room proper by the narrow wardrobe space, which helps to create a lobby just inside the bedroom.

Whilst the designers have had to live with the existing room plan they have made effective use of it. The lobby almost doubles as a small kitchen area, with the coffee making, the glasses and the ice bucket. Wardrobe space is slightly limited, but plenty of drawer space is provided in the armoire base. The upper part of the armoire houses the large TV. No minibar here, which allows for the large number of drawers, but rather a vending machine and ice dispense on each floor in the lift lobby, cheaper for both the guest to use and for the hotel to install.

The spacious room allows for two armchairs and footstools and a small table as well as plenty of space for the king-size bed in the standard rooms. Design is strong with the fabrics providing colour and interest to the space. Table lamps and a standard lamp provide lighting although the use of a traditional table lamp on the desktop is not as effective as the use of a halogen task light would be.