Since the beginnings of Czech & Speake, we have had the privilege to supply and service many exciting projects including luxury residences and landmark hotels, as well as working alongside some great names in the industry. This week, we’ve been flicking through our archives with fond memories of our history of work, and felt inspired to share some of our favourites with you. To begin with, we’d like to shine a spotlight on our work with internationally renowned designer, Anouska Hempel, who chose us to fit the luxurious bathrooms in the Blake’s Hotel.
If you’re not already aware of the work of Anouska Hempel, here’s all you need to know about the prolific designer:
Anouska Hempel is a British born designer, recognised for her unique, theatrical design aesthetic which she applies across numerous creative fields. Under her ‘designer’ job title, she has had a hand in fashion and haute couture, product design, garden design, and of course, architectural and interior design. Her tenacity, talent and visionary influence has gained much attention from the press throughout her career, including being named as one of the top 100 interior designers in the world by Architectural Digest.
Hempel certainly made an impact with her very first project, which was in fact bought to be her home with her husband 30 odd years ago. The property, ‘Cole Park’ in Wiltshire, is a grand, 20 room manor dating back to the 1550’s, which Hempel restored, adapted and decorated head to toe, and continues to evolve. Cole Park marked the beginnings of Hempel’s signature style, with a busy, rich hued interior that playfully combines traditional Englishness, to be considerate to the houses heritage, with spectacular and romantic, exotic Orientalism.
In the decades since, Hempel established her own internationally acclaimed firm, producing an impressive portfolio of work. Since Cole Park, the firm have worked on numerous grand interiors and gardens worldwide such as Lake Lugano in Switzerland, as well as expanding into retail, yachts and significantly, award-winning hotels, in which Hempel owns and manages three. One of those three is Blakes Hotel, London, built in 1978 as one of the first luxury boutique hotels in the world. So of course, we were thrilled that Czech & Speake were approached to be apart of this revolutionary project.
Blakes Hotel
As a boutique hotel, meaning it is much smaller than the more conventional luxury hotel, Hempel desired to create a sense of secluded intimacy when designing Blakes. Her vision was of elegance and intellect; she didn’t want to make a statement of obvious grandeur, but rather focus on quality of design, refinement and grace. With this intension, it makes perfect sense why she requested for Czech & Speake to provide the bathroom fittings for the hotel, as we pride ourselves on design quality and understated luxury. True to Hempel’s signature playful style, she gave each suite its own unique personality with considerably different design aesthetics running through, but held together key design features. Czech & Speake supplied our signature, timeless Edwardian bathroom fittings collection, along with some bespoke products to suit some of the more niche bathroom suites.
See some of the beautiful bathrooms in Blakes with Czech & Speake fittings:
Town House Double Inscripted 3
Signiture Double Black and White 2
Hemple Suite, Cardinal
The result is a hotel that feels very special and secret, full of character and theatre – an escapism from everyday life. We are truly proud to be a part of such a magnificent project. If you get the chance to indulge in a luxury stay in London, choose Blakes and see our fittings in situ while soaking in the tub.
Explore our signature Edwardian Collection as used in the Blakes Hotel. If you’re interested, you can also discover our Cubist and DCA/FSC ranges.
Sources: blakeshotels.com (cover photo), anouskahempeldesign.com (images 1 and 2), blakeshotels.com (image 3, 4, 5, 6)
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