Rachel McLane Gives Cuckney House a Complete Interior Makeover

The magnificent Grade-2 listed Georgian Cuckney House on the Welbeck Estate, one of the UK’s largest and historically important country estates, has been given a complete interior makeover by Rachel McLane Ltd.

The three-and-a-half-year project converted the vacant Cuckney House into luxury 15-bedroom holiday and event accommodation.

The 15,000-acre Welbeck Estate on the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire border near Sherwood Forest has a history that can be traced back nearly 900 years and is run by The Welbeck Estates Company.

As the most prominent House on the Estate, it has been thoroughly but sensitively transformed during the £5m redevelopment project to provide a single high-spec property for extended holiday and event-related stays.

Its 15 bedrooms include family suites and a bridal suite, allowing the House to sleep more than 30 people, and it has three reception rooms, including a 28-seat dining room and a 40-seat function room. There is a large, well-appointed kitchen, games room, snug butler’s pantry, and outside, there is a large terrace with two BBQs and a wood-fired pizza oven, a walled kitchen garden and a tennis court.

The transformation of Cuckney House is part of the long-term Welbeck Project to re-purpose and breathe new life into the Estate’s collection of historic buildings.

The entire project was managed by the Welbeck Estate, which made it run like clockwork as the Estate has incredibly skilled teams across different departments, including stone masons and builders, some of whom lived on-site to see the project completed.

Working closely alongside the Estate team, we managed through internal and external structural design changes that included a reconfiguration of the walls on the first and second floors, complete re-roofing, insulation throughout, refurbishment of all flooring, including reinstated parquet flooring, and the raising of the ceiling height in the top floor rooms, as well as electrical drawings, lighting designs, colour scheme and fabrics.

We could respect Cuckney House’s listed status while giving each room its identity and personality, reflecting the original use of the building as a Manor House.

The design intent was to make Cuckney House feel like it had evolved rather than an overly designed modern interior. The overall look is eclectic and traditional, with a contemporary twist suited to today’s living expectations.

The interior design also features a new art collection that the Rachel McLane team procured to make it look like the collection had evolved. We worked with the Estate’s collections team on scans of artwork from the collections and also with a commercial art gallery, mixing traditional and contemporary artwork on the walls and around the rooms.

An added feel of the area’s landscape also comes from the work of a ceramic artist who rents a studio from the Welbeck Estate and whose work is on display in the House.

The restoration of Cuckney House has also been emphatically sustainable with the provision of electric car charging points, renewable energy heat sources, and solar panels. In place of energy-consuming kettles in each room, each floor was designed with a communal coffee and tea pod.

Nigel Porter, Property & Rural Estates Director, said, “For me, the interior design and the quality of the craftsmanship stand out.”

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Lily of the Valley is the fruit of a family project, led by Alain and Lucie Weill, father and daughter, with the aim of creating a dream hotel inspiring Wellness and luxury. This is the very concept of the hotel, which offers to its residents an elegant setting in which they are guided in their weight loss goals with the most exclusive Technogym training solutions.

Entirely imagined and designed by the famous designer Philippe Starck, the hotel fits in naturally with the surrounding nature. With an organic architecture, the place opens up to the surrounding light and the vegetation is part of the hotel's design. He states: "I designed an organic and vernacular village. Everything is so harmonious that it feels like it has always been there. It's a place that welcomes you at any time of your life, at any time of the season."

This small "village" inspired by the gardens of Babylon, the architecture of Provençal abbeys and Californian villas, is made up of small Mineral houses with 38 rooms and 6 suites with nature and the Mediterranean as far as the eye can see. 8 pool suites are also part of the picture: these private villas with swimming pool are set in the Mediterranean environment of the French Riviera. Below, the hotel's own beach with restaurants and bars is available to residents.

2,000 m² are dedicated to sport and fitness within the hotel, and 3 programmes are available for residents who wish to keep fit, accompanying them throughout the year, over 4, 7, 10 or 14 days:
- Optimal weight & serenity
- Intensive weight loss
- Weight loss & sport

All three programmes are supervised by a team of professionals, using the so-called "TGV" method. Developed by Jacques Fricker, it is said to be in three stages and consists of a "high speed" phase, a stabilisation phase and a full fitness phase; all three allow for rapid and lasting weight loss, particularly appreciated for the flexibility and balance of its approach.

Technogym is partnering with Lily of the Valley in the development of this luxury sports area.

Fitness and coaching, present in each of the fitness programmes of the place, are thus proposed and highlighted thanks to Technogym solutions. The Artis line dresses the hotel and allows residents to live an exclusive fitness experience. From cardio equipment to weight training equipment, Artis offers high-end products with a touch of elegance. With customised workouts and a variety of entertainment options, Artis makes working out more motivating and enjoyable for everyone. Working independently on an assigned program or accompanied by the Technogym Coach through the Technogym Live console, residents have access to a simple and ergonomic training experience that adapts to their needs and goals.

Artis equipment includes Artis Run, the treadmill that combines elegance, technology and connectivity. Designed with attention to detail, it is the essence of indoor running. It adapts to the user's running style, with a natural feel that makes for the most comfortable training experience.

In addition to the Artis Line, residents can also take advantage of the Kinesis Personal Vision, the Technogym innovation “par excellence”. Perfect for a wide variety of functional exercises, it can be used to improve physical condition, endurance, sports performance or to accompany a rehabilitation process. Kinesis Personal Vision is designed to train while respecting the body's natural movements, in order to achieve fitness, athletic or health goals in an efficient and personalised way.

For over 35 years, Technogym has been promoting Wellness worldwide, a lifestyle based on regular physical activity, a balanced diet and a positive mental approach. Through its wide range of products, Technogym supports Lily of the Valley in offering high quality fitness solutions to its residents, enabling them to achieve their wellness goals through the best Wellness experience to improve their quality of life.

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Overlooking Lake Garda, EALA is a luxury hotel designed in every detail to give its guests a one-of-a-kind experience. The choice of Foglie d'Oro flooring, different in design but united by the quality and comfort of wood, creates a clear identity for each room - from the suites and the bistro to the wonderful hall.

In the elegant hall, the Matita modular system, in the Ca' Bollani finish and with Marquinia marble and brass inserts, creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where the natural light from outside creates a play of reflections on the dark marble.

In the refined lake-view bistro, the Tricot modular floor in Ca' Melli finish creates an evocative geometric composition. The tones of the smoked oak wood create a pleasant play of chiaroscuro, giving the surface and the room dynamism and character.

The Spina Jazz in Ca' Gabriel finish brings the rhythm of the herringbone parquet to the bedrooms, revisited by Foglie d'Oro with a contemporary soul: its serial interlocking corners create an airy, embracing design, perfect for creating a synthesis of comfort and luxury.

Our know-how allows us to meet the demands of customers and designers even beyond the wide range of floors in our catalogue, and Foglie d'Oro has created custom-made products for this project too.

Visit the Projects section of our website to see the complete gallery dedicated to EALA and discover, in the Bespoke section, how we can customise floors and panelling in a completely original way.

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Designing a luxury hotel in one of the most vibrant metropolises means creating functional environments with a refined design, finding solutions capable of ensuring guests the best conditions of comfort, with a focus on sustainability.

It is with these premises in mind that for the Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, in London, the modular flooring Frammenti was chosen, made of oak from well-managed and responsible forests.

Thanks to its extraordinary versatility, Frammenti is the perfect solution for every type of environment. The geometric design of the modular floor, which makes it resemble an abstract, contemporary mosaic, is reminiscent of the creative flow and dynamism of the metropolis.

The customised finish was realised by Foglie d'Oro to indulge the creative intuition of the designer and contribute to building the aesthetic identity of the spaces of a luxury hotel, whose attention to detail is one of its most distinctive aspects.

The ability to create customised floors, starting from the designer's drawing and the client's needs, is one of the reasons why Foglie d'Oro is chosen by architects and interior designers all over the world.

Would you like to choose a Foglie d'Oro floor or realise your own customised solution in both finish and format? Discover more here.

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The spirited, high-end lifestyle hotel located in Kentucky is an upscale, independent property housing 125 rooms, featuring restaurant and dining spaces, lobby lounge and bars, rooftop with sprawling views of downtown Lexington and the Distillery District, as well as an accompanying event space and bespoke gym.

Working with the hotelier and his design team, Paragon Studio were delighted to be involved in this boutique gym project right in the heart of Lexington’s famous Bourbon district.

The team worked on the gym layout design, and created a kit list including Paragon Studio adjustable gym benches and boxing equipment with the hotel logo debossed into the leather pads. They also specified Diabolo Dumbbells with the logo laser engraved into the end plates, matching racks and cork yoga equipment.

Lastly, Peloton and Precor were brought in to the project to complete the gym’s cardio and strength offering.

The Manchester Hotel opened on 2nd June 2023!

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As a team, sofa.com always find it interesting to look back at the successes of the year so far, delving into the data to look at what clients are seeking when it comes to luxury design.

Material of choice:

The past few years had seen an increase in sales of upholstered seating and bedroom furniture in colourful fabrics. However, 2023 so far sees a shift, as neutral tones overtake to reign supreme once again. Comprising the largest percentage of sales, two beautifully cool-toned beiges share the top spot – Pumice house basket weave, and Cashew viscose linen.

A palette which has always been well-suited to high-end hotel and residential design, this move to a more muted, modest scheme sits in line with a wider consumer trend seen this year – minimaluxe, or quiet minimalism. A focus on a few pared-back hues used together to create a streamlined aesthetic. Often you’ll notice that it is no longer colour that is used to showcase personality - the detail is all in the unique shapely elements of furniture, or the texture of the fabric selected.

Furniture Shape and design:

Sales of furniture with multifunctional features have increased year on year. The flexibility of modular furniture allows us to rearrange and reshuffle to accommodate extra guests, to adapt for entertaining purposes, or to allow increased space for stretching out and relaxing.

The top preforming sofa first debuted in 2009 and has continued to hold the top spot – and for good reason. The timeless shape, and ever-expanding offering of configurations allows Bluebell to sit equally as perfectly within contemporary specifications as traditional schemes. Another classic which has hurdled a few other contenders and is now situated at second place, is our Otto. Sleek lines, yet unbelievable comfort make this the ideal option for all settings.

Sofa.com have been lucky enough this summer to work on a number of hotel redesigns, and are pleased that the focus on creating bedroom furniture that is both designed to last yet has elements of key trends is popular within the hospitality sector as much as with residential shoppers. Sales of beds and mattresses in particular sit at 50% up on last year’s figures.

The sofa.com design and trade teams continue to work together ceaselessly to ensure new products are created in response to the needs of our customers, building on successes, adapting to meet any challenges and always bespoke.

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Visitors will also have access to the schedule of content at the co-located CSI Design Expo Americas providing even more opportunities to leave the show inspired.

Secure your complimentary conference and networking pass here to join the hotel & resort design community in Miami on 6 – 7 June.

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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious hotel suite design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Jeffrey Beers International.

Uniquely situated in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Hard Rock Hotel New York offers a backstage pass to the city's historic Music Row, honouring its legacy through intricate design, curated amenities, and award-winning guest experiences. Sitting atop the 36th floor is the jewel of the Rock Star Suite, a glass-enclosed penthouse with expansive city views, original contemporary artwork, bespoke music memorabilia, and one of the largest terraces for entertaining in New York City at 1,600 sq. ft. The sleek interior design includes double height ceilings and rich tones and textures creating an inviting and timeless space. On its first level, the suite features an open-plan living and dining area with a bar and butler pantry, an outdoor bar, VIP direct access to the RT60 rooftop bar & lounge, and more. Guests can retreat upstairs to a luxurious bedroom area with a walk in closet and contemporary bathroom featuring a red free standing bathtub.

What was the client's brief? 

The double story suite is to be used as both a guest room and an event space as well. We therefore designed the separate bedroom on the upper level, as well as created a direct access to the public bathrooms on the floor below. Last but not least, the space exemplifies what the guestrooms are about: to make the guest feel like a rockstar.

What inspired the design of the project?

The rich history of New York’s Music Row, as well as the culture of the Hard Rock brand. The city’s energy at dusk, when the Marquee lights of Times Square come out, also inspired our design.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Creating maximum impact with a reasonable budget. Also every material has to be high quality and resistant without feeling commercial. Being the only Rockstar Suite it has to be ADA accessible.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The red bathtub with a view feels very unique.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

It is a wonderful honour to be recognized by an internationally focused design award. We also greatly enjoy the opportunity to visit London for the awards event.

Questions answered by Pierre Josselin, Associate Principal, Jeffrey Beers International.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious hotel suite design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Hirsch Bedner Associates.

Canopy by Hilton Hotel in Qujiang Xi’an conveys the splendid leisure and carnival entertainment of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

The central premise of the design stems from the Chinese idiom 鲜衣怒马 xiānyī nùmǎ, which loosely translates to “wearing beautiful garments and riding powerful horses”. With this concept in mind, the interiors celebrate the vibrant fashion and design of the prosperous Tang Dynasty that for centuries has been integrated into the spiritual language of Xi’an’s neighborhoods, and now blends exquisitely with the opulent aesthetics of the Canopy brand.

The xiānyī nùmǎ motif is unraveled throughout the hotel style through the use of joyful colors and patterns inspired by Tang-era fabrics and artwork. By fusing the ancient with the modern to create a unique design story, the hotel creates a fresh perspective on historical elements, allowing people to enjoy traditional culture in a rejuvenated, vibrant, and fun way.

What was the client's brief? 

The initial brief received by clients was to bring the rich historical, traditional and cultural background of the place into the project renovation, and to align it to the hotel brand style and feeling.

Canopy by Hilton conveys the brand lifestyle that offers the guests comfort, thoughtful details, an energizing atmosphere and a uniquely local experience, as extension of the local neighbourhood.

Storytelling has been used to design the hotel allowing guest to discover the delightful neighbourhood as an ‘explorer’, and reinterpreting the traditional design language for modern appreciation.

What inspired the design of the project?

Canopy by Hilton Xi’an is located in the Qujiang New District, a new cultural hub and economic center of the historic city.

The hotel is connected to the Grand Tang Mall, a fabulous pedestrian street with myriad cultural sights and recreational activities.

The central premise of the design stems from the Chinese idiom “鲜衣怒马 xiānyī nùmǎ”, which loosely translates to “wearing beautiful garments and riding powerful horses”. With this concept in mind, the design team set out to celebrate the vibrant fashion and design of the prosperous Tang Dynasty that for centuries has been integrated into the spiritual language of Xi’an’s neighborhoods, and now blends exquisitely with the opulent aesthetics of the Canopy brand.

The xiānyī nùmǎ motif is unraveled throughout the hotel style through the use of joyful colors and patterns inspired by Tang-era fabrics and artwork. By fusing the ancient with the modern to create a unique design story, the hotel creates a fresh perspective on historical elements, allowing people to enjoy traditional culture in a rejuvenated, vibrant, and fun way.

By adopting the easy-going lifestyle of Xi’an and the cultural elements of the city’s historic legacy, the hotel acts as an extension of the local neighborhood.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

As most of the projects, the team had to deal with a tight timeline on redesigning the whole hotel without compromising the construction programme.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Canopy by Hilton Xi’an conveys the splendid leisure and carnival entertainment of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

The hotel creates a new perspective that allows people to reveal the traditional culture in a way that is vibrant, fun and young, it adopts the easy-going Xi’an characteristic that enhance the vibe of the area it resides in.

The hotel has 125 guestrooms in the guest tower, including exclusive suites and lofts, leveraging little-bit difference with standard of Hilton group, the design of the guestroom tends to create different experience for the guests.

Guests are initially greeted by a room identity sign that echoes the design concept idiom and takes inspiration from a journey via horse and camel along the silk road. Upon entering the guestrooms, the design calls to mind a Tang-era scene of women pounding and making palace silk. During this time, women used mineral pigments to dye silk, and wrapped stones with wet raw rice paper or cotton to slowly seep the color into the silk. A nod to this ingenious process can be seen in the stylish canopy painted on the wall and ceiling surrounding the bed in each guestroom. The canopy is framed by clean black lines and features a strip of color in the center that fades from turquoise on the ceiling to a bright orange - a color spectrum cherished in the Tang Dynasty.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The SBID International Design Awards are a prestigious recognition of excellence within the interior design industry across products, interiors and fit out.

Over a decade on, the Awards has firmly established itself as one of the most prestigious interior design Awards in the global design calendar. It represents the outstanding industry achievements and top quality design services that continue to inspire the profession.

Questions answered by Flavio Patino, Associate, HBA Hong Kong.

In this week's interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design category, Brime Robbins, Maria Brime & Garrett Robbins shine the spotlight on the intricate details of their project, discuss their design approach and talk about connecting the world and translating the stories and culture through design.

Brime Robbins were commissioned for the interior design at Andaz Prague, the first Hyatt hotel in the Czech Republic and the first luxury lifestyle hotel in Prague. In the historic building known ‘Sugar Palace’ Brime Robbins worked to not only preserve and elevate the historic features of the building but create an experience integral to the identity of Prague itself.

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

In transforming the historic Sugar Palace building into a luxury Andaz hotel, Brime Robbins harnessed the central design inspiration of Czech myths and legends; making “the global local”, and transporting guests to a legendary world beyond the restored casement windows and crown mouldings.

Awoken from their slumber within the dormant building, the characters from the legends emerge from the walls and floors to greet guests and guide them through an unforgettable journey through Andaz Prague. This design approach connects visiting guests with a strong, passionate sense of place, reconnecting native people of Prague with their childhoods and engaging with local artists and craftsmen with modern and refined materials. Guests are immersed into a world of never-ending stories, which inevitably they will pack into their suitcases and take home with them, telling friends and family far and wide...and hence creating a larger, more global story from the heart of Prague. It is this sharing of our hearts, which then makes the entire hotel experience intimate, unique and very personal.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

The biggest and most positive takeaway from this project was the exceptionally strong emotional, visceral connection between the people of Czech Republic and the stories anchoring the design. Often when designing spaces, there is a core concept and/or story which can be just as interesting and unique but have come nowhere close to the personal connection for each and every person in Prague, and Czech Republic.

For this project, we spent a lot of time at the concept stage – mesmerised by Czech Republic and Prague being so enchanting and rich in culture – that is how we came to that heritage and culture being such a focal point to be harnessed and encapsulated into the design.

It truly has been amazing how something so simple could have such a large, withstanding impact. During tours and events, some people have been on the verge of tears with such an emotional connection to the design that remind them of their grandparents reading them these stories and so on.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

To achieve such recognition and an overwhelming positive response to our concept and design has been unbelievable. Such recognition from the industry and wider design community has really propelled us to strive for nothing less than ‘award-winning’ concepts and designs going forward. It has really highlighted how crucial the symbiotic relationship is between concept and design and the integration between the two.

Winning an SBID award has meant greater exposure in the UK and Northern Europe from such a prestigious and well-respected body, truly catapulting our designs from the local, to global.

On top of this, winning the award adds great value to the property itself, whilst nurturing our current and future relationships with our clients. This should also hopefully support us when approaching future projects as such proven success and positive track record highlights how universally, the BR approach, is an approach like no other. This recognition puts the spotlight on how being so intrinsically personal and emotional can create a strong connection with the place itself, whilst simultaneously creating an unbreakable bond with guests through the design and narrative.

For this project you were asked to create an experience integral to the identity of Prague itself. What is your approach/design process for this kind of brief, especially being a design practice based abroad?

As we mentioned, we spent a lot of time and concentrated efforts during the concept phase to ensure the stories and narrative could truly shine through and connect to one and all. We spent a lot of time speaking to people in Prague, gathering research, and fundamentally immersing ourselves into local cultures to support such an enriching narrative.

We became in love with the idea of retelling these stories but in a more uplifting style that would translate into interior design. It’s been an unbelievably fun process to now see these stories emerge from the walls in front of you.

It is important to note, we were not trying to imitate Czech culture but to create an authentic representation by translating such rich culture to a relatable and mesmerising narrative widely understood across the globe. There truly is something wonderfully innate about engaging in a story or fairy-tale, something universal that supports an immersive experience - often providing a stronger understanding of ourselves during the process.

Hotel rooms too often create a feeling of coldness and unfamiliarity. How did you ensure the guests would feel at home staying in these suites?

For us, it is vital to capture interest and create moments to pause and engage. Very much like the narrative within a story, it’s important to create areas to be in awe of, encouraging a moment of pause, reflection and enjoyment. And this was key for Andaz Prague, especially for such an enriching lifestyle brand.

We explored touches of residential styling and sensibilities to create a ‘home from home’ experience along the way. From the smallest details that connect guests to something they may have in their home or are familiar to a home they know. It’s important to design in a way that makes you literally want to dive into and feel at home.

From damask, textured wallpapers to a distinctive chaise longue and umbrella stand. With high quality craftsmanship and materials that reflect a sense of home and warmth, guests can feel like they’re in a special place; their very own luxury, their own little world.

Can you tell us more about your company ethos? What role does interior design play in “making the global local”?

Our ethos to ‘make the global, local’ represents a wonderful synergy and the opportunity to make such a large, fast-paced world, feel smaller, connected and intimate.

There are so many things to fall in love with about each and individual culture, and this couldn’t be truer about Prague and Czech Republic. The designs for Andaz Prague create deep connections coupled with a sense of mystery and intrigue, a unique unforgettable experience for all. Guests will find reasons to return, relive and indulge through the experiences presented through the design.

This rich emotional connection is formed through multiple layers of detail within a 360 design approach. Throughout the immersive journey, you are faced with hidden treasure after hidden treasure, with guests longing to pack up these experiences in their suitcases to take home with them. Making the global, local.

It is important to recognise local cultures from a global perspective, creating an ambience that guests want to pocket and travel with so that these stories can be retold globally, day after day, whether verbally or visually in the ever-growing world of social media. As small as the world is, people can feel connected to Czech Republic without even having visited.

Questions answered by Maria Brime & Garrett Robbins, Co-founders, Brime Robbins.