Room 16 from James Thomas

Some things in your room:

I love Penguin books. Penguin Books was originally founded in the UK in 1935 by Allen Lane, who envisioned a collection of quality, attractive books affordable enough to be “bought as easily and casually as a packet of cigarettes.” This collection of blue Penguins is perfect in this room. Any classics for you here to enjoy?

The teak 4 poster bed (there are a few in the hotel) I had shipped from Chennai. They are crafted from some of the teak from the old colonial houses that had been pulled down. When they arrived they were so beautifully wrapped in corrugated paper and string. Somewhere I have photos. They do tend to get a bit rickety over the years and so we have attached the bed to the wall with these very neat chrome brackets.

Because of its shape and the intrusion of a chimney breast half way down the room the layout gave us a few challenges. We tried all sorts of combinations with all sorts of furniture but as you can see by facing the bed towards the sea allows such glorious views that it certainly detracts from having only one accessible side of the bed. We carved out the bookcase into the chimney breast (the dust took days to clear up!) and by adding a small reading lamp and some overhead book lights at least gives some extra depth and detail to the room.

'To climb over me is to love me' - not from Shakespeare!

'The smallest bathroom in the world' - it must be a contender! It's amazing what one can do with small spaces.

I love this charming Edwardian pre-loved wardrobe with the frieze inlay . So much brown furniture can be bought for little money now. It will all come back into 'fashion' one day but for me the form and function of pieces like this are timeless.

Along with a rescued kitchen chair I was pleased to have found this old pine desk which we painted with a blue and a grey French chalk paint to give them both a distressed look. They combine nicely here and are complimented with the Tomons desk lamp in aquamarine and the range of hard back books. The large oil of the Thames at Erith hanging above gives you a second seaview if you are missing your view of the sea from your balcony!

The walls are painted in a flat matt 'Copenhagen Blue' from Dulux. It's not a cold and harsh blue and looks good in both summer and winter. Being on Nelson Crescent, it also nods to Nelson and the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.

Brown carpet..hmmmm you might say, but just like brown floorboards, the colour goes with everything and is very versatile with design and style of any period.

Sockets! So difficult to always get them in the exact place you want. Unless you're building an hotel with designers and architects where all layouts are formalised and all furniture is contracted in advance, then you're really having to try and estimate where the sockets are to go, as you DIY your own design. You have to second guess what tables, lamps and other furniture might fit in the space and hopefully position something that works. All within a very restricted budget and time frame. And that includes getting your electrician to be on site when you want him! But I think in this room we have got it mostly right.

In 1821, HM King George IV visited Ramsgate several times.

He received such a friendly welcome on these visits of embarkation to Hanover that on his return to London he decreed that Ramsgate Harbour should receive the title of "The Royal Harbour of Ramsgate" and that we could fly his Royal Standard three times per year - 29th January, 19th July and 12th August. (Accession to the Throne, Coronation and His Majesty's Birthday.)