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Room 27 from James Thomas

The phrase 'Art Collection' usually conjures up expensive oil paintings worth thousands which are out of the financial reach of most of us. However collecting art is something that can be done at all investment levels and I hope by taking you through some of my collection in this hotel it w... more

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Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27
Room 27

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the mattress being brought up by my nephews! A bit Laurel and Hardy

  • Room 27

This room was a bedroom when it was a private house. The proportions were good and we only had to move the bedroom entrance to line up with the chimney breast (on the wall opposite the windows). We ripped out the old shower room and installed a new bathroom in the same corner of the room.

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 of them. They do tend to get a bit rickety over the years and so we have attached the bed to the wall with a clever brace.

Where possible in the hotel I have tried to use real furniture rather than built in units. Firstly because I feel it gives more character and secondly it's much cheaper. This magnificent Victorian double mahogany wardrobe sits so well here. I bought it locally on eBay for £400. However I learnt that one has to be very accurate with measurements. First rule is don't let me do the measuring! You can see in one of the pictures here that we had to shave the top down a bit so it would fit. I thinks its great how we incorporated a tea/coffee tray inside with a nice little spot light.

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.