While modern designs tend to have a certain look, there is nothing quite as comforting as vintage charm. Warm color schemes, classic art and dramatic hallways bring people back to the days of yesteryear. Here are some hotels that were designed with an old-school feel mind, taking inspiration from as far back as 800 years ago.
Monkey Island Estate Located on a private island on the River Thames with a history dating back 800 years, Monkey Island Estatehas been the haunt of monks, royalty, aristocrats, and a host of famous writers and performers, and was formerly an 18th century fishing retreat for the Duke of Marlborough. Restored in 2019, Monkey Island Estate is set across seven acres, consisting of 42 guest rooms and white bricked Pavilion and Temple buildings surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens and beautiful views of the river.
The design, by Champalimaud Design, celebrates the lore and anecdotal history of Monkey Island, including the early-18th century monkey paintings by the famed Andieu de Clermont in the Monkey Room, which inspired the upholstery throughout the property. The island’s historic Wedgewood Suite has also remained with its iconic blue ceilings, while newer additions include the Whisky Snug, accessed by a secret staircase, the Monkey Island Brasserie and the Floating Spa, built on a custom built traditional wide-beam English canal boat.
Hotel Lou Pinet
Hôtel Lou Pinet is a luxury hideaway in the French Rivera’s legendary town of Saint-Tropez. Embodying the bohemian charm of Saint-Tropez, it has been strategically located between Place des Lices and peninsula’s most sought-after beaches — an exclusive address dating back to the 1960s before fever took hold of the little village. Once a humble fishing village, Saint-Tropez is now widely known as one of the most high profile coastal retreats in the world. The success of the 1956 film ‘And God Created Woman,’ staring Brigitte Bardot, which was extensively shot in Saint-Tropez and the French Riviera, glamorized the village into the modern, chic seaside destination and international sensation its known as today. Especially created by French architect, interior decorator and designer Charles Zana, Hotel Lou Pinet echoes the vintage Saint-Tropez spirit of the 60’s and 70’s. In this sophisticated, understated space, the rounded, almost organic shapes pay tribute to the style of yesteryear, from the layout of the rooms to the large banquettes and lamps designed by Zana in the dining room. Golden sunlight streams through in total harmony with the natural decor, featuring the linen, ceramic, rope, terracotta and whitewash 20th-century artists, from Chagall to Cocteau. The hotel features 26 guest rooms and 8 suites — each bathed in natural light with private gardens, spa in partnership with Tata Harper, two bars, it's very own BeefBar restaurant butcher shop, and the largest hotel pool in Saint-Tropez tucked away in a secret garden.
Carlton Hotel St. Moritz
Situated in St. Moritz, one of the most well-known ski resorts in the world, the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz is rumored to have been the summer home of a Russian Tsar. The 103-year-old property suggests truth to the rumors as a collection of traditional Russian fabrics were found in the attic during the hotel’s 2007 refurbishment and served as the inspiration behind the redesign by Switzerland-based Carlo Rampazzi. When renovating the interior, Rampazzi kept the prestige and privacy of St. Moritz in mind as the winding hallways are specifically designed so no two guests in the same hallway are able to see one another. From shattered china to table legs, he made it a point to salvage as much as he could, as well as add opulent details such as Berluti leather doors, Murano glass mirrors, and Parisian subway tiles and billboard frames.