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The restaurant continues the relationship with the gardens and the exterior established throughout the hotel and seen in the use of terraces for the bedrooms, spa and other parts of the hotel. This relationship is emphasised by the use of almost frameless picture windows, and in theatrical fashion by the external lighting at night.
The restaurant is built around the trunk of a large and old oak tree, but throughout the space is extended visually by the interaction with the external views of the mountains and gardens. The extra drama at night through external lighting is an addition to the sense of excitement that is created internally by the way the lighting is deployed through the bar and lounge areas.
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The lighting is used in quite a subtle manner and allows the candles to contribute to the overall evening light. Click the image to look through another part of the lounge to the maitre d' station and the entrance to the restaurant
Carefully placed mirror reflects the entrance lobby to the second main building, the historic Manor House. Click the image to see more
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The mix of modern and traditional throughout the buildings that make up the hotel is perhaps a product of the steady redevelopment of interiors, and of a programme of improvement of the guest environment. It would be difficult to manage without an overall clear goal for the property in terms of the level of comfort and design to be offered to guests. With a clear overall idea of the target levels the owner and her designers have maintained the integrity of the building, and have been able to progress design changes without creating visual conflicts or alienating guests. In microcosm the hotelier has been able to maintain her own brand identity whilst innovating and keeping pace with the latest in developements in boutique hotels worldwide.
Alongside this the owner has also managed to develop the hotels level of luxury ensuring that there is no drift downmarket, whilst being faithful to the buildings themselves. This respect for the architecture and internal finishes is noticeable in reception but is most clearly marked in the ways in which the Manor House is handled. With structural elements internally strong, and the origins of the building dating back to the seventeenth century, the classic country house look has been incorporated within luxury bathrooms, in some of which the bath is positioned to give the same view of the hotels own vineyards that can be enjoyed from the balcony of the bedroom.
"good commercial design sense allied to natural hotel keeping instincts"
Liz McGraw is an hotelier in the same tradition of the Forte’s Olga Polizzi, or Kit Kemp of Firmdale Hotels, rather than an innovator like Schrager of Morgan’s Hotels. A good commercial design sense allied to natural hotel keeping instincts has developed a small and exclusive branded chain which is well placed to withstand the assault on the South African hotel market planned by the major groups. In Cellars Hohenort she has a worthy flag bearer for her brand.
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