The Paul Smith Suite at Brown’s Hotel is a whimsical reflection of both the eclectic aesthetic of the acclaimed designer and the heritage of the London property. We tour the suite and share recommendations, on where to go when visiting the city, from Sir Paul Smith and Olga Polizzi, Rocco Forte Hotels Director of Design
It’s not difficult to find Sir Paul Smith’s new suite on the first floor of the historic Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, London. Aside from his moniker displayed in signature typography on the door, the suite — recently unveiled following a special design collaboration — is distinguishable by its banana doorhandle, a hint at the quirky design details that lie inside.
The Paul Smith Suite was conceptualised by the celebrated designer and Rocco Forte Hotels Director of Design, Olga Polizzi — a regular at Smith’s Albemarle Street boutique, down the road from the hotel. Notable details within the 102m2 space highlight Smith’s decades-long contributions to fashion and design, such as furnishings from his recent collection with the Italian luxury furniture brand, De Padova; Type 75 lamps from a longstanding partnership with Anglepoise, a British lighting brand; and checked woollen blankets designed by Paul for textile company, Maharam.
Other personal touches include hand-selected artworks, a small library of art and design books for guests to peruse, and a leather desk chair from the 1970s by Mario Bellini, previously found in Paul’s office at his Covent Garden HQ.
The suite’s main sitting room, with its expansive art wall adorned with prints and original artworks, evokes the familiar feeling of visiting a friend’s home — albeit one who has a very good eye for design.
But this is a hotel, and guests can expect the comforts of Brown’s five-star service and amenities during their stay. Should you need a last-minute spruce up for a formal event, a ‘Style SOS Service’ menu in the wardrobe sees a selection of men’s clothing available for purchase, including a pair of the designer’s eclectic cufflinks. And, should you feel inspired to take a piece of the suite home with you, select pieces such as prints and the Paul Smith home collection are available to order, too.
Rates for the Sir Paul Smith Suite at Brown’s Hotel start at £5,500 (about AUD $10,458) per night, including breakfast.
Sir Paul Smith’s London must-dos
“A walk through the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park with a coffee, finishing up at the Design Museum in the old Commonwealth Institute.”
“The Rombo al forno turbot at the River Café.”
“Poilâne, near Sloane Square.”
“Daylesford Organic for the obvious; Clarke’s Restaurant for a special supper; VV Rouleaux for the perfect gift-wrapping; L. Cornelissen & Son for art supplies; and Rough Trade West for all my vinyl needs.”
Olga Polizzi’s London must-dos
“Sir John Soane’s Museum in Bloomsbury is a lovely place to pop into; I mean, no one can but like that museum. It’s small, easy, and quick to see — a real collector’s house, and just full of interesting bits. We’re all always trying to copy the Soane thing to some degree, it has such a universal appeal.”
“Fortnum & Mason is a good place to buy biscuits and chocolates; and go for a quick coffee.”
“I love buying, I love going to fairs, and I am always looking at antique shops. I always go to Battersea (Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair), where you can get cheap things as well as expensive ones — there’s always something to pick up.”