7 Iconic Hotel Suites Around the World Debuting Freshly Redesigned Looks

Facelifts sometimes can go wrong, delivering a worse result than the original. However, design facelifts are always a good idea—especially when the spaces are luxurious hotel suites that have been hosting visitors for centuries. And for such renowned hotels, only the best interior designers and architects are enlisted for the job. For instance, in London, Bryan O’Sullivan—who’s known for his bold yet sophisticated sense of majesty—recently unveiled a wholly refurbished suite at the iconic 19th-century Claridge’s. 

O’Sullivan isn’t the only interiors expert entrusted to bring ages-old hotel suites into the 21st century. The slew of talented interior designers who took on the task of performing facelifts on some of the world’s most beloved spots have done so with finesse, and they’re eager to open the doors back up to overnight guests. From Palm Beach to São Paulo, these sprawling rooms will book up fast.

The Colony Hotel

Palm Beach is where the East Coast crowd gets its warm weather fix when temperatures above the Mason-Dixon dip below freezing. Luckily, plenty of haute hotels have rooms to spare. In particular, The Colony Hotel—which swung open its doors to the flamingo-pink façade in 1947—is garnering a bit more attention than the others. One of 89 rooms has been completely reimagined by Mark D. Sikes. 

The 1,100-square-foot Villa Aralia is a nuanced take on his classic blue-and-white coastal look that doesn’t compromise that signature Palm Beach style. In fact, when considering his inspirations, Sikes didn’t look much further than the hotel’s café striped awnings. The new two-bedroom villa is complete with new pieces from his collaboration with Chaddock, light fixtures from Sikes’ collection with Hudson Valley Lighting, and custom upholstery. Plus, all of it is available to purchase through the local boutique, Hive.

Sikes is one of many designers enlisted to outfit one of The Colony’s standalone villas—tastemaker Aerin Lauder has also taken over a 2,100-square-foot space. Lauder’s, dubbed Aerin Villa Jasmine, celebrates coastal style with wicker furniture, creamy white walls, and jute rugs underfoot. The villa, accessible via a private entrance, features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a graciously sized living and dining space. Though Lauder’s signature look tends to lean towards the contemporary, she kept original details intact: Old-growth pecky cypress doors and a cast stone fireplace.

Claridge’s

When daydreaming about the world’s most famous Art Deco landmarks, high-rises in Miami and France may come to mind. But there is one stylish example of the glamorous design movement in London at Claridge’s, the circa-1856 hotel whose exterior façade is as Art Deco as architecture gets. Recently, though, the hotel decided it was time for a small refresh—specifically of Suite 410. Enter Bryan O’Sullivan, who created a quiet oasis of tranquility. He says, “We felt that the design should feature subtle nods to the past, but be firmly forward-thinking in its approach. We were initially inspired by the Art Deco details that pepper the hotel and by our desire to give the suite a residential feel.”

That home-away-from-home feel lends itself to the contemporary furnishings that create neat little vignettes throughout the space. “There’s this sense of a personal collection that’s been curated over time in the suite.” And O’Sullivan didn’t stop at the decor, which encompasses antiques, vintage, and contemporary pieces. The detail-oriented perfectionist went so far as to gently curve the architecture “to really envelope the guest,” he adds.

Zero George

If there is one American city with architecture as extravagant as it is charming, it’s Charleston, South Carolina. Zero George’s newly appointed suites housed within a 19th-century structure are proof of that charm. Designed by Lynn Easton—cofounder of Easton Porter Group—and Betsy Berry, the five suites are part of the recently debuted residences and feature the local Charlestonian’s elegant and subtle Southern flair, with warm neutrals, natural wood finishes, and plenty of pieces wrapped in woven rattan. Separate from the rest of the hotel’s 16 guest rooms, consider the residences a pied-à-terre that just so happens to have all of the amenities that come with a luxe hotel.

The Stafford London

Like many stone structures in London, 16–18 St. James’s Place is historic. They were originally built as private residences in the 17th century, and the house in the middle famously housed Lord and Lady Lyttelton, who was eventually pressed into service as the nanny to Queen Victoria’s children. Since the Lytteltons moved out, the three stately homes have taken on many roles, including the Richmond Club Chambers, Green’s Private Hotel, and St. James’s Palace Hotel. In 1886, it was The Stafford Club and originally housed in only number 18. Several years later, it expanded to occupy all three homes, and in 1912, The Stafford London was open for business.

The newly debuted Rosendale Design–outfitted Park suite, which spans two floors, looks more like a private apartment than an outpost within a hotel. On the lower level, the master bedroom is complete with an adjoining marble and an onyx en suite bathroom. Upstairs, an expansive open floor plan encompasses a formal sitting room and dining area anchored by a Calcutta-surrounded fireplace. On either side of the dramatic fireplace, though, is the pièce de résistance: The enormous private terrace.

The Beaumont

The Beaumont—a boutique hotel in a 1926 Mayfair building with 50 rooms and 22 suites—is finally revealing its Thierry Despont–designed suite on the first floor, overlooking the lush Brown Hart Gardens. Named after the stylish neighborhood in which it boasts pride of place, The Beaumont’s two-bedroom Mayfair suite is a swanky take on Art Deco, with a collection of custom furniture in a sultry palette, an antique hand-blown Murano glass and bronze pendant, and cognac leather–outfitted walls.

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, tucked within the city’s famed French Quarter, pays homage to its historical roots in the circa-1908 Beaux Arts Maison Blanche building. The newly debuted two-bedroom Residence suite by Palm Beach–based Marzipan only emphasizes the iconically Southern look of the hotel. With a dining room with space for 10 guests and a cozy fireplace in the primary bedroom, the penthouse suite is outfitted to function as a private apartment on the 15th floor. The centerpiece of the suite, however, is outside on the 3,500-square-foot terrace complete with a full sitting area arranged around the alfresco fireplace and dining space with room for eight.

The Peninsula Chicago

When jet-setters think of The Peninsula, they may conjure images of the circa-1905 Neoclassical building on New York City’s Fifth Avenue or the brand’s first outpost in Hong Kong. However, The Peninsula Chicago, which arrived in the Windy City more than two decades ago, is worthy of its iconic name. The hotel’s namesake three-bedroom, 3,600-square-foot suite on the 18th floor just reemerged after an extensive refresh, courtesy of New York–based interior designer Billy Rooney. The reimagined suite prioritizes Old World luxury with a contemporary edge, featuring everything from a baby grand piano to a wrap-around terrace overlooking Lake Michigan. Rooney also enlisted artists to hand-paint the gentle metallic walls in the dining room, offering an elegant new look to the space.