After the complete redesign of several areas, including the lobby, restaurant, meeting rooms and bathrooms, one of the landmark hotels in the Italian city of Milan is sporting a fresh new look. The renovation, carried out jointly by Spanish architect Álvaro Sans and Vittorio Grassi Architects, has given a new look to the Meliá Milano, a hotel located in Via Masaccio, very close to the trendy area known as City Life, the new centre of luxury shopping in the city.

The functional and architectural approach of the renovation project led to the rebirth of this 20-year-old hotel, opening up spaces by creating a new, spacious and flexible layout of the common areas. The interior gardens, high skylights and contemporary use of materials and textures give the bar, restaurant and co-working area a sophisticated feel.

A first glance at the entrance and reception of the renovated headquarters of the glass distributor Van Noordenne in the Netherlands would not suggest that this is an office complex. It feels more like a luxury hotel, with its elegant design, sophisticated materials and precious interior design. For this new headquarters of Europe’s largest glass wholesaler, the firm has commissioned the interior designer Nathalie van Noordenne, who has put all of her passion and creativity at the service of this mega-project for this family company whose origins date back to 1938.

It was in the 1930s that Jan van Noordenne founded this family business. From a local company, it grew into an international wholesale business specialising in glass. Today, in its new headquarters, every effort has been made to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the company’s offices and restaurant.

A restaurant to match

The company’s restaurant, where Sensa Orinoco has also been used in large 2 cm thick slabs, has been conceived following the same design concept. The centrepiece of this area is the large Sensa Orinoco fireplace – an explosion of beauty when lit and a piece of sculpture when unlit. Furthermore, part of the wall has been clad with the same material. Certainly a high standard for a restaurant where customers, guests and staff can relax and enjoy an exclusive atmosphere.

The contemporary design of the suites at Hotel Gränsö Slott blends in with the historic surroundings and coastal landscape of this resort near the idyllic town of Västervik, Sweden. The setting could not be more privileged: a castle dating back to 1800 and a private beach. There, four new beach villas with sea views have been built. These 45 m2 holiday homes feature spacious bathrooms, a bedroom, living room and large terraces. The four villas of the hotel, Lillön, Skanvik, Ekholmen and Tärnskär, have been designed in partnership with Amelie von Essen, from the AHA Anders Holmberg Arkitekter studio.

“When creating the new interior design concept for the Gränsö beach villas, the most important thing was to create a warm and welcoming space with a Scandinavian touch that integrated the surrounding nature”, explains Amelie von Essen. Dekton was chosen as the main material for the bathrooms, with this being used on the walls, floors and countertops. In addition, independent and well differentiated spaces were created, with a separate bathtub, shower and toilet.

The Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa is a classic style hotel on the island of Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands. Better known as the Gran Hotel, at 54 metres high and 15 storeys, it holds the record for being the tallest building on the island since it was built in 1970. The five-star hotel, which completed its renovation in April 2021, will reopen in September with fully upgraded suites.

The architect Quirina Morales is responsible for the refurbishment and interior design of these suites. For the bathroom update, she opted for a white material which contrasts with the blue of the sea and is resistant, but at the same time aesthetically pleasing. Silestone Calacatta Gold was chosen as a nod to the classic style of the hotel, which is over 40 years old.

The fifty Calacatta Gold countertops have been designed with a very modern cut that allows towels to be hung, thus avoiding the use of other elements and improving functionality. The washbasins –also in white– have been placed over the countertop, giving a neat and modern effect.

The Ritz-Carlton Abama is a five-star resort in Tenerife, the island of eternal spring. It is the perfect place to rest and relax while enjoying excellent guest service, in line with the philosophy of The Ritz-Carlton chain. With this purpose in mind, the renovation of one of its restaurants, “La Veranda”, was carried out in 2019.

The hotel has an extensive gastronomic offer with eight different restaurants, some of which have been awarded several Michelin stars. “La Veranda” is dedicated to breakfast and pop-up proposals. Therefore, this restaurant is equipped with large buffet counters where the food is beautifully presented and live cooking is performed.

During the modernisation project of the restaurant, led by Gregory de Clerck, all worktops were replaced with a single material: Dekton Olimpo. The result is a clear, relaxed and elegant atmosphere, in contrast to the warmth of the wood used in the dining area. Dekton Olimpo is a material from the Stonika collection inspired by Carrara marble. Its white colour with grey veins adds character and enhances the look of the restaurant.

Crowne Plaza - The Warsaw HUB had its opening in November 2020. This modern, multifunctional hub in the center of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is an outstanding building and attention catcher. Two skyscrapers connected by a bridge are a place for conference centers, relaxation zones, hotels and office space. This is also the place for the first hotel from the Crowne Plaza chain in Poland. The interior design was entrusted to the Tremend studio from Warsaw, experienced in similar projects.

The main theme in the interiors of Crowne Plaza is the Vistula River and its unique wild nature. Respect for nature is manifested not only in this clear reference to the river, but also in the conscious selection of materials. Common areas are covered, among others, with Silestone by Cosentino, company that constantly develops its circular economy model. On top of that, Cosentino surfaces are characterized by exceptional durability and wear resistance.

“We decided to choose Silestone because, first of all, we want to cooperate with producers that respect the natural environment. Besides, this material fits perfectly into our main theme. The veins presented on the slabs bring to mind a river, which is in the center of our project”, explains architect Magdalena Federowicz-Boule, CEO of Tremend.

Scandic The Reef is more than just a hotel. Its attractions and facilities which are typical of a water park plus its Caribbean decor, offer a completely unique experience to visitors. Everything at Scandic The Reef is a journey into nature and fun, where you can hear the sound of rushing water around every corner. This tranquillity is also present in the cloakrooms, where the H-Line washbasins by Silestone can be found.

The hotel’s interior designers were looking for a material that was both highly resistant and visually appealing. The H-Line washbasins by Silestone, in Aluminio Nube, provide a clean and neat appearance, including features such as mitred edges, which give a smooth finish to the entire structure.

In addition to its beautiful design, Silestone is easy to maintain and clean, it withstands daily use and does not lose its properties or colour consistency over time.

Located in the wooded area of Lage Vuursche (The Netherlands) you can find Hotel Ernst Sillem Hoeve. This former coach house from 1880 has 85 modern hotel rooms, a restaurant, a swimming pool, an infrared sauna, 2 hotel bars and 20 meeting rooms.

Hotel Ernst Sillem Hoeve combines the grandeur from the past with current modern facilities. In 2018 the restaurant part was renovated. Etienne Bouten, of B+B Interior architecture, took care of the design.