DESIGN
The living room of a W Dubai “ king cool ” corner suite
All the private rooms and suites look upon water – whether the Arabian Gulf or the Palm Jumeirah , the artificial , tree-shaped archipelago that juts into the gulf , Scott says . One wall in each room is decorated with Arabic lettering spelling out lyrics to a famous love song . Done in a graffiti style , the décor has an edgy tie-in with the local culture . Balcony doors open onto a terrace , where guests can listen to the music play in the Wet Deck pool area , she says .
“ Our in-house music curator hand-selects the sounds in each space throughout the hotel ,” Scott says .
A “ spectacular ” room at the W Dubai
A RESORT OASIS The Mandarin Oriental Jumeira , Dubai sought to reflect the city ’ s modern urban luxury feel and soften it with the sentiment of a seaside resort . For the interior design , it worked with hospitality designer Jeffrey Wilkes of Designwilkes , says Werner Anzinger , the hotel ’ s general manager .
The 256-key hotel , which includes 78 suites , opened on February 18 , with six F & B spaces , a swimming pool and daily room rates starting at about AED2,204 ( US $ 600 ).
“ Our aesthetic goals were to create a beautiful , harmonious palette where materials speak to one another , stripping away clutter and excess . The understated interiors , soft patterns and linen textures are all combined to create an inviting and relaxing space , perfect for affluent travelers and those who have an appreciation for the finer things in life ,” Anzinger says .
That softness is seen in the rooms . Most come with private balconies and all have nearly one wall of windows to take in the skyline or sea views . A muted palette is accented by a piece of colorful furniture – perhaps a coral-colored chair or an azure bench to represent the blue of the sea , bringing the outdoors in . Ceilings have zigzag patterns similar to Arabesque patterning , which plays with light .
Anzinger says a design highlight is the lobby . “ The moment you step into our lobby , you are instantly captivated by 14 bronze metal trees standing 7 , 8 and 9 meters high , creating a canopy of crystal and light that glistens and sparkles , just like
36 hotelsmag . com May 2019