Interior design in Cornwall’s hotel scene has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, and the days of identikit blue-and-white colour palettes and mismatched nautical regalia seem, mercifully, to be behind us. Now a new cohort of stylish stays has come to the fore, one that embraces ebullient colours and natural materials to enhance the sensual delights of a Cornish seaside holiday. Many hoteliers have also tapped into the Duchy’s rich seam of creative talent, sourcing paintings, sculptures and finely crafted ‘objets’ from the local artists and artisans. In short, it’s not hard these days to find a hotel where the indoors can divert your attention from the celebrated scenery. Here are 10 of the best boutique hotels in Cornwall.
It’s been 10 years since David and Karen Richards first began refashioning this Edwardian hotel on the St Mawes harbourfront, transforming its interiors into some of the most stylish you’ll find anywhere in Cornwall. There are plenty of local touches, such as the paintings by Padstow-based artist David Pearce and the driftwood sculptures, while the 18 bright and breezy bedrooms are classic Cornish seaside. But Karen’s design incorporates plenty of antiques and objets accumulated during her travels, including European ceramics and African textiles.
From
£
265
per night
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• The best hotels in Cornwall
St Mawes is often declared to be England’s answer to St Tropez, and it’s places like Hotel Tresanton which justify such a comparison. The hotel is owned by celebrated designer Olga Polizzi, who has created an elegant seaside retreat that certainly wouldn’t look out of place on the French Riviera (particularly the Mediterrenean-style beach club which skirts the waterline). The style is firmly rooted in Cornwall though, with artworks by the likes of Barbara Hepworth scattered throughout the beachy interiors.
From
£
230
per night
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St Petroc’s is arguably the most stylish member of Rick Stein’s Padstow empire. It occupies an elegant Georgian townhouse, with a restaurant on the ground floor and 10 rooms above. The look is traditional, but with plenty of modern touches. Original fireplaces, exposed oak beams and four-poster beds are matched with free-standing baths, there are plantation shutters on the sash windows, and white wood-panelled feature walls add a touch of Californian beach chic.
From
£
165
per night
Pedestrians strolling up Chapel Street, distracted by the art galleries, antiques shops and historic pubs, might not notice this unobtrusive townhouse hotel. But those who step inside rarely fail to be impressed. The six rooms encompass a broad and eclectic mix of styles: some offer a contemporary twist on Georgian design (the house itself was built in 1792); others veer into mid-century modernism with Sixties-style easy chairs, Anglepoise lamps and pops of vivid colour. It’s eccentric, but it works brilliantly.
From
£
150
per night
Padstow Townhouse is first and foremost a foodie destination, thanks to chef-owner Paul Ainsworth and his Michelin star. But it’s his wife, Emma, and designer Eve Cullen-Cornes who can take credit for the six sumptuously decorated suites where diners can retire, sated and happy after an evening of fine food and wine. Each one is totally different from the next: Rhubarb & Custard is fitted out in plush fabrics and rich colours that evoke Bedouin comfort, Popcorn is all Parisian flair, and Marshmallow takes its cues from India’s maharajahs.
From
£
358
per night
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Penzance has long had an arty, independent vibe, and as such it was practically made for an outpost of the Artist Residence group, which has excelled itself in this wild corner of West Cornwall with a hotel that is utterly bizarre and totally enchanting. The style is retro, but cannot really be pinned down any further than that. Imagine a cross between a Victorian warehouse, a Mexican hacienda and a pop art gallery, and you might have the idea.
From
£
197
per night
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This is the sister hotel to the Idle Rocks, just a couple of minutes’ walk away, and the two share a number of similarities thanks to Karen Richards’ eye for a nautical trinket and her patronage of the local art scene. But while the Idle Rocks is imbued with a globetrotter feel, the St Mawes Hotel feels full ‘Falmouth yachtie’, with lots of nautical stripes and wickerwork features that do more to foster a sense of place. But the hotel’s main USP is arguably its 25-seat cinema – a boon on rainy summer days.
From
£
205
per night
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This was the seventh hotel to join the perennially popular Pig Group, owned by veteran hoteliers Robin and Judy Hutson, who have been turning historic country manors into bijou boltholes for over 10 years. In revamping this 17th-century house on the Camel Estuary, Judy was inspired by the BBC’s hit series, Wolf Hall, fostering a warm Tudor look that nonetheless incorporates plenty of design touches from later eras: Victorian-style floral wallpaper, mid-century upholstered furniture, Roberts radios beside the beds.
From
£
150
per night
The Alverton is something of a hidden gem, tucked away in a sidestreet just outside Truro’s centre and well off the beaten track for most visitors to the city. Built on the site of a medieval convent in the 1830s, the house is a marvellous pastiche of ecclesiastical Gothic architecture, which today juxtaposes nicely with touches of modern hospitality: soak in a freestanding copper bathtub beneath a vaulted ceiling and stained glass mullion windows, or sip cocktails in the hotel’s cloister-like courtyard.
From
£
125
per night
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This rambling 19th-century hotel, formerly a lookout station for the Mousehole coastguard, suffered from a devastating fire several years ago that prompted its owners to embark on a 10-month renovation project. The result is an endearing blend of modern beach chic and vintage Victoriana, with bright wood-panelling and vibrant furniture offset by antiques sourced from the local auction houses. When paired with the stunning sea views (the hotel is perched on a clifftop at the western tip of Mounts Bay), the effect is blissfully inviting.
From
£
158
per night
Contributions by Ros Belford, Elizabeth Day, Natalie Millar-Partridge
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From
£
135per night
This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.