7 Magnificent Maximalist Hotels for Maximum Impact
With a sudden revival of the opulent aesthetic in major fashion and design houses and dominating headlines, we’ve rounded up seven of the most magnificent maximalist hotels for on-trend travellers to sate their extravagant tastes.
The Royal Mansour, Marrakech
The 53 private riads dotted around The Royal Mansour’s eight acres of Moorish gardens all share the same ornate sense of style; four-poster beds with velvet brocade curtains, silk-covered or mosaiced walls, carved wooden doors and other palatial details that took over a thousand craftsmen several years to complete. Commissioned by King Mohammed VI and modelled on a traditional Moroccan palace, the Mansour is the epitome of luxury. The staff even travel discreetly around the grounds via a network of subterranean tunnels.
The Ritz, London
The Ritz has been a shining example of maximalism since it opened in London in 1906. Its Louis XVI style, defined by pastel hues, 24 carat gold leaf, neoclassical statues, marble columns and mirrored walls, has been adhered to despite several massive renovations over the years. The Ritz hosts its prized afternoon tea in the gold-tinged Palm Court, which is decked out with birdcage chandeliers and palm trees centred around an enormous floral display. While the dining room – all burgundy velvet and ceiling frescoes – is probably the most beautiful you’ll ever see.
Hotel Danieli, Venice
Three 14th-century Venetian palazzos combine to form this lavish hotel on Venice’s waterfront. Just a few minutes from St Mark’s Square, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant has panoramic views of the Venetian lagoon and the city. But the regal suites are what’ll get avid maximalists going; mahogany antique four-poster beds are draped with pastel-coloured, cloud-soft silk quilts, while Renaissance paintings, frescoes and Murano glass chandeliers adorn the walls and ceilings and the bathrooms are clad entirely in marble.
Hotel du Petit Moulin, Paris
Housed above an old Parisian boulangerie in the chic Le Marais district, this intimate hotel is an artful example of modern maximalism. Inspired by illustrious French fashion designer, Christian Lacroix, Hotel du Petit Moulin is a riot of colour. There’s wallpaper depicting a galaxy-filled night sky, bathroom murals that make you feel like you’re in the rainforest, clashing zebra prints next to mosaics and Persian rugs, and crystal ball bedside lights.
Cotton House Hotel, Barcelona
Once the headquarters of Barcelona's Cotton Producers’ Guild, the 19th-century Neoclassical building that is now the Cotton House Hotel has been revamped to maximalist glory by prestigious interior design studio, Lázaro Rosa-Violán. The octagonal hall and six-storey, spiral staircase that seems to float in the air (it’s suspended via the ceiling) makes an eye-catching first impression. The reception area has elements of period grandeur, like marble floor tiles and carved wooden doors, mixed with modern art and a cream, designer sofa. Each room is named after a type of cotton, a theme reflected in the decor with small cotton plants, pressed cotton flowers and other subtle details, alongside illuminated fabrics and wood panelling.
Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Miami
The extravagant Faena Hotel Miami Beach feels like you’ve walked onto a movie set; not surprising when you realise that it was created in collaboration with Moulin Rouge and Great Gatsby director, Baz Luhrmann, and his costume designer wife Catherine Martin. Nothing here is understated; from Damien Hirst’s sculpture of a gold mammoth skeleton encased in glass facing Miami Beach, down to the circus-striped, red and white poolside parasols that’ll make you feel like Faye Dunaway in that iconic post-Oscars picture. Brilliant red dominates the colour scheme in the long, Hollywood-esque carpets and velvet upholstery. But perhaps the most maximalist of all are the gold-leafed columns and murals by Argentinian artist, Juan Gatti, depicting love, war and knowledge in tropical scenes.
Hullett House, Hong Kong
For maximalist style with an Eastern angle, Hullett House in Hong Kong is like an updated imperial palace. Housed within the former Marine Police Headquarters, one of the oldest buildings in the city, the hotel’s heritage pedigree is alive in the framed, historic photographs, hand-painted murals depicting life under the Tang Dynasty and traditional, carved Chinese lanterns. Though every suite follows its own bespoke theme, the overall aesthetic is gloriously kitsch; gold tassels, dragon sculptures and a triptych of Chairman Mao blowing bubble gum.