If there's one man who has left his interior design mark on the hospitality industry it is Pierre-Yves Rochon. His philosophy is to discover the condition, history and context of the building in order for his concepts to take shape. Traditional French style is his forte, but it's the attention to detail and the selection of interior decor, fabrics and warm colour combinations that have changed the face of interior design in the hospitality industry.
Pierre-Yves has made his mark all over the world, renovating and creating new interior design concepts for hotels and private clients in Spain, France, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. He's best known for renovating the Sofitel St James Hotel, which was once an 18th Century bank and the recent transformation of the Savoy Hotel, both of which are in London.
Sofitel St James is a Grade II listed building that was entirely renovated by Pierre-Yves in 2000. Although the hotel is not one of his most recent projects it is perhaps one of the most striking hotels in the heart of London when it comes to timeless interior decor. Each area of the property has a unique design theme, which takes inspiration from the classic French style. The Brasserie Roux restaurant pays homage to the building's former owners Cox & Kings and has several Gallic rooster references. Dark green and reds are used for the upholstery of the chairs, while a warm yellow hue is used on the walls and windows. The warm shades of soft pinks and cream used for the decor of the Rose Lounge make it an intimate spot for afternoon tea, while the St James Bar interiors provide a cosy take on the traditional gentlemen's club. Other features such as the traditional rug in the lobby and the objets d'art pay tribute to classic British and French design.
It is evident Pierre has a great eye for the original features of the hotel as he has adjusted the design to complement each area. The interiors are luxurious yet he has ensured there is a restrained elegance throughout the property. His motto is to learn as much as he can about a structure before going ahead with the design process. As with all of his commissions, he puts his ego aside and studies the original drawings and photographs to ensure he understands the fundamentals of the structure.
Thanks to Sparcstudio, the hotel was awarded the ‘Condé Nast Johansens Most Excellent Spa' award in the UK in 2010 for So SPA -the inspiring new retreat for those looking for an informal ambience with plenty of feminine decor. Again, the original features of the property have been taken into account and the results are impressive. From the large Victorian windows, contemporary interiors, lofty ceilings and wooden banisters leading up to the second floor of the spa - the designers have not been afraid to experiment - where else can you find a treatment room that was once an office of a Lloyds bank executive in the 1920s? Mixing the old architectural elements with modern-day interior fixtures and fittings is the beauty of this spa space.
Sofitel is just one of the several five-star hospitality clients who have commissioned the designer with ongoing contracts that have given him worldwide recognition. Today, the French native is considered an interior design specialist and rightly so. Pierre-Yves' signature style is all about modern luxury without the royal opulence and over-the-top frills. And this is what makes him the design guru of the hospitality industry.
If there's one man who has left his interior design mark on the hospitality industry it is Pierre-Yves Rochon. His philosophy is to discover the condition, history and context of the building in order for his concepts to take shape. Traditional French style is his forte, but it's the attention to detail and the selection of interior décor, fabrics and warm colour combinations that have changed the face of interior design in the hospitality industry.
Pierre has made his mark all over the world, renovating and creating new interior design concepts for hotels and private clients in Spain, France, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. He's best known for renovating the Sofitel St James Hotel, which was once an 18th Century bank and the recent transformation of the Savoy Hotel, both of which are in London.
Sofitel St James is a Grade II listed building that was entirely renovated by Pierre in 2000. Although the hotel is not one of his most recent projects it is perhaps one of the most striking hotels in the heart of London when it comes to timeless interior decor. Each area of the property has a unique design theme, which takes inspiration from the classic French style. The Brasserie Roux restaurant pays homage to the building's former owners Cox & Kings and has several Gallic rooster references. Dark green and reds are used for the upholstery of the chairs, while a warm yellow shade is used on the walls and windows. The warm shades of soft pinks and cream used for the décor of the Rose Lounge make it an intimate spot for afternoon tea, while the St James Bar interiors provide a cosy take on the traditional gentlemen's club. Other features such as the traditional rug in the lobby and the objets d'art pay tribute to classic British and French design.
It is evident Pierre has a great eye for the original features of the hotel as he's adjusted the design to complement each area. The interiors are luxurious yet he has ensured there is a restrained elegance throughout the property. His motto is to learn as much as he can about a structure before going ahead with the design process. As with all of his commissions, he puts his ego aside and studies the original drawings and photographs to ensure he understands the fundamentals of the structure.
Thanks to Sparcstudio, the hotel was awarded the ‘Conde Nast Johansens' ‘Most Excellent Spa' award in the UK in 2010 for So SPA - the inspiring new retreat for those looking for an informal ambience with plenty of feminine decor. Again, the original features of the property have been taken into account and the results are impressive. From the large Victorian windows, contemporary interiors, lofty ceilings and wooden banisters leading up to the second floor of the spa - the designers have not been afraid to experiment - where else can you find a treatment room that once was an office of a Lloyds bank executive in the 1920s? Mixing the old architectural elements with modern-day interior fixtures and fittings is the beauty of this spa space.
Sofitel is just one of the several five-star hospitality clients who have commissioned the designer with ongoing contracts that have given him worldwide recognition. Today, the French native is considered an interior design specialist and rightly so. Pierre's signature style is all about modern luxury without the royal opulence and over-the-top frills. And this is what makes him the design guru of the hospitality industry.
