7 Iconic Hotel Suites Around the World Debuting Freshly Redesigned Looks | Architectural Digest

Facelifts sometimes can go wrong, delivering a worse result than the original. However, design facelifts are always a good idea—especially when the spaces are luxurious hotel suites that have been hosting visitors for centuries. And for such renowned hotels, only the best interior designers and architects are enlisted for the job. For instance, in London, Bryan O’Sullivan—who’s known for his bold yet sophisticated sense of majesty—recently unveiled a wholly refurbished suite at the iconic 19th-century Claridge’s. 

O’Sullivan isn’t the only interiors expert entrusted to bring ages-old hotel suites into the 21st century. The slew of talented interior designers who took on the task of performing facelifts on some of the world’s most beloved spots have done so with finesse, and they’re eager to open the doors back up to overnight guests. From Palm Beach to São Paulo, these sprawling rooms will book up fast.

The Colony Hotel

Palm Beach is where the East Coast crowd gets its warm weather fix when temperatures above the Mason-Dixon dip below freezing. Luckily, plenty of haute hotels have rooms to spare. In particular, The Colony Hotel—which swung open its doors to the flamingo-pink façade in 1947—is garnering a bit more attention than the others. One of 89 rooms has been completely reimagined by Mark D. Sikes. 

The 1,100-square-foot Villa Aralia is a nuanced take on his classic blue-and-white coastal look that doesn’t compromise that signature Palm Beach style. In fact, when considering his inspirations, Sikes didn’t look much further than the hotel’s café striped awnings. The new two-bedroom villa is complete with new pieces from his collaboration with Chaddock, light fixtures from Sikes’ collection with Hudson Valley Lighting, and custom upholstery. Plus, all of it is available to purchase through the local boutique, Hive.

Sikes is one of many designers enlisted to outfit one of The Colony’s standalone villas—tastemaker Aerin Lauder has also taken over a 2,100-square-foot space. Lauder’s, dubbed Aerin Villa Jasmine, celebrates coastal style with wicker furniture, creamy white walls, and jute rugs underfoot. The villa, accessible via a private entrance, features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a graciously sized living and dining space. Though Lauder’s signature look tends to lean towards the contemporary, she kept original details intact: Old-growth pecky cypress doors and a cast stone fireplace.