In need of a mid-week pick-me-up? Then feast your eyes on the Suján Rajmahal Palace, the luxury Jaipur hotel whose energizing interiors- refreshing blues, pulsating pinks, and pattern galore- are sure to give you a visual start.
A welcome respite from those ho hum and humdrum hotels, the Suján reminds me of Dorothy Draper and her work at The Carlyle, the Quitandinha, and The Greenbrier- minus the Suján's Indian flair, of course. Draper understood the power of making a decorative statement, especially at hotels and restaurants. After all, who wants to embark on a night on the town or a weekend getaway, only to be greeted by bland décor? On these occasions, guests want a break from the everyday, something Draper afforded to many through her high-style and, at times, whimsically-inclined interiors. Like Draper, Carleton Varney understands people's desire for an escape from the ordinary, as evidenced by his colorful work at The Greenbrier and the Colony Hotel. And so, too, does Adhil Ahmad, the designer responsible for the Suján's interiors.
I wouldn't necessarily want my dining room to have magenta wallpaper and a purple ceiling (see below,) but oh, how much fun it would be to spend an evening in just such a room!
All photos from the hotel's website
Oh, I want to go there immediately and immerse myself in the colors of India from sky to turquoise fretwork! But I will happily settle for being immersed in the brilliant colors of Zajac's wallpapers from Waterhouse...available at Rosselli showrooms in New York, Washington and Dania...and Webster & Co. in Boston. Next stop, India....these interiors are divine!
ReplyDeleteWow, adding this to my "must visit" list of travel destinations. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like they took a few lessons from Miles Redd--gorgeous. Thank you. Mary
ReplyDeleteUpdated or tarted-up? I can't decide. It's always hard to bring an old building into the modern age without killing its character. I am in two minds about this attempt. None of it is bad, but one can't help but wonder if it would have looked better if they had stuck to something more traditional. The vibrant colours are certainly in keeping with Indian taste and lighting, but the use of modern-design wallpaper smothers the soul of the building. I have much the same reaction to what has been done to almost all of the grand old hotels in London; they have had their heart and character ripped-out in modernisations over the last decade. It's rather like forcing grand dowagers into miniskirts and bright lipstick because that is now the done thing.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, one thinks of Nancy Mitford who, when miniskirts first came into fashion, was asked whether she intended to be dignified or ridiculous in her old age; "ridiculous, of course," she replied.
This is just...magical!
ReplyDeleteKinda wonderful! I think it's a bit more Diamond Baratta than Dorothy Draper. A more cohesive color scheme in each room versus clashing colors a la Draper. Fun!
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