BUCKINGHAM HOTEL
Located on the outskirts of Buckingham, the purpose built Buckingham Hotel is a sanctuary of beautiful interior décor; a containment of space and light with a peaceful palette of aubergine, mahogany and creams. The calming atmosphere created by this interior is a cut above the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

I arrived at the Buckingham Hotel just off the busy A421 ring road to speak to the head of the interior design and part owner Kashmira Patel about how she transformed the Hotel interior from 70’s drab to modern chic:

L: What inspired you to refurbish?
K: When we acquired the Hotel in November 2006, we were saddened by the neglect the Hotel had received. The décor was appalling and felt very claustrophobic. Guests would turn down a free coffee to get out of the dining area and go back to their rooms. This wasn’t a well functioning Hotel; it was just a bed and some food for the night, more of a necessity than a joy. We felt the refurbishment was well overdue.

L: How did you go about the design?
K: We knew we had to remove the claustrophobic elements so we removed partitioning walls and used a very light hue on the remaining walls to visually open up the space. For the colour palette my first choice was the carpet; its deep aubergine hues with cream accent was an inspiration for the rest of the design.

L: What was one of your best finds?
K: We liked the Image Shed canvases we had seen at the Hospitality show in Birmingham a few months previously so got in contact with them with some ideas about what we hoped to achieve in the space. They sent us a CD of their designs and we chose a number of images which they then colour changed to suit the space. The canvases certainly add character.

L: What do your clients think of the design?
K: The clients think it’s wonderful. We had Bridal party who had booked before our ownership, the bride was absolutely thrilled by the new design and she said the whole event had been so much more amazing than she had anticipated and we’ve had a lot of recommended bookings. It’s amazing how much good design and good service influences social networking and the experience of well being.

L: What future plans do you hold for the Hotel?
K: I want the Hotel to be the best three star Hotel it can be. I want it to be a place of comfort and professionalism where standards are high and guests are proud to stay.

The Buckingham Hotel is open to visitors now. With 70 en-suite bedrooms, 5 conference suites, 7 purpose built syndicate rooms, restaurant with carvery, table d'hote and à la carte menu, bar, lounge and leisure club with swimming pool, Jacuzzi, gym, sauna, steam room, solarium, and car park there is something there for everyone.

http://www.bw-buckinghamhotel.co.uk/