Mixd Studio have led the interior design of Mercure London Earl’s Court hotel, taking cues from London’s rich, layered history and the iconic British sci-fi series Doctor Who.
Located in the Earl’s Court district, the hotel’s design takes inspiration from an array of sources, from the Arts & Crafts movement and British pop culture to today’s cultural melting pot that contributes to London’s atmosphere.
“We can say that our design task almost provoked us to draw inspiration from various sources. After all, we were to renovate an existing hotel property, add another layer and build something new on the existing foundations – much like what often happens in London, where Gothic churches stand alongside Victorian townhouses and ultra-modern skyscrapers,” explains Piotr Kalinowski, CEO and Creative Director of Mixd. “This new layer had to be more attractive, more interesting, elevating the property to a higher hotel category.”
Joanna Mazurek, Associate Design Direction at Mixd, adds: “We wanted these references to Britishness to be light, playful, maybe even a bit ironic – just like the sense of humour of the islanders. For example, an obvious choice was to use the well-known white brick tiles from the London Underground. However, we either arranged them differently or chose those with a 3D effect. We also proposed several Polish-made furniture pieces, including chairs and tables from Tamo.”
The hotel lobby has been designed as a portal into a cosy, calm and welcoming space that offers a respite from the city’s hustle and bustle. Mood lighting, a reception area with soft shapes and a mixture of various furnishings create a home-like atmosphere. A clearly defined element that suggests a departure into another space is the circular, central part of the lobby: separated by curtains, distinguished by a different resin floor and a dark ceiling. In true Doctor Who fashion, the table in the middle and the mirrored panel of the lamp further hint at a potential teleportation point.
In the guestrooms, large, upholstered headboards and wall panels wrap the interior, while creating a layered effect accentuated by ambient lighting. An eye-catching detail is the Melt wall sconces designed by British designer Tom Dixon.
“Tom Dixon is a designer who constantly emphasises his fascination with London and British craftsmanship – his lamps made of solid glass fit perfectly with our concept, especially because when lit, the honey-coloured glass reveals beautiful, flowing lines. These waves are also a signature feature of the decorative, colourful mirrors,” Mazurek explains. Layers – this time resembling flowing sand in an hourglass – are also present on the Balsan carpet and Vescom wallpaper.
The Mixd designers had the opportunity to create some of the furniture, including the custom-made wardrobes, whose proportions, colour and upper lighting reference the time-travelling TARDIS from Doctor Who.
The corridors on each floor feature the same sand-coloured wallpaper used in the rooms, but the dynamic, geometric-patterned carpet introduces a completely different atmosphere. Bold, vibrant patches of colour encourage haste, and the evening sky hue guides guests to the Barnaby’s bar and restaurant, accessible via a staircase that features an chandelier reminiscent of lanterns.
Barnaby’s, created by the Paris Society agency, has been crafted by Mixd to welcome guests with warm, home-like interiors filled with souvenirs from exotic travels, years of collected artworks, personal items and notes. Comfortable club chairs, atmospheric lighting and exotic plants all invite guests to relax.
“Mercure London Earl’s Court is an important project for us because it set a new standard for the Mercure brand, especially in the UK market,” concludes Piotr Kalinowski. “Although it was a renovation of an existing hotel and not everything we proposed was realized, we are satisfied. This hotel has a strong storytelling aspect, especially in the bar and restaurant areas of Barnaby’s, which align well with the British style of culinary experience design.”
