5 of the best floral-fantasy hotels
From blooming wallpapers to leafy hand-painted murals, these exquisitely decorated hotels are works of art in themselves. By NATALIE EVANS-HARDING
Four Seasons, Florence, Italy
Should you tire of strolling this palatial Florentine hotel’s 11 acres of manicured gardens, retire to the Volterrano Gallery Suite. There you can recline on pea-green silks among floor-to-ceiling hand-painted panels of partridges peeking out from young trees in bloom, delicate flowers climbing all the way to overhead frescoes, and swallows dipping and diving around you. As far as old-world Italian luxury goes, this is the real deal. fourseasons.com
Artist Residence, Oxfordshire, UK
Situated near the rural Cotswolds, this converted 16th-century farmhouse boasts some of the lovliest interiors for miles around. In the rooms, dreamy floral murals hang beside free-standing baths, while the restaurant is a more dramatic affair. Take your seat to dine on dishes that might include blowtorched mackerel, wild-nettle gnocchi and buttermilk panna cotta as you admire the verdant William Morris wallpaper – a feast for all the senses. artistresidence.co.uk
Haymarket Hotel, London, UK
The walls of this whimsical inner-city townhouse nod to English Regency-era landscapes: sepia scenes of pine trees and catkins are depicted on the de Gournay wallpaper in the private dining room, while the blustering clouds in the Terrace Junior Suite could have floated straight out of a Constable painting. Furnishings come in marigold yellow, cornflower blue and rose red hues, creating a scenic escape that feels miles away from London’s streets. firmdalehotels.com
Majeka House, Stellenbosch, SA
Whether it’s giant roses above the beds or enormous flamingos adorning the walls, oversized flora and fauna scenes add a sweet touch to the otherwise sleek, ultra-modern décor at Majeka House. Native interior designer Etienne Hanekom’s aim was to bring evocative images of South Africa’s diverse natural environment inside the 23-room hotel, reminding guests of the country’s impressive landscapes at all times of day. majekahouse.co.za
Hotel Daniel,Paris, France
It’s springtime all year round at this quintessentially Parisian stay, where blooming balconies welcome you from the street below and fine-detail florals adorn the walls inside. Take afternoon tea in the Oriental-boudoir-inspired salon, encircled by bespoke Chinoiserie-garden wallpaper, then retire to a cozy room upstairs and be transported to serene pastoral lands, thanks to the 18th-century Toile de Jouy wallpaper. hoteldanielparis.com