Mr & Mrs Smith describe the Archangel Hotel in Frome, Somerset, as a "masterful mash-up of medieval and modern." When owner Simon Waterfield and his team acquired this "once great inn," it was a dilapidated and dingy pub," as they say. "Parts of the building date as far back as the Domesday Book; unsurprisingly, there was a lot of work to be done to update it, and the whole process took two years." Architect Piers Taylor of Mitchell Taylor Workshops preserved the ancient walls and beams and added modern limewashed concrete baths; working with designers Louise Waterfield and Niki Turner, the team added wallpaper panels depicting renaissance angels by Benevento di Giovanni, Leonardo da Vinci, and Fra Angelico (in homage to the inn's original name, the Angel). For more information, go to the Archangel Hotel.
Above: Rows of candle-like porcelain lights by Bruce Munro perched on the rafters illuminate the dining room.
Above: In the Naval Room, the exposed rafters and rough walls reflect the building's ancient origins.
Above: Modern banquettes and dining furniture contrast with the medieval vibe.
Above: A wallpaper mural featuring a detail of Leonardo's Annunciation.
Above: The modern baths feature exposed copper plumbing fixtures and cabinetry painted in deep shades of purple.
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