Sixteen years after The Hoxton debuted its first hotel in London’s hip Shoreditch area, the boutique hospitality brand has expanded to the eclectic west side of its hometown with a 237-room property on Shepherd’s Bush Green. Following in the neighborhood-driven footsteps of the Hoxton’s 11 other locations, the newest addition is designed specifically to fit into its surroundings—literally and figuratively.
In a concrete sense, the Hoxton team had to follow specific district guidelines to ensure the building’s facade would match its environment. Outside, the red brick exterior blends right in with the adjacent structures; meanwhile, the interior aesthetic was inspired by the locale’s residential zoning, music and entertainment industry roots, and diverse community.
“Shepherd’s Bush is between some quite posh neighborhoods, but it’s also a relatively gritty part of London,” explains Charlie North, the VP of interior design at Ennismore, The Hoxton’s parent company. “It’s got high-end residential all the way around it, so we wanted the bedroom design to be very residential. The public spaces reference the performing arts and the multicultural society.”
The combination of these hyper-local influences makes for a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that’s worth striving for in a home project, too. Intent on learning how to achieve this inviting vibe, I stayed at The Hoxton, Shepherd’s Bush this winter and chatted with North about nine ideas to steal from its design. Keep scrolling for my takeaways and his expert tips.
1. Incorporate arches.
![the biggest challenge of working with a new building is the lack of historic de 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hoxton-shebu-7-733x489.jpg)
2. Pay attention to the backs of chairs.
![the long, narrow lobby lends itself to small seating clusters that face the per 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hoxton-shebu-8-733x497.jpg)
3. Consider a mural.
![whimsically painted and illustrated walls are in. so rather than hanging framed 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hoxton-shebu-9-733x489.jpg)
4. Paint a colorful ceiling.
![for the guest rooms, north went with a relaxing, neutral color palette—e 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/tempimageatrz4u-733x852.jpg)
5. Invest in a headboard.
![every guest room in every hoxton hotel includes a statement headboard that& 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/tempimagekvc5os-733x489.jpg)
6. Pick a shape and repeat it.
![for another playful nod to the mid \20th century, north incorporated wavy lines 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/tempimage2wukog-733x852.jpg)
7. Go for statement windows.
![though most of north\2\17;s decisions were based on the identity of shep 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hoxton-shebu-5-733x489.jpg)
8. Install dimmers everywhere—especially in the bath.
![proper lighting is everything, down to the bulbs. \2\20;we always make s 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/tempimage2q8ymo-733x489.jpg)
9. Choose drapes with small prints.
![north chose the small patterned curtains for their effect when the windows are 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/tempimage5h4u88-733x852.jpg)
For more on the property, head to The Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush.
And for more ideas to borrow from hotels worldwide, see:
- The Ferry Boat Inn: 15 Ideas to Steal from a Seaside Pub in Cornwall
- Dark Horse: 7 Design Ideas from the Brentwood Hotel in Saratoga Springs
- The Windrose: 9 Ideas to Steal from a Bright Apartment Hotel in Savannah
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