The majestic St. Regis Rome has unveiled the latest addition to its collection of signature suites at the landmark hotel with the debut of the Couture Suite. Designed by The Gallery at HBA London, the Couture Suite offers an escape into the glamorous world of Italian flair and high-end fashion, combined with timeless St. Regis elegance.
If the stylish streets of Rome were a catwalk, this one-of-a-kind suite would be the ultimate backstage dressing room to prepare for the show. Drawing inspiration from the city's renowned couture houses, as well as St. Regis' blend of classic sophistication with a modern sensibility, the suite features signature furnishings and accessories which celebrate the best of Italian style. The suite's design carefully incorporates the spirit of Italian fashion, with an emphasis on flowing shapes and meticulous attention to detail.
The expansive 150 square metre Couture Suite is situated on the second floor of The St. Regis Rome. The master bedroom features an elegant central living room where details unfold layer by layer. A high ceiling and neutral, linen-textured walls form the backdrop for its exquisitely luxurious materials and intricate embellishments, such as the nail-head trim on the timber panelling and millwork, the softest Italian leathers and finely stitched embroidery. A grand antiqued mirror above the original marble fireplace reflects the light from the cascading glass rods of the shimmering chandelier. Three large windows frame views of the city, including Piazza della Repubblica with its historical Fountain of Najadi. And in a clever twist, a television rests on an easel, thus adding to the space's comfortable yet refined artistic elegance rather than becoming a dominant focal point.
The three sumptuous bedrooms in the Couture Suite evoke taste and confidence. Adorning the corner room is a dressmaker's form whose sculptural curves reflect the supple sensuality of the cerulean blue chaise longue, the circular "scribbles" of the wool rug and the fashion design studies gracing the wall. A photograph of red smoke chosen for its allusion to the sinuous red voiles used in dressmaking hangs above the bed. In the other bedrooms, variations of this photograph are used, as well as a chaise longue upholstered in mustard-toned velvet for the second space and in a raspberry hue for the third. These two bedrooms also include elegant oval-shaped desks inspired by a Roman design classic, a table which has an elliptical cut-out within its top. In The Gallery's new version, this cut-out has been replaced by a hand-stitched leather inset resting above a pencil drawer.
The Couture Suite embodies rich Italian history, art and culture. Catering to St. Regis' discerning and well-travelled guests, the suite features a private library showcasing legendary Italian artists and top fashion designers, as well as travel literature and photography books. Furthermore historical photographs of some of the hotel's celebrity guests are placed in the suite, adding a touch of glamour.
"In celebrating the style and vibrancy of the great Italian couturiers, we have created a very special suite that uniquely belongs in its location," commented Inge Moore, Principal of HBA London and The Gallery. "The new interiors tell a story of fashion which is timeless in its grace and quality of detail."
Photos: Eric Laignel