Colour psychology studies have long discussed the effects of warmer, brighter colours on increasing positivity, productivity and creativity, while soothing shades of blue and green can induce a calmer state of mind. Join us on a multi-coloured journey around the world in ten vibrant visits to these aesthetically pleasing places.
Palm Suite, Rome – Italy
A riot of tropical colours and exotic patterns, these eclectic Roman residences are moments from the Eternal City’s ‘big five’: Capitoline Hill, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Colosseum and Basilica of Saint Peter in Chains. Housed within a grand 18th-century building, each of the 12 suites at Palm Suite has its own whimsical style – a statue of a tiger in one, a golden palm-shaped lamp in another. This meticulously mismatched palette is made to be as memorable as the Forum views.
La Maison Bleue, El Gouna – Egypt
The clue is in the name at this blue-washed Mediterranean-style mansion. Inspired inside and out by Middle Eastern, North African, and European art and architecture, La Maison Bleue‘s Venetian-style façade and opulent marble hallways make an immediate impression. Take a leisurely dip in the blue lagoon, before watching the Egyptian sun dye the sky a dusky pink (to match the suites) behind the distant Red Sea mountains.
Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà, Verona – Italy
A statement art hotel combining contemporary works by world-famous artists with the grandeur of a 16th-century Venetian villa, Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà has been given an ultra-modern makeover by architect and designer Alessandro Mendini. Each one of the 59 rooms is individually decorated and masterfully styled with the use of vividly coloured fabrics and furnishings as well as works by Marc Quinn, Damien Hurst, Anish Kapoor and Vanessa Beecroft.
Ovolo The Valley Brisbane, Queensland – Australia
A dash of urban cool here, a touch of rock and roll there (thanks to owner Girish Jhunjhnuwala‘s love of 1980s music legends), Ovolo The Valley Brisbane is located in an ultra-hip entertainment district – and has the interiors to match. Step inside, and you’re met with energetic contemporary design fused with understated luxury. Think plush velvet, pops of colour, loud wallpaper, and one-of-a-kind artwork.
Galleria VIK Milano, Milan – Italy
Housed within Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping centre, the Vik family have established a Milanese home-from-home inspired by the architecture of the 19th-century arcade and the city’s world-renowned design scene. Reflecting the art and soul of Milan, Galleria VIK Milano is part hotel, part modern art gallery. Clearly unafraid of colour, bold murals, striking sculptures, and a vibrant palette paint a vivid picture, though no two rooms are the same – each bearing the hallmark of a renowned artist, from Giuseppe Gonella and Pino Pinelli, to Felipe Cardena and Shinya Sakurai.
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