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Kelly Hoppen to reinvigorate LUX* Belle Mare

Kelly Hoppen to reinvigorate LUX* Belle Mare

LUX* Island Resorts is delighted to collaborate with multi-award winning designer, Kelly Hoppen to revive and rejuvenate the interiors of the company’s flagship resort on the island of Mauritius, LUX* Belle Mare.

Hoppen first visited the resort in December 2010 and created a design founded directly on her own experience of this luxurious beachside hotel.

Having already completed the designs of the honeymoon suites and pool villas, Hoppen will move on to the guest suites and public areas.

Unveiling in September 2012, the design across the resort takes inspiration from the Island Light concept, which is the signature of all LUX* properties – a lighter, brighter interpretation of luxury.

Kelly will take her signature neutral palette of white, cream, taupe and beige, and layer this with small punchy accents of bright zingy colours including turquoise, fuchsia, soft yellow, apple green, Chinese red, bright orange and purple.

Fabrics – predominantly linens and cottons – complement other beach-inspired textures, such as water like lacquer surfaces, bleached wood trestle tables and tongue-and-groove bathrooms.

In-room collateral has been kept to the minimum, allowing Hoppen to place more emphasis on carefully chosen and sourced artwork and objects.

Hoppen says her aim is to instil a feeling of sanctuary in the 174 suites and 12 villas: “I know what I want when I go to a hotel, and it is virtually nothing – but everything there is has to be clean, simple and pleasurable to the touch.

“This is a beachside location, so the design had to reflect the same sort of minimalist luxury that Brigitte Bardot made famous at Saint Tropez in the 60s.

“In fact the more I designed, the more I made it lighter and simpler – my aim was to create an uncluttered ambience to help rebalance the body and soul.”

Kelly will take this same philosophy throughout the public areas of LUX* Belle Mare too, most notably in the beachside restaurants and bar, which are again themed around white wood furniture, natural linens and vibrant accent shades.

Hoppen’s association with LUX* does not end with her transformation of the LUX* Belle Mare, she is the design muse to all the hotels within the group, which will undergo refurbishments over the next few years.

Chief executive of LUX* Island Resorts, Paul Jones, said: “We are delighted to be working with Kelly, because she is so dynamic and has a solution for everything. She understands perfectly that when guests stay with us, they trust us with their time – it is our job to give them an environment and an experience that frees them from the stresses and pressures of day-to-day life.

“Kelly’s passion for simple but luxurious interiors will dovetail perfectly with everything we stand for at LUX*”.