We worked holistically across many aspects of the hotel to engineer this sense. For example, instead of a formal check-in desk, the reception staff sit within one of the lounge spaces, which feels more approachable. The bedrooms don’t have big, obvious numbers on the doors to feel less hotel-like, and there’s a mix of lounge spaces to cater for plenty of people and suit different times of day. Working across a range of colour palettes helped create that: softer, lighter hues for reading the morning paper and bolder, richer tones for a cocktail in the evening. The whole place should feel un-stuffy, not like an art gallery where you have to be on your best behaviour.
Wildhive Callow Hall, Derbyshire
As British suppliers were so important to the concept, are there any you can call out?
I love using fabric from Notting Hill-based designer Susan Deliss, and in one of the sitting rooms, her hand-screen printed Theodora pattern in Old Gold feels really sunny. Robert Klime’s Ikat Harlequin cushions add depth with a mix of darker, punchier colours, and Studio Atkinson is another favourite for soft furnishing and upholstery fabrics.
Wildhive Callow Hall, Derbyshire
As well as sourcing some of the flower pressings, my friend Matilda Goad’s scallop-edged lampshades were used in bedrooms and passageways. As mentioned, British artists were an important part of the concept, including Manchester-born artist Jonathan Schofield and Jam Jar Flowers, who specialise in pressings.
Get the Wildhive Callow Hall look
This is how to get the Wildhive Callow Hall aesthetic in your own home this season…
PROJEKTITYYNY, Ristipisto Frilled Tablecloth
Isabella’s treehouses capture the magic of childhood fairytales, influenced by a Scandinavian folklore aesthetic. If you’re a fan of those whimsical, floral details, try PROJEKTITYYNY, a Dorset-based Nordic homeware brand with designs often inspired by the founder’s childhood in Finland. This cross-stitch tablecloth would look oh-so at home in an enchanted woodland.
Postery, Landscapism Poster
Art is a huge focus at Callow Hall, with modern pieces juxtaposing beautifully against the building’s heritage features. We feel calmer just looking at this serene landscape painting which is both timeless and of-the-moment, with broad brush strokes and a striking colour palette. Plus, it would fit in perfectly with an existing scheme or gallery wall.
Ruggable, Morris & Co. Pure Willow Boughs Green Rug
Leafy details are seen all over the design scheme at Callow Hall, making this willow-patterned rug a perfect choice for bringing the outside, in. What’s more, as William Morris was one of the most iconic designers of the Victorian period, it aptly nods to the building’s history which was constructed and used as a family home within this era. Perhaps some of Morris’s original pieces even lived here once.
Shrimps, Vita Blanket
Crafted from a Merino wool blend, this rose bud-adorned blanket falls on just the right side of twee. Its fairytale aesthetic appeals to our inner child, and could be easily imagined in one of Isabella’s treehouses, or the arm of a cosy chair at home. Extra points for its sumptuous brown hue which was just made for autumn.
Formela, Mellizo Chair Hamilton in Petrol
One of Isabella’s favourite spaces within Callow Hall is the Spencer Room, thanks to its vibrant teal hue. Well, we think we’ve found an almost identical colour match from cool, Berlin-based furniture brand Formela. Plus, with its many, many lounges, Wildhive is all about putting your feed up and relaxing, so a big, cosy chair is a must when recreating the hotel’s look and feel.
