St James Collection – Luxury Experience

One of the nicest things about staying in a hotel is using the beautiful bathroom and shower fixtures and fittings! Here we reveal a couple of places where, shhhh… you can go and have a St James Collection experience!

As you may have noticed over the last few years, ‘spa style’ and ‘boutique hotel’ style bathrooms have become extremely popular. It’s not just that clients are asking for their new bathroom to be designed in such a style, they are buzzwords that are percolating through the whole bathroom design world. A spa-style bathroom is likely to include a steam cabinet, a super-luxurious shower, a relaxing area and will be accessorised with stacks of pristine white towels. A boutique-hotel style bathroom is likely to include a focal-point bath, and will of course be next  to a wonderful bedroom. The emphasis will be on luxury, indulgence, pampering and comfort. Which, when you think about it, should really apply to every bathroom! But with the best will in the world, not all bathrooms can embrace the spa or boutique style. However, as the St James Collection of bathroom fittings and accessories are chosen by some very special hotels, why not arrange a reconnaissance visit to experience the St James Collection at first hand. Strictly in the interest of research of course, especially if you are planning a new bathroom! Here are two of our favourite St James Collection experiences…

The Grove Hotel, Molleston, Narbeth, Pembrokeshire SA67 8BX 01834 860915 Head to the website here.
 
Owner Zoe Agar was delighted with the range available in the St James Collection, going on to specify black porcelain handles throughout all their suites, which co-ordinated beautifully with the slate and black metal work used elsewhere. The rooms are all different in a sophisticated but homely way, with quirky details.




 
Bathroom planners and designers can be inspired by the choices made in these rooms. Left, black solid surface tops and upstand are complimented by the St James three-hole basin mixers with black porcelain handles. Right, this gorgeous en-suite has a free-standing roll top tub, teamed with a bath-filler and wall-mounted towel rail.

Hotel Gotham, 100 King Street, Manchester M2 4WU 0843 178 7188 Head to the website here.

The Gotham is an award-winning hotel, renowned for its decadently beautiful décor, which is dark and delightful with a strong 1930s style. So of course, the temptation is always going to be to dress up to the nines – with plenty of lounging and prep time in the lovely bathrooms. Which are all kitted out with St James Collection fittings that have been personalised especially for the Gotham.

Oliver Redfern, who designed the interiors, says
‘The interiors of the Gotham are tactile, bold and personal. I saw the opportunity to work with Marflow and their St James Collection as the perfect way of working with a British manufacturer who produced beautiful high quality finishes in all their products, and who could also adapt and personalise individual items. The uniquely branded Gotham ceramics provide a very individual look and feel to each ensuite’
Next time I head up to Manchester the Gotham is definitely going to be top of my list for a visit!




 
Lots of inspiration here, from the side-by-side basins to the dark colour scheme. Remember, a dark colour scheme can be brilliantly successful in a small space… the colour becomes focussed and intense. Perhaps we should all be visiting these hotels for a little bit of inspiration.

If a hotel visit isn’t possible, go to our list of retailers here, to get the look and (just as importantly) feel of the St James Collection of fittings. See the different finishes and choose between Chrome, Antique Gold, Bright Nickel and Brushed Nickel. As far as handles are concerned, the choice is between England and London styles, both with Lever or Cross Head controls. You’ll also need to specify the coloured parts (black, white, metal) and indices, so it’s definitely worth a visit to experience the different styles and looks – and to be guided through the options by our experts.