Gleneagles

Auchterarder

Issue 21 November / December 2008

Amanda Rosa Interiors has continued its long-standing association with Gleneagles, with the recent completion of designs for a new spa, and ten new ‘Spirit Suites’ inspired by drinks brands from the portfolio of hotel owner Diageo.

Set in 850 acres of beautiful Perthshire countryside, Scotland’s legendary Gleneagles hotel has seen a series of enhancements and additions intended to maintain its reputation as one of the world’s most famous luxury hotels.

The most significant of these in the past couple of years have been the introduction of ten new Spirit Suites – each named after brands in the portfolio of Gleneagles’ owner, drinks industry giant Diageo – and a new ESPA spa.

Both have been designed by Amanda Rosa Interiors. Rosa is perhaps best known for her work on her husband Ken McCulloch’s Malmaison, Columbus and Dakota hotels but she also has a long association with Gleneagles. Her style, heavily influenced by French classical design, and Scottish background made her the perfect choice of designer for this Scottish country house hotel, built in the style of a French chateau in 1924. Previous Rosa schemes include classical art-deco influenced designs for the main hotel building, and more contemporary designs for Braid House, the 59-bedroom extension to the main hotel that opened in 2002 as well as further room designs for Glenmor, the resort’s seasonal ownership properties.

Rosa’s scheme for the new suites, which launched in August 2007, takes its inspiration from the textures and colours of the rich countryside just outside the window. It incorporates boldly patterned contemporary fabrics in rich bitter chocolate and teal tones, contrasted against neutral coloured walls. Silk, velvet and cotton in shades of sage, cream and brown also feature throughout. Highly polished wood and chrome furniture, elegant lamps rich leathers, and oversized sofas, complete the sleek look. 

The bedrooms also feature window seats with plentiful cushions overlooking Gleneagles’ perfectly-manicured, Capability Brown-designed gardens.

Materials used in the bathrooms hark back to the old world, with rich dark chocolate marble, soothing tobacco slate and chunky chrome taps.
The most spacious of the new suites, located on the top floor of the hotel, is the split-level Blue Tower Suite, housed in the original main tower which sits grandly over the hotel’s main entrance.

Measuring approximately 170m2, the Blue Tower suite boasts two luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms situated on the lower floor, with a spiral staircase leading up to a mezzanine lounge. There is also a top floor boardroom with a deliberately non-corporate, relaxed feel.

The new spa opened in March 2008 and is the first ESPA branded spa in the UK. Its design is a combination of contemporary and classic. One of the spa’s boldest features is its dark brown, almost black, vitality pool, lit by fibre optics to stunning effect. In contrast to the dark brooding atmosphere of the heat and relaxation spaces, the Courtyard is light and airy.

Kährs Walnut Vermont flooring, in a rich conker tone, was installed throughout all twenty treatment rooms, adjoining corridors and relaxation rooms to complement to the cream and brown colour scheme used throughout. Muraspace digitally printed wallcoverings, created from large scale photographic images, are also used throughout the spa. The spa and Spirit Suites opening are part of an ongoing £18m updating of the hotel. Other recent additions have included a relaxed new Mediterranean Restaurant called Deseo and a funky ‘teen zone’.

GLENEAGLES
Auchterarder,
Perthshire,
Scotland PH3 1NF
Tel: +44 (0)1764 662 231
www.gleneagles.com

232 guestrooms and suites
Food: The Strathern, Andrew Fairlie; Deseo, The Dormy
Drink:  The Bar, Halfway House
Health: The Spa
Leisure / Facilities:  extensive leisure, golfing, conference & banqueting