"Adaptable and timeless" art deco design informs suite at Sea Containers hotel

Lore Group creative director Jacu Strauss has collaborated with Vinterior to create four themed suites at the Sea Containers hotel in London.

The themed suites, styled as cruise ship cabins, were designed as an extension of the overarching nautical narrative of the hotel, which is located alongside the river Thames and operated by the Lore Group.

In the bedroom of the art deco suite there is a geometric burl-wood headboard and a set of Swedish walnut bedside tables, with chrome and white glass table lamps.

The lounge features a statement wall clad in cork panelling with art deco, geometric sculptural details framing the door, which are repeated on the nearby bar.

A 1930s art deco sofa and arm chair set wasn re-upholstered in a contemporary fabric and a tapestry with a repeating geometric pattern hangs on the wall behind.

The polished chrome free-standing bathtub complements the geometric mirrored frames above the sinks in the bathrooms.

"Art deco is so adaptable and genuinely timeless – it's no surprise that it has resurfaced repeatedly over the last century, and again now," Strauss told Dezeen.

"Art deco embodies both the old and the new through a blend of form and texture."

Originally built in 1974 by American architect Warren Platner, Tom Dixon's Design Research Studio transformed three floors of Sea Containers House into luxury hotel in 2014.

Dixon used a 1920s cruise liner as a visual reference for interiors, including archetypal nautical details throughout, which the latest project by Strauss and Vinterior leans into further.

The other three suites follow the themes of Edwardian, mid-century and Dynasty.

The Edwardian suite, styled after the early 1900s when luxury cruise journeys boomed, features an antique mahogany leather-top desk and walnut arm chairs.

The mid-century modern suite reflects the central decades of the 19th century, a time when ship design evolved. It features wood panelling and chrome accents.

The Dynasty suite, named after the 1980s American TV show, has been styled with a Maralunga sofa by Vico Magistretti, re-covered in leather by Strauss, alongside a lucite and glass coffee table.

For all four suites Strauss sourced period-appropriate pieces from Vinterior, an online marketplace for vintage and antique furniture and design.

"By offering unique, high-quality pieces with rich histories, we're not just providing an alternative to mass-produced furniture – we're offering a way to create thoughtful, sustainable interiors that have lasting value and meaning," said Vinterior founder Sandrine Zhang Ferron.

Across his projects Strauss, who is creative director of hotel company Lore Group, prioritises closing the loop on hotel furniture through the re-use or re-homing of items no longer in circulation.

"The aim was to delight, but to remain practical," said Strauss.

"I had to experiment with all kinds of options to ensure nothing felt too 'museum-like' – it was important that the spaces still had fun, tongue-in-cheek moments without tipping into gimmick or comedy," he continued.

"We treated the vintage pieces as a curated collection – items that invite guests to use and enjoy them, making sure they feel like they can live in the space rather than just admire it from a distance."

Dezeen recently ran a series celebrating the centenary of art deco, including a roundup of eight rich interiors that offer a contemporary take on the style.

The photography is by James McDonald

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