 The Hotel St. Paul epitomizes everything that is modern and happening in Montreal at the moment. The Hotel St. Paul opened last year in time for the Grand Prix weekend and already it's one of the top ten hotels in the world according to Conde Nast Traveller UK. Everyone from Catherine Deneuve, Bono, the Buena Vista Social Club, Thierry Muegler, Jennifer Love Hewitt to Anna Kournikova has stayed here. With its twenty foot high ceiling, Italian stone floors, and full length windows covered in floor to ceiling creamy wool curtains, the St. Paul feels like a Northern version of Miami's Delano Hotel. Madrid born owner Javier Planas says he wanted something sleek yet ambient and he worked with his wife Ana Borrallo to design it. "I was inspired by the Hempel hotel, says Ana. "I wanted to have a minimalist space with earthy materials so it would be austere without being hostile." In the rooms she used washable ultra suede to cover chairs, sofas and beds. One suite has a fur stool made of lamb. There are white leather chairs, leather bolsters on the beds, and real cowskin rugs on the floors. But her fur throws covering the leather banquettes in front of the alabaster fireplace in the lobby are one of a kind. Borallo designed the leather banquettes and covered them in beaver fur to give warmth to the large minimalist lobby. "I love furs. says Borallo, "Fur is one of the most beautiful things you can find in Canada. I wanted to do something modern with fur. The beaver skin throws are definitely something I haven't seen yet. I am the first one using the fur like this." Borrallo and the St. Paul won Outstanding Interior at the Canada Design Awards and her fur throws are made to order. Contact Anna Borallo at the St. Paul Hotel, 355, rue McGill Montreal, 514.380.2222. www.hotelstpaul.com |
home | top 50 | videos | shopping | faq | industry | postcards | staff | e-mail We welcome your comments to the Editor. |