High above the scenic village of Broadway in Worcestershire UK, sitting in 500 acres on the Farncombe Estate is the award-winning hotel and spa, Dormy House. From the moment we pull up to this beautiful Cotswold stone building, all the sentimental cliches used to describe a picturesque property come to mind. But it is just so ‘quintessentially English’ and it is so remarkably ‘chocolate box’, that it’s hard to not just embrace them all.
The hotel itself has received numerous awards and accolades including 4 Red Star Award: Inspector’s Choice, Breakfast Award, AA Best UK Spa, 3-Rosette restaurant and 4-Rosette restaurant, and whilst we are certainly looking forward to experiencing all it has to offer, we are actually there to draw inspiration. Abode2 is on a mission to establish the top 5 ways to create a high-end, country hotel vibe, at home, because why should that feeling of luxury and relaxation end the moment we check out?
Dormy house uses the social media tag line; ‘A Bit Like Home But Better’ and when you first walk inside the hotel you do feel like you are in a home away from home. You are immediately greeted by a large floor mat that quirkily states ‘I’m Matt!’ and there isn’t a reception desk or a check in queue in sight. Instead, we step into a light filled room, with an old feature fireplace and receive a friendly welcome from the member of staff sitting at a table by the window. It is clear that Dormy House has done away with the unnecessary, the formal and the fusty, instead it welcomes you with a breath of fresh air, so that straight away you are ready to kick back and relax.
We are given a tour of the hotel grounds, which boasts a beautiful garden, but instead of it being overly large and manicured, it is more humble, still very beautiful, but more of a working garden, producing seasonal veg for the hotels two restaurants – The Back Garden which is the main dining space and MO which offers a more initiate chef’s dining table.
Our room is located in the attic room, which is set atop a private staircase in the eaves of the main farmhouse. As we walk back through the main building, we notice plenty of clean lines, Scandi inspired design, cosy corners and nooks with large colourful, patterned rugs, gorgeous beams, and flagstone flooring. The room itself is stunning, with more oak beams, a large lounge area and a spectacular bathroom, emblazoned with monochrome star patterned floor tiles and loaded with fabulous fragrant toiletries from Temple Spa. There is just one piece of thoughtfully curated artwork, but other than that the gallery is through the rooms’ two windows, which frame the views of rolling fields.
It's clear to see that Dormy House doesn't shy away from making a stylish statement - but it’s subtle and unobtrusive; colours, textures and patterns are woven together so thoughtfully, it’s as if the pink patterned wallpaper, has been hung next to the cream stone walls forever and it just works. The dark pink velvet sofa and accompanying cushions placed neatly on the bed, give the room a warm, romantic feel and the various lighting in the room enables you to be able to adjust the brightness, or create an atmosphere from the comfort of the bed. There is a large, mirrored cupboard, hidden within which are robes, slippers, a Nespresso machine, and a fridge which includes treats from local businesses, including beer from Jeremy Clarkson’s Cotswold farm.
After a visit to the newly renovated spa, an amazing meal in The Back Garden restaurant, an incredible night’s sleep, topped off with the most delicious hot breakfast (complete with a Bloody Mary!) our stay at Dormy House soon came to an end. We left feeling rejuvenated, as though all our senses had been nourished, and as we checked out, with a goody bag in hand (chocolate muffins and bottles of water for the journey home) we knew exactly what our top 5 tips for recreating a luxe hotel vibe at home should be:
Keep It Natural - Not Bland
This one is all about what we see, and the first trick here is to clear the clutter. Once you have created space, you can let the features of your property shine. Ok, so Dormy House is awash with period features, made from bare hands out of the earth, but even if we live in a new-build apartment, we can still achieve a similar feel by cleverly using natural materials, Porcelenosa explain how; ‘At its most basic, natural interior design is all about evoking the outdoors within our interiors.' Think exposed brick, marble, natural stone, wood, bamboo, wicker, rattan, and even metal. Porcelenosa continue to note that; ‘Although not always recognised as such, metal is another material closely related to wellness and natural interior design.’ Try rustic wooden tables with metal legs or metal light fixtures above leather seating. Think about your use of ceramics, pottery, feathers and of course plants to maintain the feeling of being at one with nature.
It is also a fact that colour triggers different emotions and feelings within us and the key is to try to encapsulate this within your design. Dormy House has different areas with different colours attributed to them, this gives separation and differing atmospheres. Have a think about how you use the space in your home, are you after cosy and dark or bright and airy? Don’t be afraid for the two to exist simultaneously. Make colourful statements by way of a huge rug or unique wallpaper or print to give your home personality and then sit back, relax and enjoy!
Mindfulness
Tip number 2 is all about what you can hear. You can have the most beautiful home, but if your acoustics are off it’s going to affect the ambience. We can’t always do something about external factors, but we can control what is inside our home. To create a peaceful environment, choose fabrics and furniture that can help with soundproofing. Rugs are a great way of reducing sound and can be moved easily too, curtains and drapes help muffle external noise and placing furniture against outside walls can also help minimise unwanted sound.
Be savvy when choosing the layout of your rooms, think about which side of your house is quieter – for example the master bedroom may be on the side of a noisy road, but the smaller room overlooks your garden where you are more likely to sleep well. You could also consider installing a garden water feature, that you can hear from your window to drown out road noise or even download a spa music playlist to really help you find your zen.
Mix And Match
Another of our senses is touch, and to truly engage this sense you want to be utilising lots of different materials and fabrics. Go for items that look interesting and make you want to reach out and touch them, for example, textured wallpaper, velvet throws, smooth wooden counters, cold marble breakfast bars and worn in leather sofas. Also think about the quality of your furnishings, to really ooze luxury they should be well made, ideally handmade and heavy.
Perhaps the most important part of a relaxing hotel stay is the quality of your night’s sleep, this can be determined predominantly by the feel and comfort of the bed and the temperature in the room. The same is true at home- adjust your duvet to the seasons or invest in a heavy bedspread that can tie in with your accent colour, add layers and interest and to add extra warmth if required and consider a mattress topper for extra comfort. Invest in white cotton sheets with a high thread count and quality pillows to really get that high-end hotel chic factor. And it sounds obvious, but always make your bed!
Balancing Act
We all know that we feel happier when we have eaten and eaten well. So let us not forget about the importance of taste - dining is a big part of staying in a hotel after all. Is your hometown famous for a local ware? Perhaps they distil gin or produce wine or maybe it’s a local honey that the town is famed for. Whatever it is, think about displaying it on your counter-top, rather than hiding it away in a cupboard. Be just as proud of your local produce, as you were keen to sample those made at another location. Often homemade or farm shop goods look more rustic and aesthetically pleasing too, which is an added bonus. Nature produces a rainbow of colours too, so don’t always hide your veg away, put it on show, let the beetroot sing alongside the apples for once! Grow herbs or lavender on kitchen counters or in your garden to enjoy their aroma and them to add to your cooking, not only will they smell wonderful, but they will enhance that countryside feel too.
Pay Attention To The Olfactives
Your olfactory system enables your sense of smell, and scent is strongly linked to your emotions and memories. Pay attention to the products used in the hotel, the toiletries in your bathroom, that candle that was burning when you walked in. These were all there to not only create a lovely welcoming environment, but as part of what is known as the ‘olfactory marketing technique’ –which means that subconsciously or not the hotel becomes synonymous in your mind, with the scent – this is great because once you know what the fragrance is you can easily replicate this at home, thus evoking those lovely spa vibes.
So, there you have it, room service, fine dining, 5* spa facilities, and Verve de Clique nail bar aside, Abode2 believe that the key to creating a high-end country hotel vibe, in your own home lies not just in what you can see, but in the careful consideration of all your 5 senses….. Now I have a sixth sense that we will be returning to Dormy House very soon (for research purposes, of course)!
If you would like to check in, then check out: Dormy House
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