By the sea in Portofino

Photos courtesy of Belmond

The lush tree-topped hillsides of churches and castles and the quaint splendid villa punctuate the sapphire blue Portofino harbor mixed with pastel townhouses. Cars are forbidden, and practically every kid has a towering cone of pistachio gelato from San Giorgio. The city is very small, it is called the main square Square– Small yard. Tucked into a main corner of the piazzetta is this fishing village’s crown jewel: Splendid Seaside Hotel, Belmond. A townhouse simpler than the festival of glamor you might expect from the place that invented la dolce vita, it’s comfortable and sophisticated, thanks to the stunning remodeling of Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay of Architecture Fest In Paris. With only fourteen rooms, this elegant ode to Italian modernity meets navy won’t stay under the radar for long.

The brilliance of the design lies in its subtlety, allowing rich combinations, precious contemporary pieces, serious antiques and charming details to shine through from seemingly every angle. It’s an approach that works beautifully for home interiors of nearly every style; Here, four easy-to-make takeaways from the quiet luxury Liguria hotel that feel like a private home.

1 Bring the outside in

Portofino is, at its core, a fishing town. Sauzay and de Tonnac embrace the details of traditional gozzo boats and elegant Rivas that you spy on in the harbor. Warm woods throughout the hotel refer squarely to wooden boats, while sofas and headboards on the beds are rope trim, and new white linens remind us of sails scattered in the harbor. And everywhere there are small bursts of wise green – the exact color of the surrounding hillsides.

Fantastic hotel Mari

Polished wood and gentle curves warm up the mid-century modern aesthetic, especially in the cozy bar (there are seats for three at the counter) tucked behind the hotel’s cool restaurant, DaV Mare. (Order an after-dinner Stinger cocktail—it’s a hearty mix of cognac and mint liqueur—and order a sip from the local Lalla Luisa Digestivo while you’re at it.) A combination of floor-to-ceiling wood panels and a dark marble tabletop mimic the interior of a well-appointed boat. Rich leather accents pop up where you wouldn’t expect them — cocktail coasters and outrageously elegant GioBagnara clocks by every bed — always in the same burnt orange shade that complements the terracotta tiles underfoot.

Sexy Bar Accessories

Wood we love

2 The neutral color palette lets you blend in with distinct details

The subtle and subtle circumstance keeps every detail unified, from the hand-blown Murano-glass light fixtures and Gio Ponti furniture to the lavish Loro Piana upholstery and Gabriele Capelli’s abstract paintings (the place is firmly Italian). The result feels intimate – it’s like staying in a warm, cleverly coordinated country house in a sweet do nothing– Contessa loving. You want to run your fingers over every surface, flip over every book, and open all of the drawers to see what treasure might be hiding inside. Our favorite detail: porcelain. Each Bernardodo custom espresso plate, saucer, and mug is printed with a nautical rope pattern that wraps around the edge of the plate in Splendido Mare’s signature sage green.

Fantastic hotel Mari

3 Let your imagination run wild

The hotel’s bright beach cabanas and the abundance of surrounding plants (not to mention the clothes of passersby) gave designers license to enjoy. One of the most eye-catching details you’ll miss—which we loved is the terracotta floors throughout the entrance to the restaurant, DaV Mare: each tile wraps around the other, mimicking how the sun rotates and billows across the sea outside. As soon as you notice the series of swirls, your eye catches the thought throughout the hotel.

Fantastic hotel Mari

4 Let natural materials and beautiful colors sing

Sauzay and de Tonnac draws on linear Italian modernist elements made from natural materials such as laminate floors, marble countertops, polished wood furniture, woven textiles, and leather. The bathrooms, elegant with Carrera marble, have slabs of colorful tiles inspired by the shades of red, yellow, and green of nearby beach cabanas. The marble countertops are topped with vases of all shapes and sizes, many of which are scattered with paint. Even the glasses of water feature colorful and intentionally mismatched stripes on the table, making breakfast and lunch an informally delicious.

Fantastic hotel Mari