Sandra‘s Closet

London’s oldest luxury hotel has handed three of its finest bedrooms to Sir Paul Smith, and the result is one of the most charming things to happen in Mayfair this summer. Opening in July 2026, the Paul Smith Grand Suite at Brown’s Hotel is conceived as a private London residence rather than a hotel suite, with three generous bedrooms connected by a bespoke Paul Smith corridor.

The collaboration brings together two great British institutions: Brown’s, the grande dame of Albemarle Street, and one of Britain’s most beloved designers, Paul Smith, who started his design empire in a small Nottingham shop in 1970. Created with Olga Polizzi, Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, the new suite evolves the much celebrated Sir Paul Smith Suite into something larger, warmer and even more personal.

Everything here carries his handwriting. Curtains in the iconic Signature Stripe, developed with Maharam Fabrics, are tied back with original Paul Smith ties, a detail I find completely irresistible. Rugs from the 2026 collection with The Rug Company anchor the rooms, while Harris Tweed adds a quiet nod to his current ready to wear collection.

British craftsmanship runs through the whole apartment like a red thread. Hand painted porcelain lamps by Lyngard, ceramics commissioned from Charlotte Salt and Elaine King, glass pieces by Emsie Sharp and Stewart Hearn. Add English antiques, historic Japanese screens and Sir Paul’s own collected treasures, and you have a residence with layers, humour and a real sense of a person living in it.

Mayfair, tailored.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Brown’s Hotel
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Every year, the Claridge’s Hotel in London invites a designer to collaborate on the decoration of their iconic Christmas tree. Last year, it was Louis Vuitton, this year it is no other than Sir Paul Smith, who revealed a traditional 20ft Christmas tree sitting in a Signature Striped barrel and decorated with Paul Smith colourful baubles, ribbon and over 100 bespoke birdhouses.

Sir Paul has collaborated with two friends of the house on the decorations, British artist Nik Ramage, who has made a series of mechanical birdhouses, all with a playful Paul Smith twist, with roofs decorated in playing cards, postage stamps and dice. In Paul’s office, a miniature cable cart hovers overhead and Ramage took inspiration from this and engineered a flying bird to frame Claridge’s reception. Design studio Studiomama, have created a series of their whimsical ‘Off Cut Creatures’ to sit around the base of the tree.

Adding to the festive design, Paul Smith’s holiday Merrymaker fragrance will scent the lobby, and a chorus of birdsong is projected from the tree throughout the day to welcome guests into the lobby of the hotel. Sir Paul has even transformed the hotel lobby into his living room, with a geometric Paul Smith stripe Rug Company Rug, reupholstered Maharam by Paul Smith fabric pieces surround the fireplace to offer guests a warming retreat during the winter months.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without an element of festive fun and adding to the playfulness, Sir Paul has revealed ‘Paul’s Pick n Mix’ trolley, which will be available for guests to enjoy.

«My wife Pauline and I have been staying and dining at Claridge’s for many years. We have spent so many special moments like Christmas and New Year at the hotel with our grandchildren and so it is often a family affair. It’s a great honour to be asked to create this year’s Christmas tree and it’s something I hope people will enjoy and find fascinating and fun. When designing this year’s tree, I automatically thought of a bird house, friendly and optimistic, a symbol of home which reflects the welcoming spirit of Claridge’s.»

Sir Paul Smith

I truly miss spending my time in London before Christmas, but due to my MY STYLE ROCKS project, I couldn’t find the time this year.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Claridge’s
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