Look Inside The Connaught’s Jazzy New Suite, The King’s Lodge

One of London‘s buzziest hotels has just opened its doors on a brand new suite, created in collaboration with King Charles‘s charity Turquoise Mountain. Read on to take a peek inside The King’s Lounge, the newest addition to The Connaught.

The King’s Lodge At The Connaught

The Connaught is something of a heritage hotel, having joined London’s hospitality scene in 1897 – and in the years since its founding, it has cultivated a reputation built on elegance and fine craftsmanship. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the latest addition to its expansive offering comes courtesy of a royally-approved collaboration.

Unveiled for the first time this month, the one-of-a-kind suite, titled The King’s Lodge, was created in joint effort by The Connaught’s renowned legacy interior designer, Guy Oliver, and charity Turquoise Mountain, which supports artisans across the Levant, Afghanistan, Myanmar and India. Founded in 2006 by the then-Prince of Wales, the charity is best known for its work supporting artisans from these areas revitalise their heritage.

‘The King’s Lodge has brought together over one hundred master artisans and team members from across Afghanistan, Jordan, Syria, Myanmar and India, to create and celebrate the finest craftsmanship and heritage design,’ said Dr. Thalia Kennedy, Creative Director at Turquoise Mountain. ‘Thanks to commissions like this suite, and the vision and commitment of Guy Oliver and The Connaught, artisan communities and these important traditions continue to thrive today.’

The suite marks the second collaboration between Guy Oliver, Turquoise Mountain and The Connaught – the first being The Prince’s Lodge, which opened in 2010 and was inspired by by the 19th century Peacock Palace in Kabul.

‘True luxury has always been made to measure and since it was built, The Connaught has been known as the handmade hotel, constructed by the finest artisan builders and cabinet makers. Now, working with Turquoise Mountain, we can support the highest level of craftsmanship in communities at risk around the world,’ added Guy Oliver. ‘It is a delight and an honour to bring them together to create such a remarkable and unique project.’

The Design

The new one-bedroom suite is located on the fifth floor of The Connaught, and features design elements that showcase the craftsmanship of the Levant, Afghanistan, Myanmar and India. The King’s Lodge takes inspiration from the historic Mughal style, with architectural woodwork from Jordan, handwoven carpets from Afghanistan, fabrics from Myanmar and carved marble and mirrored glass from India.

Highlights include the four-poster bed, a one-of-a-kind design featuring hand-drawn motifs, as well as the deep red seating area that boasts a stained glass window overlooking the intersection of Carlos Place and Mount Street in Mayfair. Then there’s the fabrics, which feature zigzag patterns were inspired by chevrons from Mughal columns and a colour palette taken from Lahore carpets and the Mughal textiles from the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha.

But it’s the fretwork that really takes your breath away. Turquoise Mountain worked with fine woodworkers on the walnut jali fretwork – an Afghan craft that intricately joins pieces of wood – which can be found in the arches of the bedframe and the screens spanning the The King’s Lodge. These are beautifully complemented by the floral marble panels, crafted by marble carves from Makrana who are descended from the Mughal court (and considered some of the finest stone carvers in the world).

‘It is an honour to once again welcome the master artisans from Turquoise Mountain to The Connaught in their creation of this truly remarkable suite, The King’s Lodge,’ said The Connaught’s General Manager, Sandeep Bhalla. ‘Our strong commitment to design and celebration of art has helped establish The Connaught as one of the world’s most coveted hotels and it gives us great pleasure to reveal The King’s Lodge.’

How To Book It

The Connaught is now taking bookings for guests to stay in The King’s Lodge, with rates starting from £2,000. A portion of the proceeds of every booking from both The Prince’s Lodge and The King’s Lodge goes directly to Turquoise Mountain and their programming to support artisans. the-connaught.co.uk

Images courtesy of The Connaught