The Goodwood Hotel: Reborn

For an interior designer of the calibre of Cindy Leveson, of Leveson Design, working closely with an Estate such as Goodwood is, in many ways, like working on the Forth Bridge!  Cindy recalls that she first started her collaboration with The Goodwood Hotel over 20 years ago now and she can remember each element of her work quite easily.

With the four-year restoration nearing completion with over 70% of the new styled accommodation in use, the revitalisation has seen the guest rooms given a fresh light contemporary feel, enlivened with memorabilia from the Goodwood collection.  Artwork from Goodwood House sits happily alongside historic black and white photographs of the family and royalty from the archive.

The brief had been simple “create individually decorated rooms that should be seen as an extension of the main House. So, if you are staying there, you feel you are a guest of the family’s.” Having worked on Goodwood House itself, on The Kennels (private member’s club) and the racecourse, she understood the intent perfectly.  Other touches included selecting popular and classical literature for each guest room, leaving them on the bedstand for guests to read, borrow and swap during their stay.  Trinkets and even miniature silver motorcars, personally selected, encourage an “at home” feel.

The refurbishment was split into four phases, the first to be breathing a new lease of life into the five rooms above the Richmond Arms (the 18^th century original coaching inn and Goodwood’s own country pub): “these rooms are full of character and act almost as a boutique hotel within the main hotel”.

For phases two, three and four it was the turn of the remaining rooms of this 91-room property.  The brief was to create “, a contemporary feel, keeping the colour palette and artwork similar but with a more minimal, look.” Antique furnishings and traditional flourishes blend seamlessly with contemporary light fittings and frames. When asked how she managed to create this balance, Cindy says “I think modern pieces sit very well alongside antiques. We kept the fabric and paints relatively simple and then mixed contemporary lamps with antique dressing tables and put historic artwork in modern frames.” The antique furniture was picked up at local fairs and shops – with a little E-Bay for good measure.  The fabrics actually came from the Isle of Bute, renowned for its weaving.  It is a policy of the Goodwood Estate to source as much as it can from the UK.  The colour palette in all the rooms was one of the toughest aspects of the renovation as Cindy wanted to ensure she kept a coherent style running across all elements of the Estate.  Tones range from pigeon and light grey to light blue and slipper satin.

Credit Clive Bournell

Cindy has also worked on Goodwood House, both with the private and State Apartments; has been responsible for transforming the Music Room at the House to a relaxed and comfortable retreat with large plush sofas and Ivory cotton curtains and has even given the grand entrance hall a refreshing new colour.  When asked what she enjoys about working with Goodwood, she says “you don’t start from scratch in houses like Goodwood.  All the bones are there and the furniture and pictures are already perfect so you are really just enhancing as and where necessary.”

Join Goodwood House during one of their house tours on a Sunday and Monday 1pm – 5pm until 15^th October 2012.  Entry costs GBP9.50 for adults and GBP4.00 children aged 12-18. Children under twelve are admitted free. Student rates are GBP4.00 and there is a family ticket for two adults and two children for GBP22.00.

Afternoon tea is served between 2pm – 4.30pm with prices starting at GBP4.00.

To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Summer Exhibition for 2012, running from 6^th August – 15^th October, will look at Goodwood’s royal heritage and how it is represented in the art collection. From 5^th – 30^th August the house will be open Sunday – Thursday.

About Goodwood House:  Set within magnificent grounds in the Sussex countryside, seven miles from the sea, is one of the truly spectacular English country estates.  The seat of the Dukes of Richmond and Gordon for over three hundred years, Goodwood remains in the family while affording guests an opportunity to experience the historic architecture and interiors of the grand house and the opulent modern amenities, award-winning dining and a range of sporting activities from golf to world class vintage car and horse racing.

To enquire about holding events or weddings at Goodwood please telephone 01243 775 537 or email events@goodwood.com.

For information on visitor opening times for  Goodwood House and for more information on the Goodwood Estate, please call +44 (0) 1243 755 000 or visit www.goodwood.com

Contributer:  Alexandra Pinhorn

Goodwood House is a client of Magellan PR.

Magellan PR is on twitter: @MagellanPR / on Facebook: MagellanPR / on Pinterest: Sue Lowry / on Google+:  Sue Lowry & MagellanPR and on Flickr: Sue Lowry.  For more information on our company, visit www.magellan-pr.com.  Follow our other blog focussing on travel in the South of England – A3 Traveller.

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