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Discovering the Secret World of History-Inspired Interior Design at Hotel Claude Marbella

Elena Sullivan — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 20:19:36 +0000

There are hotels where staying is simply practical, places with everything you need for a pause during your trip: a bed, a shower, a mini fridge, breakfast included in the room rate. And then there are hotels that become an essential part of the experience itself. Places where you wake up slowly, take in the view, watch the soft morning light fill the room, and easily begin dreaming about the new day ahead. Boutique Hotel Claude in Marbella, Spain is one of those hotels.

Every time you walk through its hallways and stay in one of the rooms it feels as if the hotel is telling you a new and fascinating story through its décor and interiors. Here you always want to hear what comes next. On one wall, a vivid painting of a woman’s portrait surrounded by oversized flowers. Across the room, a sculptural wall relief in the lion’s shape, dating back to the last century. At the centre, a well disappearing deep into the building and into its history. Nearby, a small bar room with a collection of beautiful books and contemporary artworks that make you stop for a moment and smile.

There is something intimate about the interior space, with its refined and timeless lines connecting the different art elements: paintings, photo prints, decorative objects and ornaments. The visual story continues into each of the seven guest rooms, where hotel room décor becomes part of very well crafted experience. The hotel interior design is carefully layered, creating a feeling that is elegant without becoming formal. Elements of this boutique hotel interior design blend with the character of the old building, while details of bedroom decoration make each room feel personal and inviting. There is also something here that reminds me of home styling, the way objects, books, art and small details are brought together to create a feeling of coziness.

There are only seven rooms, and that is enough to create a sense of intimacy right in the centre of Marbella’s lively Casco Antiguo. The small scale is part of its charm. You never feel like you are simply staying in a hotel, but entering a private little world with its own rhythm, objects, and stories. Boutique Hotel Claude feels like an oasis of calm in the middle of a city where colourful life is constantly unfolding in the streets. It brings a necessary balance to travelling through Marbella and for the time of your stay becomes a quiet place to return to after spending the day surrounded by the energy, colours and movement of the city.

Hotel Claude’s History

The story of Hotel Claude Marbella begins long before it became a boutique hotel. The house dates back to the 17th century and has been carefully restored, preserving many of its original details while adding contemporary comfort.

The house was once the summer residence of Eugenia de Montijo, Empress of France and wife of Napoleon III. Born in Granada in 1826 during an earthquake, her life was almost as dramatic as her birth. Known for her beauty and ambition, she became one of the most fascinating women of her time.

In the 1970s, the house became the southern Spanish home of French opera singer Claude Devoize and her husband, Don Juan Berjano. Together they restored the old mansion and turned it into a private gathering place for music and culture, where opera rehearsals, literary evenings and society dances took place. Today, Hotel Claude is considered the first boutique hotel in Marbella. Original 17th-century elements, including the marble courtyard, iron door, columns and historic well, are combined with artworks created especially for the hotel.

There are only seven rooms categorised as Chic, Chic Superior and Chic Suite. Each one is inspired by a different province of Andalusia. The hotel room decor uses colour, artwork and decorative details to create a different atmosphere in every room. The marble courtyard and rooftop terrace overlooking Marbella’s old town complete this quiet little world, a peaceful place with a long and fascinating history.

How was the interior design of Hotel Claude created?

The interiors of Hotel Claude were originally designed by Angell Gordon, while the later renovation was led by Lord Designs Interiors. The newer design gives the old house a fresh feel without losing its original character, mixing modern pieces, art and beautiful materials with the traditional Andalusian details.

Each room at Hotel Claude takes inspiration from a different part of Andalusia, turning the region’s architecture, colours and atmosphere into its own interior story. The Alhambra Chic Suite, inspired by Granada and the golden age of the Nasrid Kingdom, is probably the most distinctive example. The Alhambra is one of Granada’s most recognizable landmarks and one of the most important examples of Spain’s Islamic heritage. Built as a palace and fortress complex, it includes the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces and the gardens of the Generalife. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, it is also one of the most photographed places in Spain, especially with the Sierra Nevada rising behind it.

The architecture of the Alhambra is known for its intricate Arabic patterns, decorative tiles, carved wood, arches and ornamental details. Even the pomegranate, from which Granada takes its name, has become one of the symbols of the city. It is this atmosphere of Granada and the Alhambra that Hotel Claude brings into its most special suite. Rather than trying to recreate the palace itself, the interior design takes some of its most recognizable elements and translates them into a more intimate contemporary space.

You can see this in the high wooden ceiling, original Arabic-style tiles and decorative latticework. The 27 m² suite has several different areas, including a small living space, a large bed and a custom-made dressing table combining natural wood, marble and golden metal details. The bathroom continues the idea with patterned Andalusian tiles and a walk-in rain shower.

The hotel interior design in the Hotel Claude is mixed with contemporary comfort, creating a space that feels connected to Granada’s history while still being comfortable for modern travellers. The hotel room decor plays an important part in creating this atmosphere. From the tiles and wood to the smaller decorative details, everything adds another layer to the story. It is a good example of boutique hotel interior design, where the personality of the space becomes part of the experience. Even the bedroom decoration feels more like a carefully styled private room than a typical hotel bedroom, with the combination of materials, artwork and details creating a warm and intimate atmosphere.

Contact & Reservations

For more information about Hotel Claude Marbella, room availability and reservations, visit the official Hotel Claude website

Address – Calle San Francisco, 5, 29601 Marbella, Spain

Contact – info@hotelclaudemarbella.com

All images in this article were taken by Elena Sullivan, ArsVie Photo Studio and are protected by copyright. If you are interested in using any of the them, please contact me for permission. Thank you for understanding!

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Inside the Bold Hotel Design of citizenM Hotel in Miami South Beach

Elena Sullivan — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 22:19:32 +0000

CitizenM, is a modern, artsy hotel chain known for its smart rooms, bold design, and chill vibes. It’s perfect if you love creative spaces with a touch of luxury.

CitizenM started in the Netherlands and opened its first hotel in Amsterdam in 2008 with the idea to create affordable luxury for modern travelers. Now, CitizenM has locations in major cities around the world, from New York to Paris to Tokyo. In Miami, they have three hotels, and we stayed at the one located in South Beach.

Inside the Bold Hotel Design of citizenM Hotel in Miami South Beach

This hotel stood out to us right away when we were searching for a place to stay during our short summer trip to Miami. We knew we’d be spending most of our time outside, either relaxing on the beach or hanging out by the pool, so we were looking for something upbeat, modern, and with nice small rooms. Nothing super big or overly luxurious, but something creative, stylish, and comfortable.

And the citizenM hotel had exactly that.

We booked it through the Delta website. My husband is a Million Miler, so every now and then he gets access to special promotional rates and luckily, citizenM was one of them. We did a quick bit of research, checked out some reviews on Booking and Expedia, and they were all really solid. So we booked a room with a light heart and zero hesitation.

Even before arriving, I was already drawn in by the look of the citizenM hotel in South Beach Miami. The photos showed energizing pops of color, bold shapes, and modern art pieces scattered throughout the space. It instantly spoke to me. As someone who loves hotel design and works as an interior design photographer, I’m always inspired by beautiful interiors. And this place definitely delivered.

What I appreciated most was how much personality the space had. The lobby decor felt creative and playful, with a mix of sleek furniture, curated art, and just the right amount of color. It wasn’t your typical sterile hotel lobby, it felt more like a stylish lounge where you’d want to actually hang out.

And then there was the hotel room decor. Although the rooms are compact, they’re smartly designed with modern touches and unique wall art that made the space feel thoughtful and cozy, not cramped. For me, staying in a place with inspiring design fuels creativity and makes the trip even more memorable.

citizenM hotel in Miami South Beach was designed by this super stylish Amsterdam firm called Concrete, along with Gensler’s local Miami team so it’s got that perfect mix of sleek and local flair.

They also commissioned original artwork for the rooms from artists around the world! Austin Call from LA, Akhila Watts from Barbados, Robert Minverini from Florence. So every space at the hotel has its own creative twist that totally matches the artsy energy of South Beach.

Light plays a huge role in the hotel design, and by night, the citizenM hotel transforms into a playground of colorful, shifting lights, making you feel like you’re stepping into a whole new world.

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Modern hotel design in the lobby and room decor

The lobby is the first space that sets the tone for the entire hotel experience and the lobby decor at the citizenM hotel in South Beach Miami instantly makes a statement. It greets you with bold, bright colors, especially vibrant reds and eye-catching wall art that gives off tropical, slightly wild vibes. It’s playful, energetic, and definitely not your average hotel lobby.

Once you head up to the second floor, the hotel design really comes to life. You’ll find more bold colors, all perfectly balanced with modern furniture and fun art pieces tucked into every corner walls, shelves, and even unexpected nooks. As someone who wears a lot of bold colors myself (because they genuinely energize me), I know how tricky it is to mix them in a way that feels stylish and cohesive. That’s why I have so much appreciation for interior designers who confidently use bold color palettes in hotel room decor. It takes a good eye and a bold spirit to pull it off and the citizenM hotel team totally nailed it, not just in Miami but in all their international locations too.

The hotel room decor itself is more minimal and sleek, but with a fun, techy twist. Everything from the lights and blinds to the music is controlled through an iPad. Even the bathroom lights can be changed with the app, which, yes, I totally played around with on the first day. It’s one of those little things that adds a modern and fun element to the hotel design, and it’s super easy to use.

The rooftop pool area is another spot where the creativity really shines. With bright-colored walls, quirky details, and stylish seating areas, it feels more like a rooftop lounge than a typical hotel pool. It’s the kind of space that makes you want to stay up there all afternoon relaxing, taking photos, or just soaking in the South Beach vibe.

And a quick note about the food, while we didn’t have full meals there, we did try breakfast and grabbed a few snacks while hanging out by the pool. They don’t serve food directly at the pool area, but you can order through the citizenMapp, pay online, and when it’s ready, you get a notification to pick it up downstairs at the canteenM. We tried it, and the whole process was super smooth. The food was fresh, tasty, and reasonably priced, especially for a trendy spot like South Beach.

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