Berlin's rough luxe

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In a building almost destroyed in World War II, the Clarchens Ballhaus still attracts visitors from all over the world. It boasts a restaurant that was first opened in 1913, hosts concerts and theater groups and is a perfect place to enjoy views of Berlin from its garden. Its dance floor is the oldest in Berlin, with dancing Monday through Thursday evenings. Salsa anyone?

What first attracted me was its lack of pretense and pride in the building as it stood, rather than undergoing a major overhaul. I first came across the term "rough luxe" when used in reference to the London hotel, the Rough Luxe Hotel (see here).  I would be much more inspired sitting in its history, viewing the peeling walls and cracked mirrors.

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I like it when you can experience the walls and floors as they have stood over time.

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Photo by Mai-Linh in Marie Claire Maison

Love the chandelier!

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What a place for the office holiday party!

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Which would you prefer?

For your consideration, here are four very different ways to feature your walls. They range from very rough luxe to barely there. 

Which direction would you prefer?

To begin, this is the rather unprocessed, rough look. Believe me, I have seen some wonderfully patinaed walls after removing wallpaper and wondered why go further? This look has been featured in commercial spaces for a while now. In the home? Hmmm...

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Here is a distressed wall treatment that looks charming. It certainly recreates the "timeworn country chateau" look.

Photo by Gus Schmiege in Country French magazine

This Venetian plaster is soft, matte and barely there. It could be featured anywhere.

Photo by Edmund Barr

This fabulous wall treatment is totally going for it! The oversize pattern, the color and the gloss: not easy to achieve! When doing a lacquered wall, the walls must be in perfect condition as the gloss highlights every imperfection.

Designer: Marshall Watson  Decorative Painter: Judy Mulligan

What wall treatments do you prefer?

Just paint? Flat? Glossy?

A wall finish?

Raw walls are a thing of beauty...

One of my favorite issues of Metropolis magazine is the April ’09 issue. It features the Rough Luxe Hotel that just opened in London. When Rabih Hage, the architect chosen to rehab the 1820’s Georgian home, saw the plaster walls after removing the wallpaper and paint layers, he fell in love with the beauty of the rough hewn walls and their resulting patina qualities. He designed the décor around each room’s walls, combining different textures to complement the whole.

 Now how cool is that?

  

Rough Luxe Hotel guest room

  

Rough Luxe Hotel- another guest room