Discover the calming interior design of St. Barths’ stylish Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa, created by the interior architect Sybille de Margerie whose signature is feminine and poetic, functional, and contemporary, with the attention to detail.
Placed on a crescent-shaped, white-sand beach, Le Barthélemy – St. Barths’ 5-star hotel – is a tropical oasis of relaxed Caribbean calm in Grand Cul-de-Sac. The designer hotel embraces its chic Parisian style while reveling in its beachfront setting with an ocean view, blending bespoke hotel service with genuine tropical island hospitality.
The luxury hotel was designed expressly to blend in with the natural essence of St. Barths island; harmonious with its surrounding environment, a hospitality product of place, purpose, and time. The interiors were designed by internationally acclaimed interior architect Sybille de Margerie, who has gained recognition for creating beautiful spaces that reflect their particular location and conjure an emotional response.
The French designer’s interiors combine contemporary designs with Caribbean authenticity, thus offering relaxing comfort in symbiosis with the tropical environment. Space and light are clear inspirations: white, blue, and sandy tones, in soft and fresh color palettes, are present in guest rooms and suites, restaurants, terraces. The atmosphere is light and airy allowing for a smooth circulation between the hotel’s principal spaces.
With the sea and beauty of this Caribbean island as her creative inspiration, Sybille de Margerie’s indoor spaces are understated yet supremely luxurious and create a serene atmosphere. The décor is comprised of natural materials and artistic touches such as resin coral, blown glass sculptures which are all testaments to the island’s French pedigree and Caribbean soul. Sculptures by artist Tzuri Gueta and delicate accessories by Gilles Caffier evoke the great diversity of the island’s corals.
With guestrooms either overlooking the blueness of the ocean or the greenness of the garden, the interior architect offers a contrast between a refreshing turquoise color palette for rooms with a sea view and a joyful fuchsia harmony for those facing the garden. The wooden shutters painted in either taupe or white lacquer separate the bedroom and bathroom from the terrace thus offering guests the option for complete privacy or an extraordinary view of the surrounding area.
The Thala stone flooring complements the headboards in woven straw, while the high ceilings give each hotel room volume and space conducive to comfort and relaxation. The glass pendant lights are made by Wonderglass and inspired by fishing rod caps, while the resin coral sculptures remind us of the vast diversity of coral species on this tropical island. Driftwood logs serve as side tables, the coffee tables are from Pouenat and the day beds on the terraces are made by the prestigious Italian designer brand Paola Lenti. Finally, the embroidered cushions take their graphic motifs from the iconic white railings seen on the houses in Gustavia, the capital of the island of Saint Barthélemy.
For the lobby decoration, Sybille de Margerie was inspired by one of the traditional creative crafts on the island: the braiding of palm leaves by the women of the Corossol village to make hats. There is a clear nod to this technique as, on the wall of brushed and bleached wood, one can find panels covered with braided straw fabric linking the design of the three common spaces: lobby, bar, and restaurant.
The French designer’s restaurant interiors reflect executive chef William Girard and his inventive blend of island-inspired and French cuisine superbly: the white painted wooden frame supports an immense suspension of a shoal of glassfish inspired by the richness of the underwater fauna in St. Barths. The coffee-colored marble stone, furniture designed by Christophe Delcourt and colored glassfish chandelier all combine to create a stylish and soothing restaurant design.
‘Le Spa’ at Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa is an invitation to unwind, peaceful space of well-being and relaxation. For its decoration, the interior architect has drawn inspiration from the extraordinary coastal environment of this lovely Caribbean island. The floor is in textured white porcelain stoneware with a wet sand effect, the patinated walls with inlaid sand flakes, and a wooden scale, which all combine to create a refreshing marine-inspired environment. A stunning wooden sculpture by the esteemed French sculptor, Thierry Martenon, complements Sybille de Margerie’s spa interiors superbly.
Photos – Olivier Leroi, Laurent Benoit, and Pierre Carreau
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