With hotel, yacht and restaurant projects spanning the globe, Anouska Hempel has established a reputation as a sought-after interior designer—and hotelier. (See the Vanity Fair article: “How a Onetime Bond Girl Became One of the World’s Most In-Demand Interior Designers.”) One of her latest projects? The Franklin Hotel, situated in Egerton Gardens in London’s Knightsbridge district. The hotel was acquired two years ago by the Florence-based Starhotels, an Italian hospitality company with a collection of 29 luxury hotels including the Pelham in London, the Helvetia & Bristol in Florence, and the Hotel d'Inghilterra in Rome. (The company's most luxurious properties are grouped under the Collezione label.)
Housed in a row of Victorian townhouses, The Franklin Hotel was closed for a year during the renovation. Hempel decorated the 35 guestrooms with mirrored furniture and velvet and silk fabrics. Hotel facilities include a Champagne and Martini bar, a wellbeing floor (with a hamman, spa room, and gym), plus an Italian restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef Alfredo Russo—facing Egerton Gardens. General Manager Francesco Roccato previously worked for the Lungarno Collection.
