The French Riviera has been a playground for the rich and fabulous for centuries, but the resort community hit its heyday in the 1920s, when trains brought visitors from all over Europe to the exquisite seaside. Celebrating this history, the Hotel Martinez has renovated its ultra-luxe Suite des Oliviers with an Art Deco flair that recreates a classic era in Cannes’ history.
Of course, the choice of the epoch is no coincidence: The resort (now a member of Concorde Hotels & Resorts) rose like a phoenix from the ashes of a royal villa in Cannes in 1929, and the rest of the building’s exterior décor fits the era without looking out-of-date. While the whole resort is classic, this suite offers a real time-travel experience.
To capture the Roaring Twenties’ style, interior designer Marc Hertrich incorporated the colors and design elements popular in that decade when he renovated the first-floor suite. With 1,937 square feet and two bedrooms to work with, he had plenty of options. In the bedrooms, enormous mother-of-pearl padded headboards invite guests to sit back and relax while in bed. Throughout the suite, rock crystal chandeliers and ball lamps gently diffuse the light; and the two-tone dressing tables are covered in classic white leather and embroidered silk covers. Even the carpeting is retro, with Hotel Martinez diamond-shaped monograms.
Of course, not every detail of a classic suite can be old-fashioned. For some modern touches, Suite des Oliviers’ hi-fi sound system has an iPod docking station, and there are several LCD and LED TVs. Outside, on the 2,960-square-foot terrace (which offers a terrific view of La Croisette, we are told), an oversized Jacuzzi lets guests relax and sunbathe in privacy. And, bien sur, Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Contact Director of Sales and Marketing Marie-Christine Buenaobra ([email protected]) with queries.