Wilton Wows At World Heritage Site

With some 2000sqm of carpet installed over two phases, the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa has relied upon Wilton Carpets Commercial to provide bespoke woven axminster in a range of designs for use throughout bedrooms, communal areas, the grand staircase, restaurant, drawing room and library. Commissioned by Jane Clayton and Company, Wilton Carpets Commercial created a suite of designs for the different areas working through CAD visuals and hand trials before final patterns were selected.

“Our challenge was to preserve the integrity and heritage of the Grade 1 Listed building, retaining the traditional feel visitors expect, while updating and refreshing areas in a more contemporary manner as requested by the owner,” explains Ciara Donegan, design team leader, Jane Clayton and Company. “In the 45 bedrooms we opted for a slightly more contemporary design that would set the scene, keeping the colours neutral to better offset the individual design of each room.In public areas, where more traditional architectural details and schemes were in evidence, we opted for more traditional designs.”

Within the bedrooms a modern circular motif in a tonal colourway selected from Wilton’s Flexiweave Optimum palette features, with a similar design in a reduced scale, and in a colour combination more suited to intensive use, appearing within the restaurant. Communal areas use a further interpretation of this design, again in a different colour combination. Traditional motifs complementing striking architectural features are used in the drawing room and library with accent colours used to complement and highlight colour schemes in surfaces and furnishings.

“It was important to get the carpet right as the base for the scheme. We wanted a carpet which blended in with and helped to offset the schemes, rather than something that really jumped out,” continues Ciara Donegan. “The designs in the drawing room and library worked particularly well, likewise the carpet on the grand staircase in the main mansion building looks splendid, with the blue complementing the ‘Wedgewood’ blue used on the walls.”

Using UK-made wool-rich woven axminster throughout, the hotel benefits from a carpet that delivers exceptional appearance retention, durability and underfoot comfort and which befits its luxury five-star status. Manufactured on looms at Wilton Carpets Commercial in Wiltshire, the carpets were made within the lead times required, delivering the value and quality expected.

“We’ve previously worked with Wilton on projects at Clivedon Hall, a private wedding venue, and the English Speaking Union in London’s Mayfair, so we had no hesitation in turning to them for the Royal Crescent Bath Hotel and Spa. We’ve been happy with the level of service provided by design manager, Julie Robertson and the team at Wilton, likewise with the leadtimes, value and quality too.”, concludes Ciara Donegan.

Owned by the Topland Group, the Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa has recently undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment, restoring the Grade 1 listed building sympathetically to its Georgian roots. Undertaken in phases so that the hotel could remain operational, the refurbishment was completed in April 2014.