1. PHOTOGRAPHs: Deepak Sankreacha
D DÉCORD DDÉCOR
ATASTEOF
ELEGANCE
IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE SETTING. TUCKED
AWAY IN THE TRANQUIL, VERDANT SUBURB
OF RUNDA, THE BEDELLE BOUTIQUE HOTEL IS
SUFFICIENTLY FAR ENOUGH TO ESCAPE FROM
THE COMMOTION OF THE CITY AND CLOSE
ENOUGH TO DO YOUR BUSINESS IN THE CBD.
By Irene Ouso
blissful oasis with personalised service awaits guests
who make their way to The Bedelle, which is perfectly
hidden away from the rest of the world. “Elle” in
French means she or her, therefore, Bedelle connotes “a grand
dame”. A country-style house is revealed as one makes their
way through the driveway. For the DRUM team, it’s love at
first sight with anticipation of what awaits beyond the double
doors. You would be forgiven to think that an interior designer
made their mark while designing this hotel but alas, it was
the owners Robert and Kambua Okora, who purchased the
furniture from Dubai and South Africa.
We set our eyes on a grand stairway that leads to the upper
rooms of the hotel. Flanking each side of the stairway is an
entrance leading into the sunken lounge. With a touch of
contemporary flair, the lounge presents itself as a space where
relaxed but serious conversations can take place. Every item is
in its rightful place. From the traditional furniture in splashes
of ash, chestnut, lemon yellow with pops of merlot and drizzle,
which present themselves in forms of patterns on the seats
and cushions all in different textures that balance perfectly.
A
the dining area overlooks
the outdoor lounge
Main bedroom with one of
his artworks on display
To the left of the lounge, is a self-service mini bar which Kambua
says is for the ‘disciplined’ patron who would like to enjoy their
drink in a tranquil environment as they enjoy their conversations.
Encased in hues of merlot on textured wall paper and the dark
wood finishes for the bar stools, the added touch of the down
lighters helps to create a relaxed mood. Further on is one of the
meeting rooms, which comes to life in its drizzle hued walls with
framed wallpaper. To the right of the lounge is the dining room
predominantly in shades of ash and white which is contrasted
by the wood on the floor to ceiling windows. The space can be
set up for buffets or intimate dinners. Warm lighting via the
grand chandelier completes the perfect picture. Moving outside
to the garden, at first we are struck by the picturesque green of
the plateau lawn. “We had to do a backfill during construction to
take advantage of the space we have so instead of having a slope,”
says Kambua. On another side of the backyard is a swimming pool
complete with island furniture. Going upstairs to more rooms and
a meeting room known as ‘The Excalibur’, we are curious about the
ambiance of this grand meeting space. It has a hardwood-paneled
ceiling in Armstrong style, a fireplace and spotlight highlighting the
different paintings and drawings on the walls, befitting of its name.
Moving to the rooms, each is individually designed and styled
to fit the given space that. Classic chattels like the sledge beds,
wing chairs in textured fabrics add that special feeling of being
relaxed mind body and soul. The air-conditioned suites are
generously proportioned and designed for ultimate comfort and
privacy. It is clear that Robert’s love and near-obsession for all
things architecture and interior design was the inspiration behind
the design. The beautiful interiors of The Bedelle have been
inspired by their trips to various destinations around the world, in
particular, a stay in a boutique hotel to South Africa, which birthed
the idea to start one here in Nairobi. As we bid adieu, words do not
do justice to the magnificence and elegance of The Bedelle, which
is a seductive harmony of sophisticated style and comfort.
DRUM DÉCOR TIPS:
• To create an airy feel, get rid of clutter. They make any space
feel crowded.
• White may seem bland at first but you can adorn the walls
with bold black and white art.
• Use plenty of candles to add warmth to your all white home.
Use candles in all shapes and sizes available.
• To create contrast, use coloured throws like green or purple
and place them on the seats.
DRUM September 2015 4140 September 2015 DRUM