London-based Saar Zafrir Design has unveiled Craves, a new 59-room boutique hotel situated beside Belgium’s Grand Place in Brussels. Crafted to stimulate all five senses, the sumptuous interior design transports guests to the early 1900s with a dark and opulent aesthetic lined with velvet upholstery and furnishings that pay homage to the Art Deco era.
“We wanted to bring something new to the city of Belgium, and create an experience that isn’t typical of the hotel offerings here,” says firm founder Saar Zafrir. “Craves is a hotel for people who enjoy life and want to have fun. It presents a sensual energy, from the welcome at reception, to the rooms and restaurant. We certainly had a lot of fun creating it.”
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by a reception desk—comprising smooth wood and a marble top with gold finishings—set against a large mirror backdrop. Parquet flooring spans the ground floor, leading into an upscale contemporary bar and restaurant outfitted with a Levantine kitchen. The sophisticated but casual dining experience, Le Conteur, evokes nostalgia as well as a cosmopolitan flair with a warm palette of burnt orange and mustard yellow. Gold accents complement wood floors and furnishings, while white subway-tiled walls and checkered and Herringbone floors mesh with Mediterranean flora.
An opulent palette of black and snorkel blue characterizes guestrooms and corridors. Navy velvet beds, headboards, and drapes are offset by gold detailing, while traditional black paneling and a floral wall border envelopes the room. Marble surfaces and brass accents round out each room as well.
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