Located off Africa’s southeastern coast, the Republic of Mauritius remained uninhabited until the 17th century, and to this day retains a sense of mystery due to its unique biodiversity and location off the beaten path. Following the decline of its sugar and textiles industries, the island nation’s famed beaches and tropical climate have made it a popular luxury and resort destination. Situated in the main island’s oceanside village of Belle Mare, the LUX Belle Mare resort now stands out with a refreshing redesign.
When Kelly Hoppen, founder of London-based Kelly Hoppen Interiors, was approached by LUX Island Resorts to revive the resort’s 174 suites, 12 villas, and overall interiors, her ultimate aim was to instill a feeling of sanctuary. “I wanted to create a lighter idea of luxury,” she says. “It isn’t necessary to have so much clutter and fussy objects in a room when you just want to relax. The more I designed, the lighter and simpler it became—like the stunning island it lives on.”
Keeping it light meant using bleached wood for the suites’ furnishings, including the trestle tables and headboards. A selection of suite bathrooms feature entirely tongue and groove bleached panel walls—found in others only in the cabinetry. Though the wood’s use varies, it’s a common backdrop creating a sense of continuity in the layout.
Simple white wicker and wood furnishings in common spaces and restaurants draw on this theme, and are complemented by taupe linen coverlets adhering to Hoppen’s signature neutral palette of white, cream, taupe, and beige mingled with brighter accent colors such as lime and orange. This lightness continues within the LUX Me spa, which features natural wood finishes and Asian elements reflecting Hoppen’s well known East-meets-West design philosophy.
Without affecting the overall quality of design, Hoppen set out to make each resort space multifunctional to suit the myriad needs of its guests. To overcome this challenge, floors and joineries throughout the resort were maintained to create a flow between its indoor and outdoor spaces. A unique color in each area —such as the crimson and turquoise accents at the Beach Rouge restaurant—creates illusory partitions and a sense of individuality in the open spaces.
“It was important to keep the floor plans very open and continuous,” says Hoppen. “The setting is so wonderful that we wanted to let both the resort and its surroundings stand in harmony rather than be sectioned off.”
The restaurant also features white wicker hanging basket fixtures to mirror their dark stained counterparts suspended in select suites and villas. Beach-inspired textures and pops of mossy plant décor are subtle yet dramatic amidst the soft tones of the rooms’ bedding and window treatments, made with linen and cotton textiles to incorporate an island feel. Water-inspired lacquer countertops and surfaces reference the nearby ocean and create a contrast with the driftwood elements.
“I absolutely love to mix sumptuous textures with luxurious finishes to add a new dimension to any room,” Hoppen says. “Texture is very important to me. You can combine them in so many ways to add depth and sensuality.”
