Two hours outside of Milan, natural splendor abounds in Brescia, Italy. The surroundings are reflected warmly across Miramonti, a luxury boutique hotel recently restored by London-based design firm Boxx Creative. Set against both a mountainous backdrop and the idyllic Lake Garda, the design team decided to maintain its original façade and opted to give the interiors a dramatic overhaul. Boxx Creative co-founders Nicola Lindsell and Nicola Keenan set out to tackle the project in three distinct phases.
“The interior scheme draws on the elements of earth, fire, water, wood, and metal,” says Lindsell, also noting that the ethos of the design firm is led by the notion of completely conscious design. “Each material was selected for its authentic properties and links to the surrounding nature.”
In the minimalistic-style bedrooms, a muted color palette of warm white tones offset by calm notes of blue and green are splashed throughout the walls and accessories. Locally crafted, bespoke wood furniture is found across the property as well as heated wood floors for an elevated dose of modern luxury. “We are passionate about made-to-last products and quality fittings that will stand the test of time,” says Keenan who also outfitted the bathrooms with stone sinks to further amplify the elegant, regional influence on the interior’s natural finishes. “Quality items are not only more sustainable and easier to maintain, but also have a luxury feel that people appreciate on a subconscious level.”To maximize Miramonti’s unique footprint, the designers mixed in plenty of contemporary details like metal-framed bunkbeds equipped with built-in storage and unique bedside tables.
Guestroom layouts on the third and fourth floors were fully reconfigured during renovations, with fourth floor quarters embracing modern, loft-like aesthetics free of walls. “On the fourth floor there were kitchenettes in the existing four rooms. We removed these to allow three [more] rooms to fit into the space,” Keenan says. “Not only does this maximize the number of rooms available, but also encourages a community feel to the restaurant and chill-out areas in the rest of the hotel.”
Although the hotel will continue to undergo updates, including the addition of a hotel restaurant, bar, reception area, and other amenities, Miramonti is as alive and peaceful as the landscape it rests upon—continuing to remain one with nature.