It’s the long weekend, and thoughts turn to holiday destinations and places that inspire. Armchair travel to these 5 for ideas you might want to take home as souvenirs.
With meteorological summer just around the corner, we’re in exam weather, and the sun is out.
That additional daylight shines a spotlight on the areas of the home you’d like to spruce up.
Steal some sunbaked ideas from these five design-led European properties.
Sizzling tiles in pools and bars in Sicily
Two kilometres from Noto, in south-east Sicily, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned as the capital of Sicilian Baroque, Braccialieri is a retro-chic resort with a small selection of suites and cabin glamping accommodation.
Set amongst ancient olive groves on a rural estate, it mixes rural heritage with a large helping of whimsy, courtesy of Sicilian fashion designer Alessandro Enriquez, who formerly worked for Costume National.
The red-and-white tiled pool, the lead image in this story, a nod to the kitchen tiles of his childhood home, is Insta-perfect.
Surrounded by floral-patterned parasols and sun loungers, it and the outdoor bar’s coral-coloured scalloped tiles are mood board ready. So too is the canfe furniture in the outdoor lounge.
Sicily can get very hot in high summer.
Early summer, September, or early October offer cooler temperatures, with a two-night mid-week stay in one of the cabins starting from €666. To book, visit Braccialieri.com
OTT artisan opulence in Portugal
An hour and a half south of Lisbon, and 20 minutes beyond its buzzy neighbour Comporta, is Melides, a 19th-century gem where shoe designer Christian Louboutin has opened his first hotel, Vermelho.
Behind an imposing door is a powder blue and white façade that houses lodgings of just 13 rooms.
Much of it is newly built, and it has been designed with Portuguese architect Madalena Caiado to blend into the environment.
Inside, there’s a wealth of distinctively Portuguese details, from coffered ceilings to the stunning azulejo mural that faces the reception.
Louboutin’s signature shade can be seen throughout, as the name of the hotel means red in Portuguese.
It’s in the scarlet window frames, staircases, plush gilded stools and intricately woven Maison Gatti chairs in the restaurant, Xtian.
It can be seen in lacquered tiles of the OTT ornate bar, where a slab of green Indian marble tops baroque silver panelling hammered in Seville by artisans.
The garden is laid out around a plunge pool and designed by Louboutin’s former partner, French landscape architect Louis Benech. An elaborate Neptune by Italian sculptor Giuseppe Ducrot crowns the pool.
A Wednesday night on May 20th will set you back from €720 for two people.
Lakeside minimalism in Bavaria
Not everyone wants the scorching heat of southern Europe.
Those seeking slightly cooler climes should consider a lakeside retreat on the shores of on the shores of the Bavarian Lake Chiemsee.
Chiemgauhof is contemporary to its core.
Designed by Milanese architect Matteo Thun.
His signature blend of minimalism and sustainability defines the hotel's aesthetic, integrating the interior with the natural world outside. The property forms part of a larger development, Resort Das Achental.
Special emphasis was placed on high-quality natural materials, and Thun pays homage to the region.
The tiles for the stoves, for example, come from the traditional manufactory Inseltöpferei Klampfleuthner on the lake island of Fraueninsel.
Oiled oak floorboards by Bavarian firm Schotten & Hansen, who supply to Ireland; hand-woven carpets by LPJ Studio from Chiemgau; and handmade carpets by Jan Kath, available through Rug Art in Dublin, ensure quiet elegance at every turn.
You can float in the heated outdoor pool with a direct view of the lake or take a dip in the clear waters of Lake Chiemsee from the hotel's own jetty, relax in the yoga room or exercise in the Technogym-kitted out space, while the Thun-designed sauna, installed by premier brand Klafs, is a beauty to behold.
Relaxed maritime moods in France's Marseille
A favourite of designer Simon Porte Jacquemus, Tuba Club offers a different French flavour, one that is salt-encrusted.
Built on the site of an old scuba diving club in the very part of the world made famous by Jacques Cousteau’s underwater excursions, it claimed among its many club members the famed free diver Jacques Mayol, often accompanied by his comrade Falco, captain of Jacques Cousteau’s boat, the RV Calypso.
Situated south of Marseille, at the entrance to the fishing village of Les Goudes, in the Parc national des Calanques, Tuba, the French word for snorkel, features just five rooms on the water, breathtaking views, and a table exposed to the sea spray.
Channel its chalkstripe yellow sun lounger, chic, simple canvas director chair seating and bedrooms that are all about the vista. Trying to book a room, though, is tricky – it is booked out all the way into 2027.
You may have to content yourself with a restaurant reservation at Bikini, the rocky outdoor restaurant, instead.
Mid-century moda on the Amalfi Coast
Perched atop the rocks of the Amalfi Coast, and yet just a 15-minute walk to the centre of Sorrento, Maison La Minervetta is a boutique hotel of just 12 rooms.
It was first opened in the 1950s by Sorrentine hotel owner Giovanni Cacace and a Danish woman who fell in love with the place, Wanda Schwartz.
The hotel has returned to family ownership yet retains much of the verve and optimism of that bygone era.
It is inspired by the traditional maritime palette of red, blue and whitewash but injects a lot of fun and nature into the interiors and exteriors.
The simple bed valances with toppers tucked in under the mattress are a simple way to add a nautical mood without veering into pastiche.
Yes, there are sailboats aplenty dotted around the establishment, but the Bay of Naples views from its huge windows are unmatched and play a big part in the décor.
The hotel’s terrace alone is almost worth the visit, the perfect venue for breakfast with a view, or a soak in the plunge pool, looking out over the cliffside towards Vesuvius.
On the property is a set of private steps down to the fishing village of Marina Grande. All rooms have sea views, and prices start from €874 for two.
