It’s a tricky proposition to build a hotel that combines a bustling location in the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities with the restful ambience of a spa retreat, but it’s a balance that interior architects Anne Peyroux and Emmanuèle Thisy have successfully struck at Hôtel de Sèze, Paris. If you hate the newfangled metric system they use over in Europe and prefer measuring distances in terms of stone throws, the hotel is one stone’s throw from the Place de la Madeleine in the city centre – a good spot for eating out, drinking in the famous French culture, and the famous French wine. But when the day is done and you need somewhere a bit less buzzy in which to decompress, the Hôtel de Sèze combines contemporary design with a relaxing, naturalistic vibe.

To achieve the desired effect, Peyroux and Thisy used plenty of wood and stone and kept the palette largely neutral in bathrooms and public areas with white, sand and taupe. Onto this peaceful canvas they placed splashes of vivid colour through plants, flora and fauna wall art and graphics, soft furnishings and a judicious use of heavily patterned materials on armchairs and carpets. The hotel has 22 rooms and a suite, and offers a Turkish bath and a fitness room in which to detox.

Photography, Christophe Bielsa