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Oui, very much so.
A couple of months ago, in September, I broke with family protocol and ordered a hot chocolate from my favourite little market stall. Grandmother would have strongly objected, for traditionally, she thought of it as a treat, a ritual reserved solely for December – a sort of warm cuddle as the temperatures dip as we set course for Christmas and the holidays. In my defence, I was feeling a bit glum, and in a moment of weakness, I queued to get a cup of nectar. This, however, was no ordinary hot chocolate, as their billboard says: “I make drinking chocolate the Colombian way; slowly batiendo con el molinillo", and the stall owner's love of cocoa is as evident as the punters standing in line for A CUP OF MAGIC. I opt for a pinch of chilli and sea salt. Indulgent, immensely satisfying and comforting, I was also enamoured by the silky, velvety colour. As regulars to this Sunday Edit will know, I like to redecorate, often seduced by a cue like this cup of inspiration – was it time to ditch Miss Dirty Pink, my trusty paint colour in the hallway? My thoughts wandered, sinking into a soft, luscious shade of chocolatey paint. I needed more for the mood board, seeking out classic interpretations of this sultry palette, scouring interior and architectural magazines, and visiting new exhibitions (I find that gallerists not only have an eye for artworks, but they are also naturally talented at wall paint pairings); I was in hot pursuit of chocolate colour swatches. Our hotels, of course, are also my go-to as they are often well ahead of their time when it comes to understanding the subtlety of colour.
My little collage of beauty was taking shape. Still not 100 percent convinced, I dithered, fearing it may be too much.
Fast forward three months, I read the "Pantone Colour of the Year - 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort." I stopped in my tracks – I am a future reader. Did I see this trend coming? Most certainly (thankfully, I don’t see dead people).
I recalled my thoughts earlier in the year and immediately hurried to my fix of hot molten creamy deliciousness and paid the Colombian a visit. The queues were even longer thanks to Instagram and bloggers, (grrr), but it is worth it. This little stall on the market is my Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche in the film Chocolate, which is also a must-watch in the coming weeks), and as the cacao nectar was warming my tummy, I was planning to get the brushes out for January and paint the walls a wonderful Mocha Mouse. Why did I hesitate? Bye, bye Miss Dirty Pink.
Beskydy Mountains, the Grand Canal to the rooftop Penthouse in NYC – If you are still in ‘decide’ mode, then check out these beauts as the stalwarts of style. They were well ahead of the curve, or perhaps they never left it. So, if, like me, you are in need of confidence to let mocha invade your space, try it out in one of these hotties decked in analogues of browned mauves, rabbit fur and whispered biscuit. It is the perfect excuse for a trip away in the name of research.
Find your own pairing to the colour of the year - mine will be a balloon glass of Armagnac (favourite child: 1980 Chateau de Lacquy), not only as a post-prandial buddy of choice after too much feasting, but as a little warming brother into my hot chocolate - another terrible ritual for the holiday season ahead. Ding dong.
So, without sounding off like cook Nigella in the kitchen pantry, enjoy this seductive, luscious and velvety combo of our Mocha-tels & Co.
BTW: We decided back in August that Mocha Espresso would be the colour of our new XXL totes for 2025 - see, déjà vu indeed.
Hugs
Iain & Co.
Ullrhaus is a hotel of muted luxury, where cool design marries Alpine soul and a minimalist edge. Located in the resort of St. Anton in the Tyrolean Alps, home to some of the most exhilarating skiing.
Born on the Greek island of Crete, Psyllaki worked in architecture and interior design (with a love of graphic design) for a decade before finding her artful vocation and opening Studio Paradissi in 2019.
Dynamic, evocative, audacious and avant-garde begins to describe Venice Venice Hotel, located waterside on the Grand Canal within striking distance of both Rio dei Santi Apostoli and the Palazzo Bollani Erizzo with views over to the Rialto Bridge. Housed in a 13th-century Venetian-Byzantine palace, previously known as Ca’ da Mosto, the hotel is set within one of the oldest palazzos in the city and hallmarks of age are seen, celebrated and beautifully exposed throughout.
Reinventing perhaps one of the most archetypal jackets of all time: the fisherman oilskin coat, Kassl’s waterproofs are utility-wear at their most chic.
A wellness refuge set within thick sacral walls dating back to the 17th-century, this sanctuary was designed by architectural studio noa*. Cloistral heritage has been recast following an exacting narrative of preservation, reframing the monastic aesthetics for the modern nomad without corrupting the timeworn touchpoints. The interiors build on the existing patina; bedrooms are a soothing palette of raincloud greys and creamy-whites, Terrazzo floorings, with those creature comforts of life, freestanding tubs and private saunas.
Mezi Lukami is a private-hire house with two spacious double bedrooms housed with characterful log beams and restored provenance. With big comfortable beds and small windows facing the silence, meadows, forest, hills, streams, facing all directions. In the attic, there are niches/ cabins for dreaming or relaxation during the day or for children.
Dating back to 1450, salvaged Baroque ornamentation, chunky lime-washed walls, wooden-beamed ceilings, twisted rafters, waxed parquet flooring and gorgeous oriel windows cling to the secrets of a bygone era and breathe a sense of deep ancestry. Bespoke carpentry and minimalist accents are offset by a subtle palette of clock-face whites, cardinal reds, cotton greys, wet putty and oatmeal. A hand-made crafted retreat of five rooms found in the cobbled streets of Hall, known as the secret capital of Austria.
The master of design seduction, Axel Vervoordt teamed up with famed Japanese architect Tatsuro Miki to conjure this most famous Penthouse Suite. Their distinctive signature of the Japanese wabi sabi creates a haven of muted style, imperfect, simple, yet sublimely complex.
Considerate restoration, easy comfort, design and a desire to keep the warm heritage of times past were the cornerstones of the brief given to architect Jan Schmid from Berger + Partners AG and the aesthetic interior design eye of Ruth Kramer. Gasthaus Traube stands proudly preserved. Its crooked shape is celebrated, and thick walls now encase new treasures such as the bright garden room, timber-clad suites, custom-made furniture and Scandinavian design classics.
Raw architecture, rusticity and a gallery of textured heritage narrate this design hotel outpost from its façade of dandy red shutters to the tales of twisted loft rafters and atmospheric exposed history.
'Oh Yeah,' from cult band 'Yello' to producing ethical, fair-trade chocolate, Oro de Cacao is real chocolate using a manufacturing process that carefully extracts the actual flavour of the bean.
A beautiful narrative of restoration and design, this riverside perch of style sits in the heartland of historic Amberg, its aged facade plays host to a seductive remit of subtle design and crafted interiors overlooking the river Vils.
Reworked timbers, laden cloths, traditional carpentry, engineering and architectural imagination often escort these contemporary hotels of modern alpine design and creativity. Less is sometimes more in the Alps.
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De La Espada leads a new era of collectible design and cultural craft. Explore their collaborations with Sam Baron, Anthony Guerrée and more, rooted in Portuguese savoir faire.
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Ten architectural hideaways, from forest pods in Norway to vineyard villas in Alentejo. Alpine modernism, island calm, Lisbon rhythm and one breezy Turkish beauty. Small hotels with big design thinking.
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White takes centre stage, from Alpine retreats to Umbrian casas, where textured palettes flirt with light, craft and architecture. A fresh journey through Béchamel tones reshaping today’s most inventive hotel interiors.
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Fornasetti clouds, Dracula, olive oil, men of gold, the yellow dog, sweet Swiss saffron, kilted summers and interior inspo bring in the sunshine. Instantly uplifting, this sunshine colour can perk up the weather, mood and ignite a smile.
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A city of effortless cool & pioneering Scandi design Copenhagen has long been at the heart of the world’s ceramics stage, from practical to the performative.
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Director of internationally acclaimed Vienna Design Week, Lilli Hollein had never yet turned her eye to interior design until Vienna's Hotel Altstadt came knocking.
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Peek into our Hotel Altstadt Vienna interior design series at room 64, this time designed by celebrated Viennese architect, Adolf Krischanitz.
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Creativity at Otto Wiesenthal’s iconic Altstadt Hotel Vienna is never in short supply. The new United Nations Suite is a fantastic design narrative related to the UN, John Lennon, Le Corbusier to 'Make carpets, not war'.
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Escapism in the wilderness of Scotland is more accessible than ever, with a raft of design boltholes, boutique crofters’ houses for two and everyone’s-invited country piles offering a redefinition of the luxury Highland experience.
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Cult furniture brand Wittmann has accumulated a distinctive mark over four generations, working with Austrian and international designers and architects, from Josef Hoffmann and Friedrich Kiesler to Matteo Thun and Edward B.Tuttle.
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Gothenburg's pitstop for a mix of youthful design alongside the established patrons, Artilleriet fuses across the spectrum from furnishings, handwoven rugs to the best in ceramics.
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Get the insider news and lowdown on what we've been up to, where we've been, and who we've met along the way. Be the first to discover new places and get the scoop on our favourites.