Welcome to Superior Interiors — a look at what makes a hotel’s design feel distinct: local makers, bespoke furniture, vintage finds and curated artworks that together tell a place’s story.
Powdermills, a country hotel in East Sussex created by Andreas Christodoulou of House of Dre and commissioned by Crafted co-founder Chris King, reads like a cabinet of curiosities. It’s a boldly colored, pattern-rich interior driven by one clear aim: celebrate local craft and the surrounding landscape while creating spaces that invite exploration.
Aesthetic and vision
The palette and patterns are joyful and confident: eye-catching prints, mystical motifs and striking color pairings that remain composed rather than chaotic. The guiding idea was to craft a contemporary hotel rooted in nature, wellness, sustainability and the arts-and-crafts spirit. Designer Sebastian Cox’s maxim — “The thorn is the mother of the oak” — informed the team’s ambition: grow something new from local skills and materials so the hotel sits naturally in its setting.
Standout spaces
The parlor, reserved for members and guests, is a design highlight. A checked ceiling, patterned coffee tables and green-and-white striped ottomans interact like elements in a painting. Commissioned artworks and textiles pull colors across the room so the whole feels vibrant, considered and joyous rather than busy.
Setting and materiality
Sustainably sourced Sussex timber is used throughout — oak mixed with beech — a practical choice as much as an aesthetic one. Working with the building’s original features, the team reinterpreted the estate’s character with a contemporary and confident touch, taking inspiration from other craft-led projects that embraced heritage while being unafraid to be bold.
Guest rooms
In contrast to the exuberance of the public rooms, the bedrooms are designed as a calm, deliberate exhale. Warm oak joinery and bespoke headboards by Sebastian Cox provide a timeless base; handwoven throws in ochre, rust and sage introduce texture and seasonal color. Organic-shaped wood-framed mirrors and sculptural ceramic lamps reinforce an earthy, tactile language. The rooms feel pared-back and lasting rather than trend-driven, which supports both aesthetic longevity and sustainability.
Local craft collaborations
Crafted’s entrance reads like a small exhibition: a shelf of locally made ceramics, each piece linked to its maker. Chiara Perano painted a sweeping deep-blue ceiling mural in the dining room — shooting stars, gold botanical motifs and a crescent moon creating a dreamy private-dining atmosphere. Emma Purcell, a Sussex willow basketmaker, wove a bespoke arrival station for the restaurant, a rare collaboration between a basketmaker and a commercial joiner.
Art and furniture curation
The approach to furnishings is deliberately eclectic. The design team hunted antique fairs for pieces with history, commissioned textiles for their tactility and repurposed furniture from the building’s earlier life — four-poster beds, tables and a few long-standing statues all remain as part of the hotel’s story. Art consultant Despina Wotton selected works that converse with the hotel’s palette and motifs: mosaics, woven textiles and site-specific pieces that feel integrated rather than appended.
A niche detail
Powdermills includes an on-site country-style pub used by guests and locals alike. As a subtle nod to the estate’s industrial past, weld marks were intentionally left on the curved edges of the bar — a small but telling example of thoughtful storytelling through material choices.
Bring the look home
To capture Powdermills’ spirit at home, lean into bold prints paired with natural timber and handcrafted ceramics. Layer tactile textiles — handwoven throws, alpaca or wool blankets and tufted cushions — against warm oak or beech furniture. Add organic-shaped mirrors, sculptural lamps and a few vintage or flea-market finds to introduce history and texture. Commissioning or buying locally made ceramics, woven pieces or woven wall textiles will help replicate the hotel’s craft-led, place-rooted feel.
Powdermills demonstrates how a strong design ethos — local sourcing, craft collaboration and confident color — can turn a country hotel into a lively, layered retreat that still feels intimately connected to its landscape.
