A Look Inside the Design at Powdermills, a Colorful, Bold East Sussex Country Hotel

Local artisan collaborations

The intention of the hotel is clear before you’ve even checked in. At the entrance, a shelf displays ceramics made by local craftspeople, each piece accompanied by an introduction to the creative who made it. It feels more like a crafts exhibition than a hotel front entrance—and that’s precisely the point.

Chiara Perano, an English Italian artist based in East Sussex is to thank for the standout sweeping ceiling mural in the dining room: A deep-blue sky populated by shooting stars, gold botanical forms, and a pale crescent moon make it a dreamy setting for private dining events.

Another special mention goes to the arrival station of the restaurant, which was woven from local willow by Emma Purcell, a Sussex-based basketmaker. Not only is the work totally bespoke, it’s also a rare skill to work with a commercial joiner in this way.

Euan Baker

Euan Baker

Art and furniture curation

The approach to furniture and art is gloriously eclectic. The team combed antique shows to find pieces with a layer of history; others were commissioned for their textural fabrics. Some came from hotels that were closing. The hotel’s own existing furniture from its time as the historic Powdermills Hotel was retained too: four-poster beds, coffee-tables, art, and statues already part of the building’s story. One statue, Andreas says, is “an old friend that came along for the journey.”

Despina Wotton, the art consultant for Crafted, has done a masterful job at making the art a complimentary character to the hotel’s design story. Pieces were chosen to work with the palette throughout, referencing nature and motifs, including Charlie Sheppard’s mosaic proudly stationed by the front door and a bespoke woven textile piece from Tessa Layzelle hung like a flag above the fireplace in the library.

Milo Hutchings