IN
INTHEORIENT
tile flooring and blends well with the predominating colours of the room. The fountain, of imitation Aberdeen granito of exceptionally good colour, which plays in front as well as the other fountains on the ground floor and the whole of the marble staircase, live been excuted by the same local firm.
The Lobby itself bna been the appropriately designed in Italian Renaissance style.
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Nattempting to tell the complete story of the decoration and furnishing of the Peninsula Hotel one has to begin at the beginning and point out that decoration has to have asseclation not only of the main entrance of the hotel, the whole being particularly rieh. is an essential reminder of tempus This department, in conjunction Gone are the days when a hotel bed-walls are also tiled in cream to with the style of architecture it adorna but
be -in musl harmonious conformity with the use to whith a building is to be devoted. Decmation has touched and still touches peoples lives at every point, and in looking back nt the outstanding buildings of the varying epoch-marking periods one Is struck by the different purposes for which they were erectal. In the time of the Pharoahs it was as tors and temples. The Greefana from 500 to 300 B.C. were mainly concerned with temples and out, door theatres. With the Romans the record in of public niildings (their temples were built more for appearance than use) and large development works. Then
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Although the design of this engaging Hall has its origins in Cinque-cenin work, there has been no more copying of details re- cognised for centuries, no per- petuating of thoughts that lave i become hackneyed by false ad- rendering miration, but a new adopted for present day needs, while the intrinsie elements and the atmosphere of the style are preserved in a quiet, rich effect.
The heavily enriched ceiling," come to a prolonged perind when supported by immense square plera the important buildings were in- with finely-modelled bronze capi- spired by religion, with the excep tale, has been divided into three tion of the Feudal ensties which main bags, the centre one from the lend such a romantic air to the main entrance being panelled with country. Bat in England, at least, plaques of figures, alternating with the times suddenly change and panels which are emblematical of develop in the 16th and 17th the "Port of Hongkong" and "The Centuries into the building of Beauty and the Vanity the par- houses---the Pretion
the donable vanity) of Hongkong." "f "Stately Homes of England". By pposite the main entrance, over fhetween this time we seem to have come the double staircase some way on towards the present which "fountain playa in the day, and the gap between the varying lights) with its beautiful appallingly comfortless houses of Sienna marble treads. We catch the Middle Ages has been gradual-sijcht of stained glass windows ly bridged until our interest to-day with their binze of colour, and I focussed on the up-to-date sump the arched heads of the main win- Luously appointed, palatial hotel dows of the Lobby are filled with with its every convenience-Its stained glass, carrying its toning very necessity in an age of busi- tight right round the hall. On ness as well as comfort.
either side of the staircase the
And so it is that the purpose of of the Peninsula Hotel-the pro- vision of the modern comforts of, domestie life and convivial enter- tainment has to be kept fully in mind when considering decoration and furnishing schemes. Its elabo- rate appointments are in every way In keeping with the demands of the age, and no amount of devotion, time or talent has been spared in bringing the furnishings' and the decoration of the publie rooms into a surprising yet pleasing harmony.
The main entrances on Salis- bury Road, fronted with a spacious driveway and fountain, are through handsome bronze and plate glass doora, opening directly into the Ground Floor Lobby-a spacious hall with cuticing vistas in the piers, porspective of Immense
This grand lobby, measuring 52 feet by 150 feet, is covered with ! mosaic tiles in a simple design of i panels in chocolate and eream. These colours, were chosen by Messrs. Arts and Crafts Ltd., to harmonize with the colour scheme of the walls and celling. The mosaic design, in simple panels divides up the large floor of the Jubby into small areas which effec- tively destroys the Impression of emptiness usually associated with such large areas. Vitreous mosaic' tiling by the Henry Richards Tile Co., Ltd., of Tunstall, Stafford- shire, is used because of its durabilty and non-absorbent quali- ty. The excellence with which it has been laid is a tribute to the akill of Messrs Leo Yu Kee,..of. Queen's Road Contra
One cannot paus over the very beautiful marble skirting in this 'main entrance lobby, this being carried out in Verdi Alpin marble by Mesars, A. Vannini and Co. It tones admirably with the mosaic
One of the Double Bedrooms.
hundsome hanging On the Mezzanine Floor, in the
The Bedrooms. best quality procurable, manufac- tured by Messrs. Shank and Co., of columne, the lunette surmounting floor, and
When setting out to furnish and Barrhead, Scotland, and supplied by which is filled with superb, bronze lamps of ten pendant lights go to West Wing, discerning Kowloon
are tiled In grilles, delicate and lace-like. The complete a scheme of undoubted housewives will be enabled lo
was restfulness and cheerfulness. black and white moale, while the arch is flanked with twin clectric charm: A handsome four face make purchases from a varied decorate the 260 bedrooms of the Messrs. Reiss, Massey and Co. wall brackets of uncommon design, clock on one of the main columna range of groceries and dry goods. hotel, the main idea kopt in mind The bathroom floors
with the sales, side of the Cafe-room was a cheerless placa in which over four feet in height, the schemo Through these arches are the fugit.
just to sleep and dress, and an at- including a black caping and skirt- mosphere of real comfort has been created in the Peninsula. The caring and a black and white checkor stripe Large-size bathroom mir- pets are in two shades of biscuit rors, framed in porcelain, complete with a brilliant-coloured border,
a bathroom scheme in which noth- and it is the carpets which give the key-note to the colour of the rooms, ing appears to have overlooked. the walls being of light buff and the lot water radiators in each room furniture covers in colours that has done away with the need for match the carpets. The rooms are fire-placea
All the bedrooms have inter-com- furnished not merely as bedrooms, but have acteos and easy chairs, amunicating doors so that they can writing table and tea table, in ad- be made en suite, and there are a dition to the usual articles found number of rooms which have private in a bedroom. The other furnitureitting rooms attached-very at.
Tho (all in mahogany) comprises dress-tractively furnished. ing table, cheat of drawers, holstery covers in these rooma chiffonier and telephone table, the are in beautifully rich blug and furniture comprising tops of the main articles being gold, the covered with plate glass. But the settees, easy chairs, writing tables, main purpose of a bedroom-sleep tea tables and arm and small chairs, has been given full attention, the It is not inappropriate here, when beds being the most comfortable speaking of the carpetted bedrooms, the Hotel is that have been devised. The mat to mention that tresses are of the coil spring type, equiped throughout with "Ozile" each mattress containing 800 tem- underfelling, supplied by Messrs. pered springs, covered with the Lane Crawford, Ltd. This is a soft highest grade of white horse hair. cushion of fine sterilized ozonised There is a reading lamp at the head hair, moth proof and damp proof," of each bed and also a roading lamp and imparts a luxurious softness to
all carpets. on the writing table,
a lighted
The Main Dining Room.
Ascending the first flight of lift lobhlas, each with fountain, the playing of which, stairs, we come to a writing room in old world feeling when seen from the main Lobby, with
with its low cell adds a further touch of artistry. about it,
low The furnishing on the grounding of
rellef plas- ter, its walls panelled in wood well-nigh to the ceiling, its lended windows with coloured bottle ends, and its deeply reccused ingle-nook of the Stuart Period. The carved panels of deer in i i woodland scenes acclaim the 'skill of the Chinese wood-carver. It
balconied openings of the mez-floor has been carried out in wal- zanine floor, with bronze railings nut, in a style wholly in keeping and handsome drapings, add with the Itailun scheme of decora- something elusive to the scheme, tlon, and comprises ten tables, whilst at either end of the double urma chairs, high back chairs, and row of the square columns, arches some very handsome refectoire filled with a characteristic design tables. Large and particularly are of double arches and fanciful rich carpets adorn the mosaic tiled
The Reception Office.
Is a secluded room in which to while away an hour or so, reading or writing. It is furnished with refectoire Inhles, comfortable retless and easy chairs, and writ- ing tables, the latter being orna- mented with very well-chosen slik lamp shades. Special note should be iade of the draperies in this room, set off as they are with beautiful fringed valances,
Butchery Department.
up-
The extensive nature of the refrigeration installation at the
Each room, with a silver-plated bedroom number on the door, has u small entrance hall, with a doorway opening directly into the trunk room and wardrobe, so that a visitor's establishment-exemplary of the teria imalediately below, will place luggage does not enter into the most modern in cleanliness and on offer a selection of commodities room. The large clothes closet will sanitation and the large conaign- of the finest quality covering all be a much-appreciated feature of ments of the best imported meats, that is required in entering for the room's equipment. As each poultry and fruits, already re- room has its own telephone to the ceived, has placed the Company in. the household.
Main Dining Room.
The Children's Room,
The Main Bar. Before proceeding further up- stairs we should consider the Bar, with its entrance from Middle Road. Some may be amazed or shocked at its departure from the the stereotyped. Designed in Moorish style, it has the qualities of lateriors. in a stage setting or fairy story. It recalls the work in the Mosques around Cairo and the Near East and is dimly FL- miniscent of the Courts of the Al- hambra, at Granada, which will always waft us back to the Romance of the Arabian Nights. į
main office Gere are no bells, all a position to supply, at compelllive service to the rooms being centrally prices, the best of products from Immediately opposite the entrance, decorative doorway
controlled so as to give the best Australia, Canada, America and
the Continent. we have a
At the east end of the first possible organisation.
First Aid Room. with its many-lobed or multifoil!
All bedroom windows are fitted arch, and doors with an interlaced
On the first floor, in the cast with "Aerolux" window Blades, lattice in bronze, which gives ac-floor is situated the Dining Room,
On either with its picturesque effects in the these being specially made for the wing, a first-ald room has been fully cess to the Arende. side of this doorway, up from the "Spanish Style." Every country Peninsula Hotel. They were furnished with the most modern
are overhanging
wrestling with the problems of supplied by Messrs. Lane Crawford, hognital equipment, such es operat- Ing table, cabinets, desks, stools, stone walls, windows such as are to be seen
Each room has its own bathroom stretchers, hospital beds, water in the narrow streets of the Near its own expressive art has been Ltd. East, and their meshrebiya lat- trammelled with that of adjoining and lavatory, deep built-in kaths, sterilizers, towel heaters, and surgi
Cases of tice woodwork, the gilded niche in nations, and Moorish work was with hot and cold water supply, cal sterilizers, etc. In the bar back with its splashing he influence, under which the adding a further note of modern sudden indisposition among re- The "Venetian" sidents or accidents to any of the fountain, the lanterns hanging in Spaniards produced much rich luxuriousness.
bathe and stoff, this first-aid room, équipped the arches, the swinging lights
ness and elaboration of detail, porcelain ensmelled:
complete with by Messrs, Anderson, Meyer, and lavatory basins, in coloured metal, the blaze of
colour
nickel-plated fittings, are of the very Co., will be of inestimable value. brilliance from the stained glass and made it aglow with and the tessellated flooring, all conspire to transport us to a land
and gilding. This is true, even ̧ where the decoration, as in this
of make believe in which to forget instance, is of a purely Renais
mundane alfairs, Surely sance "Maorish" is what a Bar should bel
The furnishing of the bar la re- plete in walnut settees and arm chairs, with tables with of- namental tops,
character. The colour scheme has been kept restrained, but rich with its deep - wine coloured hangings, its handsome carpets of a black ground and its hanging lights with multi-colour- ed borders. Each table has Its own lamp and the chairs have been specially designed for their comfort. A rpring floor has been lald so that the room can be used for dancing if required. Some iden of its size can be gained, from the estimate that it сап comfortably seat 400 dinera. A. balcony for orchestra has been provided,
The Cafeterin.
With its entrance
on Nathan Road, the Cafeteria will appeal to and attract many. No doubt it will supply a growing want in Kowinon and gain in popularity the better it is known. It is cheer fully anticipatory of one's daily wants and its decoration has been handled in this spirit, the spirit of L'Art Moderne. The furnishing of the Cafeteria has been carried out Worthy of special mention 48 in walnut, there being sutteca,
chairs and tables, of a style appro- the fact that in the dining room priate to the decorative achieme, and dance halls above, a number The bar and cafeteria are tiled with of large exhaust fans have been mosaic floor tiles with decorations provided for ventilation purposes. in art mosaic. The designs and These fans, which have been sup"'") colours were selected by Messre. Arts & Crafts to harmonize with plied by the General, Electric their design and colour scheme of Company of China, are of
the box blade pattern the other surroundings.