very small hotels

Rough Luxe is a nine-bedroomed luxury hotel, located in the grounds of a Grade II listed Georgian terrace in Kings Cross, London. “A little bit of luxury in a rough part of London. A little bit of rough in a luxurious London.”

Rabih Hage is the mastermind behind the hotel’s original concept, and found his inspiration for the project in the layers of peeling wallpaper. On seeing the remnants of ancient wallpaper dating from the 1850s onwards, he decided to merge the past with the present, creating an ‘urban archeology’ of unplastered and unadorned walls as a backdrop, or a stage upon which to feature works of modern art.

So what does ‘luxury’ mean in these recessionary times? Rabih, sees quality in details. “Beauty is subjective. Perfection doesn’t mean beauty. It’s not important. What makes a place great to stay is the location. The welcome you get and how well you are looked after. The material side is irrelevant.”