Cromlix
The entrance to the Cromlix hotel
Last week I was invited to an inspirational afternoon of fascinating interiors discussion hosted in the Cromlix Hotel, owned by tennis legend, Andy Murray and his wife, Kim – what could possibly be better for an interiors anorak and tennis fan like me?
The panel was led by Andrea Childs, the editor of Country Homes & Interiors magazine, and included fellow interiors writer and mentor, Ali Heath, the interior designer of the hotel, Suzanne Garuda, and last, but certainly not least, Kim Murray.
Kim introduced herself as a homeowner and mother and made it clear that her and Andy wanted the hotel to feel first and foremost like a home. Warm, vibrant colours and tactile fabrics and surfaces have been chosen over corporate practicality. The hotel serves both as their family base in Scotland and as a showcase for a growing art collection, Kim trained as an artist and illustrator, and Andy has become a keen collector of a diverse range of contemporary art.
Suzanne Garuda and Kim Murray
Interiors writer, Ali Heath, shared her fascinating story of departing from her background in marketing, and at the same time, acquiring a van and a baby, in order to combine her love of antiques and instinct for design and reinvent herself as a stylist and writer.
Her career trajectory has been impressive, she has consulted on some truly beautiful projects and written about them for a wide variety of publications.
Her big break as a writer was when she was approached to produce the White Company book. Then, during lockdown, started on a series of her own books called, Curate, Create and most recently Cocoon.
Panel of dreams!
Kim worked on the refurbishment with a Belfast based designer, Suzanne Garuda, who also designed Kim and Andy’s main home in Surrey. Suzanne specialises in high end residential and hospitality projects and described Kim as the ideal client, Kim has a creative eye is not afraid of pattern and colour. The atmosphere Suzanne has achieved in the hotel is both dramatic and homely in equal measure. A remarkable feat on this long-distance project where she was presented with a tight timeline and budget. Suzanne achieved everything she was asked, partly by repurposing a lot of key elements and transforming dark corners into rich, inviting spaces using vivid patterns and colours and using artworks as exciting highlights.
Andrea Childs and Ali Heath
The panel all agreed that their idea of luxury was a sense of welcome and they were asked in turn to advise how to achieve this feeling, that Cromlix has in abundance.
Kim’s answer was that she loves to garden, and she brings nature into the home all year round: fresh flowers in summer and branches and seasonal fruits in autumn and winter.
Suzanne shared her love of rugs, art and fireplaces, explaining that when she worked in the Middle East, her favourite projects were tented homes in the desert that these elements magically brought to life.
Andrea Childs, whose husband is a sculptor, suggested collecting objects, and helpfully reminded us not to forget about the 3D element in an art collection.
Ali Heath advised on the importance of lighting, which should be layered in every room and scent as an all-important final layer. A scented candle brilliantly combines light and scent and is the perfect finishing touch to a room
A cosy corner in this cosy welcoming hotel
One of the jaw dropping bedrooms
Despite the distractions of the beautiful interior, you cannot ignore the surroundings at Cromlix. It is set in 34 acres of beautiful, wooded grounds offering gorgeous views from every window. Located in the spectacular Stirlingshire countryside, equidistant from both the major cities Glasgow and Edinburgh, adjacent to the nearby Trossachs and just south of the Highlands, making it the perfect base to explore Scotland from.
We were treated to a fabulous afternoon tea after the panel discussion, which hinted at the excellence of the kitchen and a tour of some of the accommodation. This is definitely a luxury destination but with a real thread of fun and a strong sense of informality.
Even the corten steel signage is beautiful!
Wellies in every size are lined up in the porch for guest to enjoy muddy walks. No surprise, there are fabulous tennis courts, croquet on the lawn, a sumptuous billiards room, massage and reflexology by appointment and many other interesting activities such as foraging and falconry available in the grounds.
I did not want to leave!
All these elements add up to a truly lovely experience at any time of year, a gorgeous spring or summer break or a cosy escape autumn or winter – wrap up well, this is Scotland, but do get outside, enjoy the scenery and then return indoors, for a sumptuous stay in this gorgeous hotel. As I say, I did not want to leave, but taking home my copy of Ali’s beautiful book was a very nice compensation!
