PEAK HEALTH Left: Set at the foot of the Swiss Alps, the five-star Grand Resort Bad Ragaz offers its guests the chance to take advantage of the healing properties of the town’s natural springs
WELLNESS without walls
RESTORE INNER BALANCE WITH A WELLBEING BREAK THAT GOES BEYOND THE SPA, WRITES KATIE MCGONAGLE
Time is said to be the best healer – but nature surely comes a close second, offering muchneeded nourishment for both body and soul away from the manifold stresses of city life. Whether you’re basking on pristine sands, bathing in healing waters or breathing in fresh mountain air, sometimes the best way to reconnect with yourself and return to factory settings is to experience the world at its purest and most peaceful.
SPRING TIDES
Wellness devotees have been flocking to the Swiss town of Bad Ragaz since before the time of the Romans, drawn by the natural spring waters of the Tamina Gorge, which is believed to have healing properties. That’s why this Swiss Alps-sourced water is used in the wellness centre at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, which includes three on-site resorts and a medi-spa with a host of NewYou retreats that tackle specific areas of concern, ranging from gut health and weight loss to sports
rehabilitation and staying healthy as we age. Double rooms at the Grand Hotel Quellenhof & Spa Suites start from £756 per night; a four-day Experience Water thermal retreat starts from £1,427. resortragaz.ch
HOLY ORDERS
Reciting Ave Maria does more than just support a spiritual life; studies have found that just like yogic mantras and the prayers of other religions, the slow rhythm can regulate respiration to match the body’s optimal rate of six breaths per minute. Fitting, then, that this measured breathing pattern forms one of the centre-points of meditative breathwork sessions in the tranquil, open-air cloisters of Anantara Convento di Amalfi, a recently refurbished hotel built around a 13th century Capuchin monastery. The original chapel and cloisters are still consecrated, set on the rugged cliffs of the Amalfi coast with restored monks’ quarters-turned-suites and on-site orchards growing lemons, oranges and herbs for local liqueur amaro. The cloisters also holds yoga in spring and summer,
Comfort & joy
THE INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS IN LONDON IN 2025 REFLECT OUR NEED FOR COSY RETREATS AND A RECONNECTION WITH NATURE, WRITES ALEXANDRA GOSS
AHEAD OF THE CURVE Clockwise from opposite: This spacious Westminster penthouse, designed by Elicyon, combines softened edges, natural materials and soothing earthy tones to maximum cosy effect; Ledbury Studio’s Kensington kitchen features fluted oak panels and a marble inset on its drinks cabinet; Katharine Pooley personalised this entrance hall with a dramatic classical sculpture
PHOTOGRAPHS: NICK ROCHOWSKI; LEDBURY STUDIO; JAMES MCDONALD
WHAT’S IN AND OUT
WHAT’S FALLEN OUT OF FASHION AND FAVOUR TELLS US AS MUCH ABOUT ULTRA HIGH NET WORTH LIFESTYLES AS WHAT’S IN HOT DEMAND.
ZOE DARE HALL GIVES US A TASTE OF WHAT WON’T BE TOPPING DESIGN WISHLISTS AND THE STYLES TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS COMING YEAR
LOTS TO LEARN
Opposite: Seeking a piece to anchor the styling of a room? Visit Westland London’s showroom, which specialises in period fireplaces; Daw & Co added flair to this living space with an oil painting by Ian Tillotson
MAKE A BID
INTERIOR SCHEMES REQUIRE
THE ODD ANTIQUE, AUCTION OR VINTAGE FIND IN ORDER TO CREATE THAT MUCH-DESIRED LIVED-IN FEELING. HERE’S HOW TO ADD CHARACTER TO AN INTERIOR IN 2025, WRITES ARABELLA YOUENS
Auction houses have long been a goldmine of antiques, rare exquisite furniture and decorative pieces. Everyone, from interior designers to self-taught amateurs, is sifting through lots these days. Once considered accessible only to dealers and collectors, auction-house sales have become an essential resource for all interiors enthusiasts – especially since so many have transitioned to online platforms, making them much more accessible.
‘Always there,’ ‘old money,’ or ‘settled’ interiors that feature pre-loved or antique items are increasingly popular. It requires what Kensington-based interior designer Jess Daw of Daw & Co describes as “a subtle alchemy” to create rooms that feel like they ’ve evolved naturally over time. She adds that antiques and vintage items are key. “The combination of the old and the found results in a more relaxed, layered look, as opposed to a show home, which can be an unintended vibe if everything is pin-new.”
Venetia Rudebeck, co-founder of the Notting Hill-based interiors practice Studio Vero, says that clients who were previously averse to using antiques now have
“I DON’T THINK A PERSON SHOULD EVER BE THE OLDEST THING IN THE HOUSE”
Sean Symington, interior design
a much better understanding. “Historically, it has sometimes been quite tricky to get clients to appreciate the imperfection, but that’s now changing,” she says. The reason, of course, is social media, which has opened up a new window on the impact a well-chosen piece of brown furniture or a painting by a British 20th century artist can have on a space. Websites that sell antiques, like 1stDibs and Vinterior, also deserve recognition. “It’s amazing what they’ve done for the antique market,” adds Venetia.
Auctions in the capital take place throughout the year; the Savoy Hotel held its own sale of furniture on 11 and 12 December as it continues a programme of renovation. Some auction houses, such as Lots Road, hold sales every Sunday. They also host interiors-specific auctions once a month. Olympia Auctions produces fully illustrated catalogues for each live sale, and has viewing opportunities (including an evening viewing until 8pm) in the three days before. “It’s important to buy what you love for life-enhancing reasons rather than as an investment,” says Antonia Grace of Olympia Auctions. “It’s got to go on your wall or shelf where you’ll see and appreciate it, not in a safe or in storage.”
