Contemporary classic: Rendezvous Hotel’s signature new look

Rising majestically over one of Melbourne’s most famous streets, the Edwardian façade of the Rendezvous Hotel evokes a sense of grandeur and restrained luxury. These captivating qualities are carried through into the interiors in a charming blend of heritage features, contemporary touches and modern facilities – an outstanding result of a recent refit by In Design International.

The design practice was engaged to enhance the beauty of the heritage features while maintaining the integrity of Rendezvous Hotel’s elegant branding. The resulting interiors create a signature style, with FYBER’s (previously Tattoo Dezign) carpets playing a prominent role in bringing this unique aesthetic to life.

“We have been working with FYBER (previously Tattoo Dezign)for years and have a wonderful working relationship with their graphics and technical teams. There is tremendous trust and an understanding of how FYBER (previously Tattoo Dezign) brings our designs to life,” explains Penny del Castillo, director of In Design International. The innovative carpet design studio offers tailored solutions suited to the specific needs of the project, with its customisation capabilities enabling designers to create entirely bespoke visual outcomes.

The interiors boast a palette derived from a beautifully patterned natural marble and feature a selection of flooring products that have been meticulously fine-tuned to fit in with the new design language of the hotel. All superior and deluxe rooms, corridors and foyer, as well as the stairs, have been fitted out with Custom Printed Carpet Opulent 1200.

With more than 10,000 colour options available and the ability to achieve superior definition, the printed carpet was perfectly suited for the hospitality context of the venue while offering Del Castillo and her team incredible design opportunities.

“We love using this product because we know we can have the carpet in any colour, and in any pattern we want,” Del Castillo says. “The beauty of working with FYBER (previously Tattoo Dezign)is that their design team can create a product to match our vision perfectly.”

With the ability to reproduce designs at over one million pixels per square metre, the designers can achieve stunning clarity of design and profound depth of colour. But these weren’t the only reasons the design team specified the product.

“We’ve got some stunning details notched into the various carpets throughout the entire hotel,” Del Castillo says about the carvings and borders featured throughout. Essential to the design, the multidimensionality of the product compounded the sense of luxury within the space. “Incorporating beautifully textured and patterned carpets brings the interiors to life. It’s such a reliable opportunity to create something spectacular on the floor,” the designer points out.

Visually impressive but also cost-effective for large areas, the carpet has yet another indirect benefit. “The incredible look we can achieve with FYBER (previously Tattoo Dezign) carpets allows us to spend less money elsewhere,” Del Castillo adds.

Alongside the signature custom printed product, the hotel features FYBER’s (previously Tattoo Dezign) Custom Woven Axminster Carpet and a Custom Hand Tufted Rug. Because of its hardwearing properties, the Custom Woven Axminster has been specified for the bar lounge – a popular, high-traffic area of the hotel. While offering excellent longevity and endurance, the 80 per cent wool and 20 per cent nylon blend ensures a pleasant softness.

The striking Custom Hand Tufted Rug welcomes the arriving guests in the reception area, boldly catching the eye with its irregular shape, stunning print and superior quality. Handmade in New Zealand from premium materials, the union of carved out accents, contrasting colours, and luxurious depth of texture creates a definite wow factor.

“The technology allowed us to have incredible plush-pile products. Add to that the deep carving with the solution-dyed intensity that won’t fade or wear down, and cleans well,” Del Castillo says and goes on to add that transforming their ideas into reality instead of selecting them from a catalogue enabled the team to create something truly distinct.

“The fact that we can create something straight out of our heads means that the interior of this hotel can never be replicated anywhere else. It is a signature look specific to this particular venue,” she says. “We are over the moon with the result. FYBER’s (previously Tattoo Dezign) flexibility, pricing and collaborative spirit are second to none,” she sums up, reaffirming that the brand’s offering can be tailored to any brief, budget – and creative vision.