Recently acquired by L+R Hotels, Europe's largest owner of the finest hotel and resorts, The Mole is the subject of a £30 million refurbishment plan to create a new ‘curated countryside resort experience in North Devon'. L+R felt this change was needed to underpin the future viability of the hotel due to the previous ownership operating at a loss.

The Task

In April of last year, a designer from The Mole Resort visited our showroom with a new project to build 58 new eco-conscious luxury lodges within the grounds, that are energy positive and the first of their kind in the UK. These wooden-clad lodges were to be nestled in 25 acres of the estate's peaceful woodland, elevated by stilts and panoramic and secluded views of idyllic countryside.

The designer requested a client-lead scheme for the lodges, which were 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms with an open planned kitchen, dining and living space and a spacious outdoor deck, to be decorated with wooden finishes and natural green accents.

Our team visited the site for a comprehensive survey and we were asked to complete 2 sample lodges. After the successful completion of these lodges, we set out to replicate and roll out a further 15 lodges.

The Work

Our sales, design and manufacturing departments worked closely to bring the owner's vision to life, with our focus being the open-planned living and dining area and outdoor design scheme. Our soft furnishing division provided wave-headed curtains, blackout blinds for the bedrooms and sheer voile curtains for the bi-fold doors in the lounge. These provide increased privacy for guests visiting these secluded lodges.

The living areas are compact with wooden floors and wooden finishes, which featured our Sloane L-shaped and seater sofas, upholstered in Sunbury Nexus Brainstorm fabric. In the larger lodges were our Malmo Buttoned Back Metal Leg Lounge Chair and matching low stool, which were finished in Sloane Zonda Artichoke fabric. The lounge furniture was placed to emphasise the flow of the room and give the guests the best view out the bi-fold doors and out into the uninterrupted views of the estate.

The dining areas featured industrial-style seating and tables, plus our Pannacotta High Chairs placed at the breakfast bars to create additional seating areas for guests to have a more communal connected experience. We also placed our Tokyo Low Stools within the bedrooms underneath mirrors and close to cased goods throughout the lodges.

Out on the spacious wooden decking is an extra dining and relaxation area, complete with our Oxy Side Chairs and Oxy Arm Chairs in both Olive and Anthracite, sat around our rustic style Tornado Table with metal legs. The loose furniture placed out on the decking was chosen so that it would be hard-wearing and last for years to come.

The Result

Upon completion of the initial 15 lodges, our team were brought back to complete a further 43, in total providing a full installation and delivery across 58 properties. The Mole Resort also updated its main hall and many other facilities last year and is now a luxury destination resort that has tripled its capacity, increased its expenditure by £1.73 million and provided 37 new jobs, whilst also providing a place of rest and relaxation for its guests. Its environmental initiatives such as rewilding its estate and eco-conscious lodges have made this resort a stand-out venue within the hotel industry.