Steal This Tip: Rich Velvet Curtains to Give Your Interior a Boudoir-Like Vibe

When it comes to curtains, the bigger the statement, the better. (See pretty much every photo shoot Sight Unseen has ever done.) Bold and heavy textiles might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they can undeniably make a space more dramatic, cozy, and welcoming. And at Locke am Platz, a newly opened aparthotel in Zurich, they’re everywhere: ruby red drapes framing the headboards; Modernist-patterned fabric wrapping the guest-room living area walls; warm terracotta textiles encircling the lobby; and honey yellow portières dividing stations in the restaurant. The effect, created by London-based Sella Concept, is one of instant warm fuzziness in every space, encouraging guests who’ve booked two nights — or two weeks — to feel right at home.

The drapery — along with the rich autumnal palette, cascade of patterns, plush materials, and plenty of neo-classical column-and-bust-combos — all lend themselves to what Sella describes as a kind of boudoir aesthetic. Led by designer Tatjana von Stein, Sella took inspiration for the interiors from both nearby Lake Zurich and the Swiss Riviera, a stretch of picturesque towns between Lausanne and Montreux along the north shore of Lac Leman. The aparthotel includes 80 keys, ranging from hotel rooms for tourists visiting for a few days to studios for business travelers; each of the studios has a fully fitted kitchen and a living area for guests to fully spread out and cater for themselves, all bright-red cabinetry, green stone counters, and soft seating (often in the form of Studiopepe’s Pastilles chairs for Tacchini) upholstered in yellow velvet. In the lobby, warm terracotta tones come from the furniture, carpets, and curtains that completely cover the walls, softening the edges of the space with their loose pleats and velvet texture. A contrasting staircase is faced in metal panels and a metal circle, placed in the center of the floor, sports a curvaceous seat with a glossy column sprouting from its belly.

Choupette, the hotel’s French brasserie-style restaurant, is brighter, with the yellow curtains matching details on the dining chairs. Custom triangular sconces are mounted onto columns and walls, and a wavy checkered rug offsets the parquet flooring. A long banquette at the back is wrapped in green velvet and skirting, and backed with the same stone used in the guest room kitchens. There’s also a hand-painted mural by decorative artist Magdalena Julia Gordon. Meanwhile, a private dining room features mural-style wallpaper across the ceiling and a Villa Borsani-inspired rug over the floor, and space is lit with both Gio Ponti’s Bilia lamps and custom metal wall lamps by Sella. They’re all details that make the space — despite bursting with examples of current trends — feel utterly timeless.