Rabih Hage trained as both an architect and interior designer, graduating from Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris in 1991. He worked in France for several years before moving to London where he began to concentrate on interiors and new-build architecture schemes. Hage runs his own studio and gallery showcasing work by established designers and new talent. Rough Luxe is one of his most recent interior projects.

What did you think of the Rough Luxe building when you first saw it?
One of my first thoughts was that it was going to be a tricky project.

How does it feel to move into the world of hospitality? 
I am not an hotelier, I am a designer, and I treated the project like I was designing a private home because the hotel is the temporary home of each guest and that’s how we want them to feel while they are there.

The Kings Cross area of London is undergoing massive regeneration work. Was this a factor in your client acquiring the property?
Yes, it did influence my client. He was already involved in King’s Cross as he has had his office there, behind the hotel, for many years and he was interested in the edginess of the area. He bought the property for two reasons: first of all, it is adjacent to his office, and secondly, it is a good long-term investment.

How would you describe the decor prior to the refurbishment?
“No decor’; very B&Qish.

What hidden treasures did you find when stripping back the building?
The walls and patina had built up over nearly 180 years. It was already in the plan to expose the bare floorboards, but when I found the layers of history in the walls it was a symphony.

What kind of customers are you hoping to attract?
True luxury customers, or people who have the same idea about luxury as us. I am sick of finding the same luxury room at every hotel.

What has been your most memorable luxury hotel experience to date?
The old part of Cataract Hotel in Aswan, Egypt. It seemed to me like a location out of an Agatha Christie novel. The most luxurious thing about this hotel was having a gin and tonic on the rooftop terrace overlooking the River Nile.

The photography in the hotel is pretty unique. Is there a story behind it?
It is amazing. It is all original artwork. The large-scale classical interiors in several of the rooms are limited edition prints by Massimo Listri. Many of the rooms are small, so the idea was to use these fantastic, grand photographs to add perspective and space to the rooms.

Has your idea of luxury changed over the years?
Not at all. It has always been about the truth in the objects, and showing this truth. For me, luxury is not about accumulation, but about the uniqueness and provenance of the object.

Of all the possible future Rough Luxe hotel locations which do you find the most exciting?
The cowshed at St Moritz is great. Rough Luxe hotels are open for franchising to include other hoteliers in the network. I would love to design the next Rough Luxe hotel in Miami or even in Scotland. Every location and client will be unique so we’ll never duplicate the look. Each Rough Luxe will have its own story and offer a unique design experience.