The Darling Hotel Featured on IndesignLive

A constellation of warmth, peace and shelter in the heart of Sydney

A soft refurbishment of The Darling Hotel revitalises one of Australia’s most extravagant hotels in preparation for the return of luxury travel.

The Darling Hotel at The Star is Sydney’s only Forbes five-star all-luxury suite hotel and urban resort. The hotel’s signature red thread has become a nationally recognised symbol of opulence. Lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic presented an ideal opportunity for the hotel to undergo a soft refurbishment which helped to transform the hotel into a personalised guest experience that places rest and relaxation at the forefront of design.

Harbor views and city vistas in the 171 rooms and suites are now enjoyable from spacious cocoons with a peaceful atmosphere sheltered from the bustle of the city below. More than 1400 Furniture by Design products now reside inside the hotel, including the Casi Chair, Lucy Lounge Chair, custom marble disc base tables, custom designed leather, round and bed-end benches, jellybean shaped custom lounges, and hundreds and thousands of cushions and bolsters!

“Local manufacture was a key part of our decision-making process,” says Ryu Ogino, Design Manager at The Star. “Prototyping in the Furniture by Design factory was extremely helpful because we couldn’t go overseas to check on the design process. The cost was very comparative to international procurement and it was an easy decision to use Furniture by Design locally.”