Vibrant plant displays, installed in a refurbishment at a luxury Ayrshire hotel, are adding to the ambience of the public areas.
In a solution incorporating no less than nine different planter designs, Gordon Anthony, general manager of The Park Hotel in Kilmarnock, explained the hotel management’s vision to bring the displays bang up to date and feature contemporary units to coordinate with individual areas throughout the hotel. Originally opened in 2002 in the shadow of Rugby Park, the hotel reception and public areas are surrounded by a two-story glass façade, making it ideal for the inclusion of tropical foliage to lend to the lavish visitor experience.
Gordon said: “People don’t book us because we have nice plants, but it’s a big, big change. He said: ‘We wanted to modernise – the plants were old fashioned; the pots were old fashioned, and we wanted to match the planters’ colours with the hotel colours after recently refurbishing the public areas”.
The upgraded greenery starts at the front door, instantly impressing guests as they are greeted by two square, aged lead planters incorporating buxes balls on stems, underplanted with lavender. As customers make their way to reception, Primus pots in grey, white and teal, planted with character yucca harmonize with the lobby decor and shades in Blues restaurant to attract attention.
To make a statement, a colourful desk bowl made from recycled pencils adorns the reception desk and planted with colourful guzmainias adds a splash of colour which is refreshed every six weeks. Twenty first century, triangular bases support teal troughs at the restaurant entrance, the spiky foliage of the sansevieria bringing a natural touch to the polished interior and moving into the eatery itself, an industrial style stand sports an orchid display to inject a dash of vitality to the surroundings.
“Nine out of ten people comment on these displays. The plants are simple but effective.”
Gordon Anthony, general manager
With five private suites at the hotel, catering for small meetings to large exhibitions and balls, plant displays continue, strategically placed outside the function rooms to bring a natural dimension to the fresh décor. Patt metallic copper containers complement the artwork and create an opulent feel in the foyer of the Caprington Suite for those special occasions, while the cycas in a blue Yang pot inspire a tropical party atmosphere in the upstairs events lobby.
Finally, the brand-new coffee shop and bar, Pavillion at the Park, extends to an outdoor seating area surrounded by natural concrete barrier troughs planted with buxes hedging. Here, plant displays allow diners to relax for a light bite and a coffee al fresco or to sip cocktails in privacy.
The team at The Park Hotel were delighted to throw their doors open and welcome their customers back to experience the refreshed interior in its entirety as restrictions eased earlier this year and Gordon shared his praise for the team at GP Plantscape. “Elaine [contracts manager] is very efficient and very knowledgeable and the installations guys were excellent. They [Drew and David, installations team] were so helpful and particularly pleasant. We deal with delivery guys every day and it’s good to find quality guys like that doing deliveries and a really good job.”
