Named Best Place to Stay in the Southeast of England in the 2026 Best Places to Stay Guide by The Times and The Sunday Times, Crafted at Powdermills is another quintessentially British project we are proud to have put our name to!
Set within 78 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside overlooking Powdermill Lake, the 51 bedroom hotel is set within the walls of a heritage-listed Georgian mansion that was once the headquarters of a gunpowder mill. A new venture by entrepreneur Chris King, the property interiors are designed in an eclectic clashing quirky style by House of Dré to juxtapose the building’s restrained Georgian architecture.
The serene setting offers cosy bedrooms, an on-site pub, alongside paddle boarding, panel and cold-water therapy. The ultimate modern escape: dreamy creative environments that also offer all contemporary expectations to revive the body and soul…
The building had been gradually extended over several decades, creating a series of disjointed spaces with varying styles, which the designers leaned into by emphasising the sense of contrast. A key element of House of Drè’s modern approach to the interiors was the use of a bold palette and a technique of “double drenching” spaces, covering every available surface in shades of the same colour.
In an interview with Dezeen, founder of House of Dre Andreas Christodoulou said: “We deliberately avoided the pastiche of restoring every space to an authentic, museum-like state; I love Georgian design, but it does have a reputation for being very restrained and controlled. Our aim was always to soften the formality, avoiding anything that felt too stuffy or austere.”
Working closely with our client Spirited Projects and focussing on the guidelines of the design brief by House of Dré we set about creating bespoke loose furniture for the public areas, and are very happy with how our pieces adorn the spaces, a bit like jewels…
This is due to be the first in a series of hotels, so we are hoping to be involved in all the others that are to follow!
