Interior designer Dorothee Delaye brings the French Riviera to London with her latest project Mimosa restaurant at the Langham Hotel
French interior designer Dorothee Delaye, known for her Parisian Riviera style, brings a “joie de vivre” French Riviera décor to newly opened restaurant, Mimosa at the Langham Hotel, London.
Inspired by the likes of travel, fun and sunshine, Dorothee Delaye’s interior scheme at Mimosa breathes new life into a historic and iconic space like the Langham, and takes us on a journey to the Mediterranean.
The scene is set upon arrival to Mimosa by a hand-painted wall to ceiling fresco, a whimsical design celebrating the flora and fauna of La Riviera – seaweed, octopus and other marine and terrestrial creatures – which immediately whisks you away on the Riviera journey. The aim is to indulge in an enchanted, sunny interlude on the French Riviera for lunch or dinner. The location of the restaurant in the rotunda room at the Langham Hotel plays an important part and influence in the design of the space. The rotunda space with its majestic windows and high ceilings creates the private yet grand but not ostentatious backdrop for the Rivieria cuisine which is served up in charming ceramic plates decorated with marine motifs.
The bright mahogany of the woodwork and furnishings – which references Riva boats – and the bespoke blue ceramic wall lights with coral motifs and 1960’s fans inspired chandeliers against the warm tones of terracotta and the pink patina of the walls – which refer to the pink facades tarnished by the sun – evoke this sun-kissed setting. The colour scheme of golden yellow fabrics and pearly shades of blue velvets from the likes of Pierre Frey, Schumacher and Elitis and the custom-made floral pattern rug inspired by the works of Matisse add to this warm universe inviting you on a sensory trip between land and sea.
“After designing the first Mimosa concept in the Hotel de la Marine, Paris, it’s been truly amazing and quite an ambitious challenge to bring Mimosa to the Langham Hotel” says Dorothee. “It is important to strike the right balance between decoration and operation as light changes throughout the day into the evening, creating the right ambiance in this iconic building. We are currently working on a Mimosa restaurant, Saint Tropez opening in the summer – exciting!”
Mimosa Riviera Cuisine was created in 2021 by Moma Group and launched in the Hotel de la Marine, Place de la Concorde in Paris. Despite its distance from any shoreline, Mimosa takes us on a journey South, setting course for the French Rivera and its ease of living, a table in the sun, celebrating Mediterranean cuisine.
From the concept of spaces to the design of furniture, Dorothee Delaye is neither imitating nor rewriting history, just one of her many sources of inspiration. Her sole objective is giving each project a new lease of life with a modern style combined with nods to the past, adapting it to our cosmopolitan society. At Mimosa you are taken on a journey, both on a plate sharing sophisticated dishes and in the décor, with a warm, timeless and elegant design.