bondi beauty

Having stood for over a century Hotel Ravesis is an iconic art deco building in the heart of Bondi Beach.

Constructed in 1914, this landmark building originally belonged to the Ravesis family. It accommodated eight apartments, half of which had three bedrooms and the others two. The hotel was taken over in 1988 and changed to a hotel format with 12 boutique rooms.

The inspiration and motivation was to rejuvenate the building so it would be timeless and elegant. It needed freshness to connect into the pastels of the famous art deco facades of the surrounding suburbs.

Other internal spaces needed a more stately and refined mood. Pinks, blues and greens offset with wood, marble and brass work in harmony with the clean crisp backdrop of Resene Alabaster (blackened white) walls and ceilings throughout. Strong pops of colour were introduced in chartreuse drapes and musk pink linen. Hotel rooms have been decked out with pieces from local design stores.

The renovation highlights the external art deco arches with two toneaglos of pink, against stunning white walls. The retro palette of white, peach and millennial pink, using Resene Alabaster, Resene Petite Orchid (pink edged terracotta) – in full, quarter and eighth variations – has allowed the previous somewhat drab dark brown facade to be completely transformed honouring and highlighting the unique art deco details.

The extreme coastal location of Hotel Ravesis is prone to high winds depositing constant sea salts and exposure to harsh UV. The exterior walls are a highly textured stucco plaster. The eggshell sheen level of Resene X-200 was selected to retain an earthy character, while still being easy to wash clean. Balustrades were finished in Resene Uracryl 402 in Resene All Black (deep black), ground floor eaves in Resene Shark (deep charcoal) and balcony tables and stools in Resene Uracryl 402 in Resene Half Rivergum (water green).

Resene Uracryl 402 was also used on all timber table tops and benches throughout the busy bars and restaurant areas for its durability and easy clean finish.

The internal walls complement the décor that resonates with a Mediterranean ethos and echoes of the vibrant relaxed sophistication of other famous beachside playgrounds. The interior palette includes low sheen and flat finishes of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen and Resene SpaceCote Flat in a range of hues including Resene Wax Flower (apricot rose), Resene Neutral Bay (grey haze blue), Resene Revolver (blackened purple), Resene Alabaster, Resene Ashanti (aqua grey), Resene Half Sea Fog (black edged white), with wardrobes in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss in Resene New Denim Blue (charcoal blue) and a feature of Resene Enamacryl gloss in Resene Hypnotic (celery green) in the reception area and a mural using a range of Resene colours in the bar.

This project won the Resene Total Colour Commercial Exterior Award. The judges said “So delicious and irresistible, like a summertime gelato or a sweet marshmallow. The colours play on the original shapes and character with gorgeous pinks varying in gradations and dimension making the building feel larger than it is. The rhythm of colour draws you in.”

Interior designer: Carina Hicks, The Avalon
Building and painting contractor: Del Larkin
Client: Aya Larkin
Winner: Resene Total Colour Commercial Exterior Award
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2018
From the Resene News – issue 2/19