40 Winks | The Hidden Garden Escape

40 Winks was not simply about making a boutique guesthouse look beautiful. The project was about shaping a guest experience, turning a series of overlooked spaces into something far more atmospheric, memorable and commercially powerful. The scope included the courtyard, orangery, toilet area and corridor, but the real opportunity lay in how those spaces connected. The aim was to create a brunch destination that felt quirky, stylish, sophisticated and unmistakably its own: a hidden oasis tucked away from the bustle of Durham city centre, where guests could feel transported the moment they arrived. The client’s vision was clear: an unforgettable, colour-rich, textural space that drew people in and made them want to return.

One of the most important design moves was creating a proper guest lobby by taking space from the kitchen, allowing a dedicated customer toilet area and a much stronger route through to the courtyard and orangery. At the same time, the courtyard could also be accessed directly from the street, so arrival had to be considered as part of the brand experience, not just a functional route. The alley was designed to create impact and curiosity, with a mural inspired by Durham Cathedral guiding guests towards the hidden courtyard beyond. Stained-glass references, cathedral arches, foliage and organic forms were used to build a sense of anticipation, while even the rotating disco ball was designed to throw moving shadows out towards the street and catch attention from passers-by. This was hospitality design doing more than setting a mood. It was actively inviting people in and carrying them into the story of the space.

Beyond the entrance sequence, the whole scheme was planned to flow. In the courtyard, banquette seating, decorative screening and planting were all used to create privacy, flexibility and a winding sense of movement, like walking through an English garden. Inside the orangery, the scheme blended evergreen softness, romantic detail, warmth and glamour, drawing from the client’s love of leafy courtyards, elegant brunch settings and relaxed sophistication. Antique mirrors, botanical murals, organic lighting and richly layered surfaces created a setting that felt both immersive and commercially smart: somewhere for couples and groups to linger over brunch, tea, champagne and cocktails, while still feeling intimate and escapist. Even the guest toilet and lobby were designed as part of that same experience, using colour, pattern, lighting and mural work to ensure no part of the journey felt forgotten.