Picture the grand entrance to an Austro-Hungarian palace from the late 19th century, complete with iron-wrought gates and a vaulted ceiling. A beautiful blend of art styles that includes Art Nouveau, Baroque, and Romanesque. Ornate finishings on everything, from handle rails to columns and ceilings. A color palette that reflects the city’s rooftops in teal, green, gold and copper.

These sights are just a hint of the bridge to Budapest’s history that is Matild Palace — a Luxury Collection Hotel, housed in the painstakingly restored palace that originally brought into being by Her Imperial and Royal Highness Maria Klotild, of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. 

Perched at one end of the Elisabeth Bridge in the heart of Hungary’s capital city, Matild Palace is a master class in how to honor a UNESCO-protected site while elevating all of its interiors to feel timeless. Guest beds feature full-height, leather embossed headboards with an art deco pattern inspired by the Hungarian classic, The Adventures of Sinbad. The bathrooms here can function as steam rooms, evoking the ancient natural spas of Budapest — while offering all the modern comforts of a contemporary wellness spa. And the breathtaking Duchess rooftop bar and garden channel the socialite spirit of its benefactor, who had envisioned this hideaway as a haven for embracing one’s joie de vivre.

In this episode, host Hamish Kilburn catches up with his friend, Maria Katsarou Vafiadis — founder of London-based MKV Design and the interiors designer behind the intricate reimagination of Matild Palace.

• 00:00 The origins of the royal building in Budapest that would become Matild Palace
• 04:45 Interview with Maria Katsarou Vafiadis begins, exploring the hotel’s regal entrance and the challenge of making the building’s grand scale feel cozy and inviting
• 10:34 Bridging the gap between late 19th century Budapest and contemporary Budapest
• 12:55 Creating a timeless hotel bathroom from the perspective of royalty
• 16:34 Designing for longevity, as a facet of honoring history

Featured Hotel: Muir Halifax, Autograph Collection

Featured Designer: Maria Katsarou Vafiadis, MKV Design

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Follow host Hamish Kilburn's hotel design reviews @HotelDesigns