10 awe-inspiring hotels from around the world

We can find inspiration for decorating our homes anywhere. A walk in a forest gives us cool and calming inspiration. A trip to an art gallery can help you choose between romantic and contemporary design. Your vacation to India can fill your home with exotic pieces and fabulous colours. 

Twenty years ago, hotels would have never been seen as design inspiration. But what once only served weary travelers now attracts decor aficionados who travel with the mere purpose of seeing hotel rooms designed by Ralph Lauren or Vera Wang.

"When I came to Toronto 40 years ago, there weren't many hotels," says Klaus Tenter, who has been in the hotel business for over 40 years and is one of Canada's most preeminent hoteliers. "Now there are so many new hotels. As a hotel, you can no longer steal people away because you're a name, you have to steal people away because you look good."

This isn't just a Toronto phenomenon. Cutting edge hotels are popping up all over the world. Though you're sure to find design inspiration from cities around the globe, you're just as likely to find it in the washrooms at Toronto's five-star Hazelton Hotel.

Read on to find out which hotels most inspire us.

1 Mandarin Oriental
Miami, Florida

Why we love it
Mandarin Oriental is known the world over as a leading hotel chain. The Miami location is situated right on the waterfront. Inspiring enough, right? Well, once you walk into one of the fabulous Spa Lifestyle rooms, you’ll be taken with the balanced, stress-free and healthy environment.

The inspiration for Miami's Mandarin is unmistakably healthy living. The rooms have beautiful, crisp white upholstery and bedding that will have you waking up feeling refreshed, and it looks really sharp in contrast with the dark wood furniture. The bed and couch have bright coloured, Asian-inspired cushions and throws that pop against their white background.

The Zen-like decor is free of clutter and incredibly calming. The Bamboo-accented marble bathroom and the room's small accents, like the lightly scented candles, encourages you to relax and pamper yourself whenever you feel like it—while looking out towards Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline!