RAW LUXE: Byron Bay Hotels Part Two, The Bower
Get set for a gorgeous stream of images coming your way today as Emily McAuliffe checks out the second hotel in our three part Byron Bay series.
The Bower redefines the concept of an Aussie motel by pushing no-frills into sleek sophistication. Fourteen ground-level suites stretch along the property, in addition to a cottage, house and barn. When the four owners gutted and restored the old motel on the site, they drew inspiration from the architecture of New York. Taliah Lowry, who handled the concept and design, spent much of her childhood in the states and was drawn to the look and feel of the Big Apple’s Bowery neighbourhood. “I adore the squat-shaped buildings with their distinct lines and add-on structures, such as the imposing awnings, which provide such a grand presence from street view and a moody privacy shield from within,” she says.
In the suites, heavy black furniture and accessories are paired with crisp white walls and linen to neatly balance darkness and light. An acute attention to detail creates a strong yet effortless sense of style with cool, mismatched artwork, stacks of books and odd pots and vases sprouting soft greenery.“We wanted to combine the barefoot ambiance of Byron Bay with the discreet elegance of New York’s boutique accommodation,” say Lowry. “It’s luxury meets laidback.”
One of the best examples of clever design is in the barn at the back of the property. A high-pitched roof supported by reclaimed timber beams gives country-inspired panache, while a freestanding tub sits beneath a glass ceiling to let the outdoors in. There is also a hint of industrialism with distressed grey walls and rustic exposed-pipe taps. “Like our guests, I love the pure luxury of laying in the egg bath looking at the stars through the palm trees,” say Lowry, who notes the Bower Barn as one of her favourite parts of the hotel.
After a bumper opening at the end of 2017, The Bower looks on track to draw crowds of design-loving travellers this year. Book your getaway at www.thebowerbyronbay.com.au
