Another boutique hotel, with a twist

The city has another boutique hotel and the place is downright surreal. Literally. The Luxe Manor was unveiled with a media preview before Christmas. Formerly the Windsor Hotel on Kimberley Road next to Knutsford Terrace, the building was completely renovated to include 159 rooms and a haute Italian restaurant called Aspasia.

Roland Schuller (formerly of Chez Roland in Causeway Bay and Roland's Terrace in Wan Chai) is the executive chef.

But what makes the place particularly distinctive is that the design appears to have been done by Rene Magritte.

The hotel describes the design as 'a modern interpretation of a European mansion'. TVs are placed in framed mirrors and mantles are adorned above faux fireplace paintings. However, it's OK to relieve yourself in the urinals - they aren't considered pieces of art.

Credit David Buffery (FINDS, M1NT and Lotus) for the vision, but he was conspicuous by his absence at the opening. It seemed this was his last project for design firm Aedas Interiors and he has started his own company, Sketch.

'All the plans were completed by the time he left,' a hotel rep said. 'Aspasia is all his, as well as most of the rooms, but the owners did add some touches.'

Incidentally, we heard Buffery is now working on the second FINDS restaurant to be opened in Tsim Sha Tsui.