Hotel's new penthouse suite has fine sights inside and out

DesignTrends: A luxury hotel suite in Killarney has a dramatic viewing platform and an interesting interior, writes Emma Cullinan

As a viewing platform this takes some beating. The penthouse at Aghadoe Heights Hotel looks directly over Killarney's lakes, in particular Lough Lein, and across to the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Killarney town, Ross Castle, Bricin Bridge, the Gap of Dunloe and Dingle Bay in the distance.

Aghadoe, which began life as a hotel in the 1960s and is now owned by Jerry and Anne O'Reilly, has recently been added to.

The new wing, designed by Burke-Kennedy Doyle Architects with the interior by Cantrell and Crowley, and Peter Johnson, includes a spa (a proper one at that) and 24 suites capped by the penthouse.

While Celtic cats tend to experience the landscape from the comfort of indoors nowadays, with seaside hotels pumping warm seawater into indoor pools, and glass technology allowing us to have clear walls in order to experience the outdoors without venturing into it, it is heartening that the design of Aghadoe's interiors takes account of the surrounding countryside.

The hotel also provides walking guides to all guests to encourage them out into the landscape. "We didn't want to compete with what's going on outside the window," says co-manager Marie Chawke. Hence the internal tones of purples (to match the heather), browns, bronzes, green and taupes.

Such colours are easy on the universal eye and work well with both classic and contemporary looks, and here the idea was to achieve something in between.

Marie and husband Pat Chawke visited hotels in the US, Thailand, France and the UK looking at high-end suites which ranged from those with an "olde worlde style" to minimalist spaces, and they've achieved a comfortable mix in this two-bedroom, two-bathroom 279sq m (3,000sq ft) penthouse.

The use of chairs by Le Corbusier, Arne Jacobsen, Mies van der Rohe, and Charles and Ray Eames, along with Eileen Gray's universally recognised, adjustable glass and chrome coffee table, shows how acceptable these have become in all sorts of interiors. Only a decade ago such furniture was associated with cutting-edge contemporary, even stark, minimalist interiors in Ireland, but now we are so comfortable with them and will put them anywhere.

Phillipe Starck designs, too, would only have been seen in the most uber-trendy hotels back then but here is one of his vast mirrors adorning the wall above the bar at the entrance to the penthouse.

These items have been mixed quite happily with more traditional pieces, such as upholstered dining chairs and bedside lamps. And combinations of new and old styling take place in single items of furniture, such as the silk and mohair sofa by Todd Hase, something that Marie spotted on her travels and had shipped back to the hotel.

The penthouse has so far attracted all sorts of guests from rock stars to families who want a special weekend break, all of whom will probably have fun with the remote control that operates the large drop-down screen (for films, TV and Playstation), sound system, blinds and curtains.

In true James Bond style, at the flick of a switch a timber panel in the ceiling lowers to reveal a projector; at the same time the movie-screen descends the wall, and the curtains swish to a close over the glass walls. Should you ever need privacy or a film in a hurry, this is for you.

There's also a television screen beside the bubbling hot tub out on the balcony but when you have that heart-lifting view, which constantly changes hue due to the rolling weather, it would be a crime to watch man-made programmes.