Bedtime Stories: The World’s Sexiest Bedrooms, a new book by Mr & Mrs Smith
British photographer Polly Brown captures the intimacy and allure of the world's sexiest bedrooms, brought to you by Mr & Mrs Smith
The first (and last) word in luxury travel, we’ve been relying on Mr & Mrs Smith for years. A last-minute weekend away in the Cotswolds with a new flame? No problem. A hot holiday with an old flame? Easy. A lazily romantic villa somewhere remote (but must have Wifi)? Done.
UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa, Brazil
Now, 15 years after Tamara and James Lohan launched their first book “because we were so tired of traditional hotel guide books” (‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ came from the pseudonym used by couples after anonymity), they bring us 296 pages of candle-lit country boltholes, star-lit safari lodges and cliff-top island hideaways – essentially, “honeymoon-worthy hotels of every shape and size. There are old classics, new loves, passion projects and statement stays from the Cotswolds to the Caribbean, Paris to Phuket”.
Soneva Jani, Maldives
Editor of Condé Nast Traveller Melinda Stevens says it’s “cool, fun and elegant” (and she would know). Sienna Miller praises the book, published by Thames & Hudson, for laying James and Tamara’s passion for hotels “beautifully bare”. Obviously the hotels themselves can take a lot of credit but the rest must go to photographer Polly Brown. A former model with a first in fine art from Central Saint Martins, she now works with museums, publishers and brands, from Gucci to Miu Miu, all over the globe. Her style blends a sense of the personal with the inanimate, which is ideal for bringing the world’s sexiest bedrooms to life (and it’s her gorgeous legs you can spy in some of the shots).
Singita Safari Lodge, Africa
James Lohan explains that he and Tamara wanted to mark their brand’s milestone “in the best way we knew how – paying tribute to the most romantic rooms we’ve discovered in proper, unputdownable print. We hope it inspires another 15 years of Do Not Disturb sign-hanging and raises a few eyebrows…”
Ett Hem, Stockholm
Indulge in eight pages about each of the lucky 35 properties, including quotes from whichever tastemaker had the hard task of staying there to “double-check its cut-above credentials” – of course. Reviewers include culture connoisseur Stephen Bayley, design doyenne Faye Toogood, skincare pioneer Matthew Malin, pyjama queen Olivia von Halle and The Guardian’s Jess Cartner-Morley.
Cap Rocat hotel, Mallorca
As a bonus, each copy of the book comes with a £30 Mr & Mrs Smith voucher to redeem against any stay in its hotel and villa collection. There are also five ‘golden tickets’ giving lucky recipients £1,000 to spend. We know what’s on our Christmas wishlist.
Monteverdi hotel, Tuscany
Pre-order your copy of The World’s Sexiest Bedrooms, out on 1 November, here: mrandmrssmith.com/shop