Ellen Hotel boutique hotel signage case study in Kensington, London, delivering a luxury look from shell stage to completion

KOP Properties worked with Motive Graphics to deliver external, internal and directional signage for the Ellen Hotel in Kensington, London, as part of a full boutique hotel renovation. The project involved working from shell stage, with Motive Graphics specifying materials and finishes to achieve a premium black and gold aesthetic throughout the interior and a clean black and white exterior.

A boutique hotel, built from scratch

KOP Properties are specialists in hotel renovation. When they took on the Ellen Hotel in Kensington, transforming it into a boutique luxury property, they needed a signage partner who could work with them from shell stage through to a finished, guest-ready space.

This was one of several projects we have delivered for KOP Properties, and that ongoing relationship meant they knew we could handle the detail.

Starting with a blank canvas

When we carried out the initial site survey, the building was a complete shell. We visited the site in PPE while construction was still underway, walking the space with the client to understand what they had in mind before any design work began. Getting involved at that stage means we can ask the right questions early and make sure nothing gets missed. We were also provided with architectural drawings, floor plans and a spreadsheet of all room numbers, giving us everything we needed to map out exactly where each sign needed to go before our fitters arrived on site.

KOP Properties had a clear aesthetic in mind. Black and gold throughout the interior, with a clean black and white exterior. They knew the direction but needed help visualising how it would actually be executed in the space.

Bringing the concept to life

Directional signage ideas were developed into a creative deck with mocked-up visuals and measurements, giving the client a clear picture of how everything would look before any decisions were made.

For the interior signage, they were drawn to the idea of three-dimensional lettering. But working at the scale required for door numbers and room signs, rigid three-dimensional letters have real limitations. Instead, we proposed gold vinyl sandwiched between layers of black acrylic, with the letters cut from the top layer. The result was a sleek, tactile finish that delivered the premium feel they were after without the practical problems of small-scale 3D sign fabrication.

Directional signage was produced in matt black vinyl applied directly to the wall, keeping the look clean, minimal and in keeping with the boutique aesthetic.

Choosing the right material for the job

For the external sign, KOP Properties initially wanted built-up black letters. The obvious route would have been powder-coated aluminium, but as the sign was not going to be illuminated, we suggested an alternative.

19mm black Foamex offered the same visual result at a fraction of the installation complexity. On a freshly rendered wall, it was simpler and quicker to fit, with no need for the additional labour, lead time or material costs that come with fabricated aluminium lettering. The client got the look they wanted, and the building got exactly what it needed.

A result that works for the long term

Because we hold the brand guidelines and have delivered several projects for KOP Properties, producing replacement signs, additional room numbers or updated signage is straightforward. Everything is already set up and ready to go.

The Ellen Hotel is proof that smart material choices, made early, can deliver a high-end result without unnecessary cost or complexity.

A word from our Motive project lead

“It’s not always about using the most complex solution. For the Ellen Hotel’s external sign, black Foamex was simply the right material for the job. It delivered the same premium look with a cleaner installation, and it sits perfectly with the luxurious boutique feel of the brand.” 

Hollie Sheridan, Sign & Graphic Design Manager, Motive Graphics

What we delivered:

• Exterior signage and interior signage,
• Full project management
• Multiple site surveys
• Production
• Signage installation

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