Song Hotel Room Redesign
Welcome to “The Reclaimed Room”, come on in!
Towards the end of 2025, Song Hotel asked me to redesign one of their hotel rooms. And obviously, I said yes. I had been feeling the call to push myself creatively and step into bigger, more complex projects, so this project felt like the perfect starting point. Following our initial meeting and briefing sessions, I spent months planning and researching. It was very important to me to make sure every surface, texture, pattern, detail and colour was thoughtfully considered and transformed. Song Hotel has a high occupancy rate, so I knew I had to get the balance right between choices that were hard-wearing, but also making guests feel settled and cosy.
From the beginning, I wanted the room to feel like an exhale - warm, calm, and quietly grounding after a busy day in the city. Somewhere that didn’t feel overstimulating or overly styled, but instead soft, considered, and easy to settle into. The warm tones, layered textures, and the thoughtfully considered colour palette and patterns – nothing is shouting for attention, just everything working quietly together. I love how it balances intention with restraint. There’s enough detail to feel considered… the handmade bedhead, the reworked pieces, the vintage layers; but there’s still enough space for guests to arrive and make it their own. It doesn’t feel overly styled or fixed. It feels lived-in and adaptable. Like it’s ready to meet whoever walks through the door.
The biggest challenge was working within the constraints of what already existed. When you’re redesigning with reused materials, you don’t get perfect dimensions or a clean slate. I was constantly adapting, problem-solving, and sometimes pivoting my original idea entirely. It’s a bit like a puzzle where the pieces don’t quite match, but that’s also where the creativity comes in. Making it all feel cohesive, elevated and intentional, especially in a hotel setting where it still needs to be durable and functional, was a creative challenge I relished.
Now that the room redesign is complete, I hope guests feel a sense of ease the moment they walk in. That they can hang their bag and coat, slow down, and feel comfortable straight away. But beyond that, I hope there’s a subtle sense of inspiration too, that the space shows how thoughtful design and reworked pieces can feel elevated, and maybe even encourages them to see their own spaces a little differently.
This project has also been a reminder that meaningful design doesn’t come from buying new all the time, but rather, from seeing potential in what already exists. Bringing this room into a new era is about more than DIY and upcycling; it’s about building confidence, being resourceful, and shaping your own environment in a way that makes you feel empowered. And I hope this space inspires you to rethink what’s possible, whether that’s reusing, repairing, or creating something of your own. And now that I’ve done it, it’s only made me want to go further. Bigger spaces, bigger briefs, more ambitious transformations - maybe even an entire hotel redesign. It feels like the beginning of something much bigger, and I’m so ready for it.
About Song Hotel
Song Hotel is based in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia. 100% of profits are used to support community projects for women, and 25 cents from every dollar a guest spends is reinvested and contributes to the work of YWCA Australia. For more information, visit www.songhotels.com.au, and to book The Reclaimed Room, call the hotel on +61 (0)2 9285 6200 or email at res.sydney@songhotels.com.au.
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