Sydney House Chelsea

Entrance
Sydney House sits on the residential Sydney Street, almost at the junction with Fulham Road, where two young olive trees mark its entrance among the long line of rectilinear Georgian façades.

Ring the bell and you will be shown into a large room, just like being shown into a private house. A big table sits on your right ready to welcome guests and the corner lounge on your left is designed around an artefact chimney. Opposite the entrance, at the rear of the room, stands the small reception desk, which leads onto the rooms or the basement breakfast room.

From the sofas to the parquet flooring, wood is a predominant feature of the main room and adds great warmth. The walls are painted light colours of green, blue, parma violet, or even plain white. Goldfish and works of art introduce a slightly offbeat angle and add to the charm of Sydney House, as do the orchids and plants which reinforce the feeling you are in a private house. In the evening the lighting creates a bright and cheerful ambience.

The rooms
All fairly similar with cream-painted walls and light parquet flooring with a slight lime-wash effect, the rooms have a simple, stylish, light and airy feel. Duvets and three rows of pillows in brilliant white adorn the beds, whilst the bedspreads folded meticulously at the foot of the bed and the contemporary, abstract or naïve artworks add a hint of colour.

The tall wooden headboards have a wide strip of beige nubuck leather which significantly softens and enhances the character of the rooms. Classic wooden skirting boards and cornices add a relaxed touch to the minimalist decor.

The sash windows in the rooms overlooking Sydney Street are double-glazed. Roller blinds take the place of curtains. This is a quiet area but the house is in the city centre so you can detect the activity from nearby Fulham Road.

The hotel has two types of room: the deluxe and the premier deluxe, which is slightly more spacious and has a king-size bed. The jewel in its crown, however, is the top-floor attic room with its dual outlook, private terrace with teak decking, table and chairs and lovely view over London.

The bathrooms sport designer fittings and are covered in glass plates which lend a clean, fresh feel. The rooms overlooking Sydney Street have a shower whilst the others have a bath.

The rooms may be compact but they are well laid out and have built-in cupboards, flat-screens and CD/DVD players. There is no mini-bar but bottles of water are provided on the bedside tables. Room service is available until 10pm, offering light snacks prepared to order on the premises and a wide range of drinks.

Breakfast
Breakfast is served in a pleasant room in the lower-ground floor. In addition to the classic English and continental breakfasts, a range of pancakes and smoothies are available to order, including the Sydney Booster, an invigorating mix of avocado, peppers and lime whipped together with vanilla ice-cream.