Arnaud Rasquinet opened his first hotel, Le Coup de Coeur, just down the street from Brussels' Grand Place, a downtown square surrounded by Baroque and Louis XIV buildings. Taking note of the overflow of guests, Rasquinet decided on a location just above a tiny chocolate shop for his next venture: Concept Hotel.
Spotted on Design Tripper, Concept Hotel is accessed through somewhat of a secret passageway: through the chocolate shop, a back door, and up a winding staircase. Rasquinet rents the space from the government and has left the rustic charm of the main rooms and bedrooms as is, adding just a few touches of pastel paint, minimal furniture, light fixtures, and framed photographs from the local flea market. For more information, visit Concept Hotel.
Photography by Design Tripper.
Above: An antique chandelier, framed and unframed paintings, and pottery on display in the main breakfast room.
Above: Black Luxembourg Chairs from Fermbob around the table.
Above: Flea market finds accent both the main and the guest rooms.
Above: Original ceiling details stand out against a wash of pale pink paint.
Above: A mantel in one of the three bedrooms; as Design Tripper's Megan McEwen notes, "With three big bedrooms and a shared living room and kitchen, the Concept Hotel should really be called the Concept Inn or B&B."
Above: The Grand Place in Brussels.
Traveling to Belgium (even is just in spirit)? See all 22 of our favorite shops, restaurants, and hotels from Brussels to Antwerp in our Belgium City Guide and see our favorite Belgian florist in Fashion's Favorite Fleuriste: Thierry Boutemy in Belgium.