Through a careful study of colours and materials, Hotel Eden’s new look has a lighter, fresher appeal without undermining its history. There’s an underlying domestic character to the decadence proffered here—each area looks like an abode of a well-travelled tastemaker and every nook is decorated with soul. It’s this renewed direction that sets it apart from the overly formal style of other heritage hotels in the neighbourhood.

The high-end yet homely ambience is carried throughout the rooms and suites, which are decorated with bespoke pieces including Murano glass lamps, and clad with hand-picked marble imported from Pakistan and finished in the Italian city of Carrara. Moinard and Betaille, who were tasked with designing the lobby, rooms and meeting spaces, were enamoured by the city’s distinctive natural light and sought to bring this indoors.

Perhaps it is this guiding principle that made them rethink of the allocation of space itself. Cutting the number of accommodations from 121 to 98, each room and suite is more spacious and, via the high ceilings and expansive windows, is bathed in the Rome’s wonderful light. Coupled with a neutral palette and a considered approach to decoration, the rooms feel modern but have that gravitas of a space that’s more than a century old. The prize pick is the Bellavista Penthouse Suite, which is styled in a contemporary manner that puts the expansive view of Rome front and centre.

The extensive refurbishment has introduced first-time offerings, namely the intimate Eden Spa, as well as infused a dynamic energy to its rooftop dining outlets: fine dining restaurant La Terrazza and the more casual Il Giardino. On one summer evening, I went for an aperitivo at the rooftop bar. We were all enthralled when the picture windows automatically opened up to create an al fresco space. The view may be millennia old, but at the new Hotel Eden, there’s always something surprising in store.

This story was adapted from Singapore Tatler Homes October-November 2017.