Brandon Barre Photography – Signature Parlor
Fairmont Empress, Victoria, B.C. One of the most recognizable sights in Victoria Harbour is the Fairmont Empress, the glamorous hotel in British Columbia’s capital. It’s best known for its luxurious tea service in the lobby, unmatched views and status as a favored destination for Britain’s royal family. The hotel underwent a $60 million renovation in 2017. Updates included refreshing the spa and pool, bringing a new concept to the lobby and adding new fixtures (including draperies) to all 464 guest rooms. “The property is steeped in history, not just for Victoria but for Canada as well because of its historic link to the queen,” says Julie Ann Loftiss, senior project designer for HBA, the San Francisco-based interior design firm that worked on the renovation. “They wanted to bring back that sense of majesty and sophistication and luxury.” At the same time, she wanted to give the hotel a look that was modern enough to serve it for many years to come.
In sticking with the theme of royalty, Loftiss and the team chose a color palette that centered on varying shades of plum and dark blue. The drapes and roman shades were kept relatively simple so the focus could be on their interesting patterns, clean lines and details. “I think of them as being like a custom suit or ballgown that’s exquisitely tailored for the body it fits on,” she says. The windows themselves were one of the most challenging parts of the project. The hotel was built in 1908, and nearly all of the windows had slightly different dimensions or shapes. It was essential that Loftiss and the team at Westport, the Canadian company that made the window coverings, follow the old adage of “measure twice, cut once.” But the result couldn’t be more perfect: a nearly bespoke collection of window coverings that fits with the antique furnishings, elegant architecture and worldwide reputation for excellence the hotel has maintained for decades.
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