House of Dré has designed a new Crafted Hotel at Powdermills in East Sussex
Crafted at Powdermills is the first of a new series of hideaway boutique hotels and clubs where guests are invited to step out of autopilot and into a more inspired, intentional way of living
House of Dré shaped the design philosophy for the new hotel, honouring its industrial heritage while embracing contemporary design and playful colour. Inspired by the surrounding English woodland, the design embodies a quiet luxury without pretence. At its heart, Crafted is about craftsmanship – the thread that weaves all its values together. This commitment saw Dré partner with fine furniture maker, Sebastian Cox, ceramicist Holly Dawes, artist Chiara Perano, art curator Despina Wooton and lighting designer Evina Diamantara
Crafted at Powdermills is set within a Georgian Grade ll-listed country house built around a seven-acre private lake surrounded by ancient woodland, streams and wildflowers pastures. House of Dré’s scope of work for the project included full concept design for the public areas within the main Georgian mansion, including the 66 guestrooms and suites, restaurant, cocktail bar, private dining rooms, multiple hotel lounges, reception area and pub
The vision for the hotel grew from the concept of a humble patchwork quilt – a piece of craftsmanship stitched together from fragments of old and new. Rather than one continuous natural palette, the studio created a patchwork of spaces each with its own distinct colour story and character, coming together to create a cohesive whole. This approach mirrors the spirit of Modern Folk, a style that feels both cosy yet elevated, defined by an earthy palette, mid-century references and a collection of curiosities gathered over time. The aesthetic celebrates heritage and craft while remaining modern and playful
The reception of the hotel embodies the hotels values of craftsmanship, heritage and sustainability. The heritage architecture is balanced by contemporary touches including a bespoke lamp by ceramicist Emma Louise Payne and a handcrafted bench by Sebastian Cox, both showcasing British craftsmanship at its finest
The restaurant takes inspiration from the traditional English Country House Orangery. The bright space in the heart of the hotel transitions effortlessly from breakfast to dinner featuring a light palette, pairing soft white with a hint of grey to complement the existing Carrara marble floor. The mix of vintage furniture, mid-century bentwood chairs and marble tables gives the space an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere
Each of the guestrooms and suites has been furnished in collaboration with Sebastian Cox. Working exclusively with locally sourced British timber, House of Dré worked with Sebastian and his team to create a contemporary range of furniture pieces that honour traditional techniques and sustainable values. Every piece within this range was made entirely in the UK, with the timber for each item carefully chosen and positioned to highlight the natural figuring of the wood
Adding to this dialogue between craft and nature, House of Dré also partnered with local ceramicist Holly Dawes to create a bespoke collection of table lamps. Holly’s work is rooted in landscape; gathering clay from ancient woodlands nearby, shaping organic forms that echo the contours of the natural world. To create the distinctive mottled finish on each lamp, the pieces are placed along the sea’s edge, where the tides gently erode the surface before they are fired in a kiln just a stone’s throw from the hotel. The result is a collection of objects that feel intrinsically linked to the landscape, timeless and tactile.
House of Dré took a playful and modern approach to the colour palette, often double drenching spaces in a single earthy tone, completely enveloping them in colour. The studio’s aim was to soften the formality of the Georgian architecture and avoid the austere. House of Dré worked in partnership with art consultant Despina Wotton to include artwork from over a dozen local artists, with bespoke commissions responding directly to each room’s palette and atmosphere
House of Dré wanted Crafted at Powdermills pub to celebrate the site’s industrial heritage, imagining it as a space originally created by the workers of the old gunpowder mill – humble, handmade and layered with history. The studio has purposely left weld marks visible on the zinc bar top and used bespoke ceramic tiles inspired by Hasting’s natural and industrial past. The palette reinterprets the traditional worker’s pub with rich, warm tones that feel nostalgic, rustic and full of character
