Ina Rinderknecht’s Luxury Hotel Art Deco Montana Reopens

Ina Rinderknecht’s stunning renovation of luxury Hotel Art Deco Montana reopened in June 2022.

Located in the heart of Switzerland above the picturesque city of Lucerne, the landmark Hotel Art Deco Montana unveiled newly renovated suites in June 2022 designed by renowned interior designer Ina Rinderknecht.

Taking inspiration from the surrounding culture, history, and nature, Ina Rinderknecht was entrusted with the complete renovation of 26 rooms, including five suites, as part of the hotel’s new ‘Deluxe’ room category. Her decor has transformed this lakeside hotel into a unique boutique destination in one of Switzerland’s most inviting corners.

With an expertise for hospitality design, Ina has envisioned an all-encompassing concept for the hotel that effortlessly combines luxury with practicality. This sublime renovation marries refined materials with bespoke furniture pieces in an unexpected palette of pastel tones to create an unforgettable ambiance for guests. While highlighting tones of the hotel’s façade, the enchanting hues of soft pinks, blues, and greens echo the calm and soothing ambience of the environment surrounding the hotel – from the deep blues of Lake Lucerne to the breathtaking views over the majestic Swiss Alps.

Inspired by the turn of the century style that encompasses the hotels’ identity, the rooms are adorned with historical yet timeless design elements that celebrate the beauty of the old. Ina’s vision was to design a lyrical interpretation of the bohemian lifestyle, balancing classical beauty with a touch of modernity, resulting in a design that intends to feel utterly fresh, sophisticated, and timeless.

Step Inside

All the furniture was custom made to offer a blend of coziness and sophistication. The lounge areas are completed with unique furniture pieces such as armchairs, side-tables or sofas, whose curved shapes and luxurious tactile fabrics provide the ultimate comfort.

The headboards are upholstered with a textured pink wallpaper by Philipp Jeffries while beautiful accent pillows are made with fabrics by Dedar, highlighting the Art Deco design elements with their shimmering patterns. Ina has reimagined the traditional herringbone flooring with a contemporary warm natural oak wood which perfectly complements the bronze accents found in the minimal lighting fixtures and accessory details.

The final yet important touches were limited edition artworks by Soo Burnell. A fine art photographer whose calm pastel tones bring together all the elements of the design and reinforce the dreamlike ambiance.

The bathrooms feature mosaic floors, reminiscent of the historical tiled floors, reinterpreted in a contemporary way by Ina Rinderknecht’s studio and produced by the Italian manufacturer Bisazza. Coordinated with the rest of the colour scheme in the design, the geometric patterns and soft pastel tones are inspired by the historical elements found in the hotel’s original design.

The walls are finished with white glazed tiles to accentuate the floor and create a beautiful canvas for the vanity. The vanity is complemented by a ceramic basin from Kartell by Laufen and provides all the amenities a guest would need during their stay. All the appliances come from the line ‘Essence’ by Grohe in the ‘Warm Sunset’ colour.

About Hotel Art Deco Montana

Originally built in 1909-1910 in the style of a palace hotel, this is one of the last classical hotel buildings in Lucerne. The construction of the building coincided with the hotel’s own funicular railroad, taking guests from the lake promenade directly to the hotel lobby.

With the construction of the Art Deco Hall in 1993, the original style of the hotel was revived, transforming it into a year-round destination with conference and seminar rooms. Since 2020, the hotel is successfully managed by Miriam Böger.

About Ina Rinderknecht

Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, with an international upbringing across many continents, Ina Rinderknecht’s love of design began during a school exchange in Yogyakarta where she learnt traditional Indonesian arts and crafts. From there, she graduated from the Instituto Europeo di Design, and then obtained a Master’s Degree of Arts in Design from Domus Academy Milan.

Ina started her professional career in Milan before moving to Hawaii to create renowned hospitality spaces with Peter Vincent and Associates. Whilst working as the lead interior designer on the Park Shore Waikiki Hotel in 2005, owned by the Blackstone Group, she was subsequently asked in 2006 to join this Private Equity firm as a design consultant for their own luxury hotel brand,

LXR Luxury Resorts. In 2006, she founded Ina Rinderknecht, her design agency in San Francisco and return to her homeland, Zurich, in 2008 where she finally established the firm.

Find out more about the Hotel at www.hotel-montana.ch/en and more about Ina and her work at www.ina-rinderknecht.ch.