Would you leave a chic apartment in Paris or New York and move to a derelict farm? For Singapore photographer-cum-art-director Edwin Ho and English hotel consultant Mike Jowett, that was exactly what they wanted when they decided to find a place where they could live and work seven years ago. After viewing properties all over England, they knew that they had found a space to dream when they set eyes on an old run-down dairy farm. And dream they did, by transforming the farm into a luxury boutique they named ANRÁN (meaning peace and tranquility in Mandarin), which has top ratings on sites such as Booking.com and Tripadvisor.
In the centre of the venue is The Manor House, an eight-bedroom historic building from the 1700s. It’s surrounded by The Barns, six old stone and timber buildings transformed into individual getaway residences. Each Barn is unique, with exposed stone walls highlighted by modern art and antique furniture personally sourced by the couple from all over France and Asia— including a lacquer four-poster bed hunted down in China, antique wingback chairs from Paris and tables repurposed from stone bowls that used to hold cattle food. “We like to contrast classical with raw—a big chunk of concrete or steel with a modern painting or a piece of classical furniture. It’s our style,” explains Jowett.
It’s a masterclass in casual luxe and to just call it a luxury boutique hotel doesn’t do ANRÁN justice. It’s where the couple live and work, and it presents a unique blend of both men’s careers and passions. Jowett has been working in luxury hotels for over 35 years and now consults on the launches of five-star properties all over the world. He knows what guests want: “A beautiful bathroom with a great shower, a big, comfortable bed and quality bed linen. I call it simple luxury.”
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