Joyful Spaces: Grosvenor House, Parklane – Melis Duran
Outside our homes, the commercial spaces we inhabit daily should do more than just function – they should enrich our lives and spark joy. Our new Joyful Spaces series will form a collection of inspiring spaces, chosen by designers and professionals who share their personal connections to the places that brighten their days.
Each article in this series highlights a personally significant commercial space, exploring its history, design, and emotional resonance through the eyes of the contributor. By uncovering the stories behind these spaces, we hope to celebrate the environments that uplift and inspire us.
This new series continues with a Joyful Space chosen by Melis Duran, Senior Associate at DLSM Studio. In her own words, Melis reflects on Grosvenor House on Park Lane, a place she has come to know both as a designer and artist, where history, architecture and creativity converge behind the scenes.
Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London
As an artist and interior designer, I have discovered over the years that spaces reveal themselves differently when you’re invited “behind the scenes”. In the heart of London, on Park Lane, Grosvenor House is more than a hotel I admire, it’s a space where I’ve had the chance to engage creatively as an artist.
On the site of the Duke of Westminster’s former townhouse, the building carries architectural contributions from Sir Edwin Lutyens, whose neoclassical design balances strength with elegance.
What makes Grosvenor House stand out to me is its sense of grandeur without ostentation: the spaces feel expansive yet intimate, with subtle details, light filtering through expansive windows, soft textures, and motifs inspired by the park outside, all inviting observation and reflection. It has a long and layered history, initially serving as a luxurious social hub for Londoners, hosting glamorous balls as well as receptions for the royal family. Over the years, it has evolved into a modern luxury hotel while perfectly preserving its cultural heritage and the layers of history its walls have witnessed. This blending of heritage and adaptability adds depth to the space, carrying decades of stories while remaining alive and inviting for today’s experiences.
Designing in and around Park Lane, where every choice is weighed by history, sharpens your awareness: materials and proportions matter immensely, and restraint becomes a form of confidence. Grosvenor House embodies this. Its interiors are layered, not loud, echoing Hyde Park through organic motifs, textured finishes, and a palette that is both contemporary and timeless.
My connection with the space is deepened through personal oil painting commissions created for its refreshed design. Translating the spirit of the space onto canvas required careful observation: noticing how light moves through the rooms, the rhythm of the architecture, and the dialogue between old and new. It demanded respect for what already existed while allowing a new visual voice to emerge.
Grosvenor House evokes a sense of quiet joy and calm confidence. Being there feels like stepping into a rhythm all on its own, a rhythm that encourages pause, reflection, and delight in small details. For me, it sparks creativity in a gentle way, reminding me to slow down, observe carefully, and find beauty in both history and transformation.
Melis Duran, Senior Associate at DLSM Studio
Melis Duran is a Senior Associate at DLSM Studio. DLSM Studio (formally DesignLSM) is a strategically-led creative agency owned by Rachel Pratt and Holly Hallam which specialises in Strategy, Branding and Interior Design for a diverse portfolio of world class clients within the luxury and lifestyle hospitality, leisure and senior living industries.