Grand Hyatt Dubai is looking better than ever after it's recent renovation. The hotel is now home to a refreshed and expanded Ahassees Spa & Club, a pioneer event venue concept in the region - Al Manzil, and The Living Room, a trendy lounge and bar with four thematic lounges each designed differently and featuring lounge, chill-out, soul and funk music.

We love the new facilities, but we wanted to know more about what goes on behind the scenes in design decisions. To help, the brains behind the new lounge's look - HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates - took us through the thought process with The Living Room design.

The Living Room concept was inspired by diverse cultures spanning the Middle East, Europe and Asia living and working together in Dubai, known as the "City of Life." The culture and colors spurred a series of living rooms, each with its own unique style and ambiance, but still blending together seamlessly.

• The Velvet Lounge draws on the Middle East's love of color by incorporating vivid purples and magenta with a hint of gold. The room has a velvet sheen and softness, which is articulated in the curved walls, soft leather, and richly patterned fabrics. Every detail is thought through, down to the junction from floor to walls - curved in order to emphasize softness.
• The Europe Lounge has Louis VX chairs and modern details. The architectural colors are white on white, carried through in the large oil paintings on aluminum metal. As guests enter the room through a glowing burnt orange portal constructed in high gloss lacquer, it creates a grand sense of entry. An entire wall is covered with an antiqued mirror and glimpses into the Velvet Lounge.
• The China Lounge creates a sense of drama with bold and vibrant reds and blacks. Two oversized chandeliers in crystal and velvet were sourced from a local supplier known for flamboyant designs. One wall is attributed to a photographic scene from a Chinese nightclub. In fact, the dress of the central figure in the scene was colored to match the silk fabrics panels around the room!

A central bar carries through to each seperate living room offshoot, creating each room's own bar but linking each room together through open portals. The open portals provide a glimpse into the room or space beyond, playing into a VIP "see and be seen" atmosphere. The main bar's ceiling light boxes with color-changing LEDs allow different moods as the evening progresses.

One of our favorite features is the way the design frames the food as art. The cheese and cold cuts room is flanked by floor-to-ceiling wine towers, providing a view into the live kitchen. The window here is framed with a large picture frame. Voila - food as art!

Artwork also played a major role in creating the atmosphere and identity of the Living Room. The design team worked with artists directly and different media such as glass and metal to create dimension. Guests are hit with artwork from the moment they enter, starting with the main pivot doors. For a contemporary look that plays into Hollywood glamour, iconic images are printed onto aluminum sheets and clad to the doors, which no longer appear as doors when closed.

All together, the cultural inspiration, art choices, and unique spatial planning create an energetic environment that could only exist in the dynamic city of Dubai. Come have a cocktail in each of the new lounges!