Else Hotel, KL

#springitinerary During my five-day stay in Kuala Lumpur, I picked four hotels that caught my interest, each with a distinct style. If none turn out disappointing, I’ll share my thoughts on each one in the coming days. Last night, I stayed at Else Kuala Lumpur, which was the hotel I was most excited about among the four. It’s a converted 1930s Art Deco building, blending a rugged yet refined style while preserving the tropical Southeast Asian vibe. The hotel’s central area removed parts of the original floors but kept the load-bearing structures, allowing a lot of natural light to flood in. The lighting design is incredibly thoughtful and professional. Every detail is perfectly symmetrical, creating a super comfortable atmosphere. Beyond the structure, I really loved their choice of materials. Unlike other tropical hotels I’ve visited before, Else uses many low-saturation wall colors and exposed concrete beams. It’s far from the usual overused materials that get boring after a while. Especially notable are the concrete columns scattered throughout the hotel—they feature classic Art Deco stepped designs. This small detail is definitely something I want to incorporate into my own new store design.#weekendvibes