"A restaurant redesign should be thoughtful, said Jeffrey Wilkes, founding principal of DESIGNWILKES, who has helped reconceptualize restaurants across five continents and 19 countries. It is important, he said, to maintain the history and the culture of a property, and the new design should always reflect that" (The Verandah Restaurant, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok) - HOTELS Magazine
“The architectural symmetry is signature Jeffrey A. Wilkes, the interior designer who owns the landmark hotel game, The Best New Hotels in the World: 2019 Hot List.” (Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai) - Conde Nast Traveller
“Jeffrey Wilkes is behind the decor and even the lowest-category rooms are magnificent, with dark, dark woods and rich textiles. Designwilkes has shown painstaking attention to every texture and fitting. Ceiling basketry, gold-speckled glass, highest-quality ikats, and specially commissioned Javanese chairs give the quarters a regal quality. It took local artists two years just to hand-paint the gallery-worthy ceiling-to-floor murals in every bedroom. Bathrooms have freestanding tubs-for-two with raised leather headrests either end. This isn't a place that invites relaxation, it insists upon it.” (Mandapa, a Ritz Carlton reserve) - Conde Nast Traveller
“Jeffrey Wilkes – who’s tackled various other Mandarin Orientals, including Hong Kong and Tokyo – masterminded the design, which also included remodelling and opening out three restaurants (Lord Jim’s, The Verandah and Riverside Terrace). The lobby is much brighter now that the outsize bell-like teak light fittings have been augmented by the addition of four similarly shaped chandeliers”
- Conde Nast Traveller
“It can be daunting to try making a mark in Dubai, a city with a striking natural environment but crammed with an eclectic jumble of contemporary buildings at every scale. Yet the project team behind the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira lobby—interior design firm DESIGNWILKES, dpa lighting consultants (dpa), and luminaire producer Preciosa—met such a challenge with a visual feast for a dramatic first impression.” – Architectural Record
“On September 5, the Mandapa, Ritz-Carlton Reserve opened doors to its crème-de-le-crème clientele. Located in the cultural heart of Bali, alongside the Ayung River, the property is described as heaven on earth. Designed by one of the best in the field – Asia-based DESIGNWILKES.” – Luxury Launches
“Rows of towering bronze trees with leaf-shaped crystal bulbs, shimmering like fireflies, a woodland of light leading from lobby to the beach. Outside are walkways and bridges and teak decks, with cabanas for poolside lounging. There are artful embroidered flowers on the walls, marble and wood throughout, and floor-to-ceiling windows for mesmerizing views out to sea. The architecture is by Jeffrey A Wilkes, whose other big-marble projects include The Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur, and the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai.” (Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai) - Conde Nast Traveller
“Jeffrey Wilkes, the interior designer behind the renovation, has taken on some of the most opulent resorts in Asia, including Mandapa, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Bali, and the W Goa. For this project, he took inspiration from the Chao Phraya River—which serves as the hotel entrance for guests that come and go on the water—and the textile trade that once plied its waters. Boats fashioned out of brass appear as a motif throughout public spaces and rooms, and more than 10,000 meters of new silk were procured to redo the rooms and suites within the hotel’s River Wing.” - Bloomberg.com
”ITC Kohenur has debuted in Hyderabad, India as the 12th property in the ITC Hotels Luxury Collection portfolio. Overlooking the Durgam Cheruvu Lake, the hotel maximizes its positioning at the crossroads of Indian technology and culture with a multifaceted design from Kuala Lumpur-based firm Designwilkes that draws inspiration from its namesake—Persian for “Mountain of Light.” – Hospitality Design
“For the interiors, the design team at Design Wilkes was inspired by the local and foreign cultures of Goa. Each guestroom has a psychedelic look and feel with trippy hues of purples and blues creating a kaleidoscopic melding of color throughout. Many fixtures—from foggy metal closet doors to the “beaten” metal drawers in the bathroom—were purposefully designed so that guests cannot clearly see themselves, but rather just their shape and movements. Each guestroom has a chandelier that looks as though the lights are melting from the ceiling, and each bathroom has a mirror adorned with the shape of the Bodhi Leaf that is often associated with enlightenment.” – Hotel Management
Listed in the 10 New High-Design Spas for the Ultimate Indulgence – Architectural Digest
“DESIGNWILKES’ original design was inspired by a trip to Dubai at the time of the year when the flame of the forest trees were in full bloom,” said Jeffrey Wilkes, Principal Designer at DESIGNWILKES. “The canopy of orange blossoms brightened the landscape. It was the inspiration for the idea of a ‘Canopy of Light’.” – PRECIOSA Lighting
“The traditional yet contemporary Balinese interiors by Jeffrey Wilkes of renowned Asia-based DESIGNWILKES have created a true luxury experience designed to allure the world's most discerning travelers. Every element of design at a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is naturally inspired and sustainably sourced. In Mandapa, local providers have infused the retreat with natural materials that blend effortlessly into the natural surroundings.” –News wire
Mandapa Suites are larger at 1,560 square feet and beautifully furnished with local art and also decorated in traditional Balinese style. These suites blend into the natural setting, affording a 180-degree view of rainforest and rice paddies.
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo has finished refurbishing its 179 guestrooms and suites in a style drawing on Japanese culture. The hotel said bespoke fabrics and furnishings were used to reflect woodlands and changing seasons, Textile designer Reiko Sudo and art director Ryu Kosaka led the redesign, while Jeffrey A. Wilkes of Designwilkes was principal interior designer for the hotel’s luxurious Presidential Suite, which has views of Mount Fuji. – Business Traveller Asia Pacific
“Adding a third string to its impressive bow, the resort arm of the Ritz-Carlton group has debuted its latest property in the heart of Bali’s lush Ubud jungle. Designed by Kuala Lumpur based firm, DesignWilkes.” – Wallpaper
