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Dame Zandra Rhodes goes back to the 1970s with designer Pierre-Yves Rochon at the Sofitel London St James
By Michelle Johnson | 2 March 2026 | Design
Renowned French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon has reinvented the St James’s hotel’s flagship suites
Whether you’re into music, fashion or design, there is no decade quite as exciting as London in the 1970s. So, it’s no wonder that renowned interior design Pierre took inspiration from the vibrant decade when reinventing Sofitel London St James’s two flagship suites – Suite 70 and the Opera Suite. Pierre-Yves’ two distinct interpretations of 1970s design mark the completion of the hotel’s multi-phase transformation.
Combining French art de vivre with London’s rebellious spirit, Pierre-Yves’ renovation of six signature suites celebrates Sofitel’s approach to its unique destinations. The two final flagship suites were launched on Tuesday 24 February at an event hosted by Sofitel SEO Maud Bailly, Pierre-Yves and Dame Zandra Rhodes – the eminent British textile and fashion designer whose colourful prints defined the 1970s and beyond.
“I just think the maestro has created something so wonderful,” Dame Zandra says of Pierre-Yves’ design. “You walk into these rooms and your breath is taken away. Not only is it French chic with a touch of Englishness, but you’ve managed to pull out all the memories of the ‘70s. I can imagine so many people saying: ‘I’ve got to go there because it would give me an experience that I wouldn’t have anywhere else’. It’s not just another chic hotel room.”
Dame Zandra says the location of the hotel adds to the magic. “You look out of the window and you’re right in the centre of everything – you’ve got Piccadilly Circus up one way, Buckingham Palace five-minutes’ walk away. I think it’s just magical when you put it all together.”
Suite 70 is a vibrant tribute to the creative and cultural energy of the decade, inspired by the era’s music, stage design and graphic aesthetic. With a bold orange, deep green and brown colour palette, the rooms are punctuated by textures developed in collaboration with Gallery B, as well as sculptural details such as a vintage saxophone and a classic lava lamp. Bespoke bedside tables, carpets and rugs produced by Edition 169, and bathroom elements created in collaboration with Devon & Devon bring functional fun to the suite, while Pierre Paulin furniture features prominently throughout the rooms.
“In London, we can be a little bit crazier than many [cities],” says Pierre-Yves. “That’s why we chose the ’70s. These suites are chic and French, but very London.”
Understated in comparison, the Opera Suite is a softer interpretation of the era, with the 109sqm presented in a refined chromatic palette of nude, pale pink, taupe, camel and ivory. Furniture includes armchairs by Pierre Paulin and pieces by Knoll, while a statement pale pink suede headboard, inspired by the graphic sculptural forms of the 1970s, creates a striking focal point in the bedroom. 
Both suites feature stunning artwork and imagery from the decade – from influential models to iconic stars from music and film. As Pierre-Yves says: “I hope these rooms bring back the thrill and fun of the seventy’s icons – that bold, playful energy, which spread throughout the era and made individuals feel that anything was possible. It is a space where guests can feel a little more daring, taking them back to defiant times, right in the heart of London.”
A boldly perfect example of Sofitel fusion of “French zest” and local colour, the suites are designed to authentically interpret the joy of each location – and share that joy with hotel guests.
“My deep conviction is that luxury is all about people. You can be in a beautiful place, but if it’s not warm, genuine, authentic then it’s not going to be emotionally fulfilling,” says Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems. “I believe that luxury is time and space. My definition of luxury is joyful, authentic and slightly crazy – because we need to be free, and life so short and fragile – but it can also be super intimate, about locking ourselves away somewhere and taking time to read and rest.”