The idea of an oriental hotel came from a friend, Babou, who ran what was probably the most beautiful shop in Greece – Anatolia which sold wonderful and ancient ethnic jewellery in Chania. Babou voted for a Moroccan Riad though I was concerned over the lack of a link between Morocco and Crete. The logical step to Ottoman was an easy one. An goodness, the shopping was fun…
We played with many names and la Maison soon became one of our favorites – intimate, a good fit with the chosen theme and the French language added a hint of luxury.
Closure came on a Saturday morning on Portobello Road antique market in London – Karina, who owns the hotel, pointed out to Andreas, who runs it, a rather nice necklace adorning the graceful neck of a stall holder. Not one to be put off by a graceful neck Andreas asked where the necklace came from and the owner of the stall/necklace/neck soon found the details of the seller in France who traded under the name…. la Maison Ottomane. Fateful, one might say… decision made.
