The hotel
Located on a quiet side street in the middle of Toronto's entertainment district (clubland, the Rogers Centre, the trendy Queen Street West shopping strip), the Hotel Le Germain epitomizes boutique-hotel chic. Its minimalist grey exterior gives way to a warm, richly toned cocoon of neutral sand and rich mahogany wood tones in the soaring lobby library area.

The look
Each of the rooms and suites has a clean, welcoming look. "The feeling is modern and calm," says Viateur Michaud, owner and principal designer of Quebec-based Lemay-Michaud Architecture & Design. A neutral palette and minimum of fussy details, plus large, recessed windows and an open-plan design make for a relaxing vibe. "We wanted to please the customer by providing intimacy and privacy in a space that feels more like a living room," says Viateur.


Image courtesy of germaintoronto.com

DIY solutions
Love the look? Here's how to get it in your bedroom and ensuite:

1 Quench your thirst
Keep a bottle of mineral water on your nightstand along with an elegant glass souvenir from your stay. The Hotel le Germain sells tumblers customized with the room number from your stay. Visit hotelboutique.com.

2 Beds
A pedestal bed has a sleek modern look, especially in a rich brown stain. IKEA's Malm Sultan Lade. Add more function while keeping things looking sleek with a Malm night table, which can be attached to the headboard.

Image courtesy of IKEA.ca

3 Bedding
Dress your bed in crisp white, 220-count cotton sheets from Au Lit's Hotel line. Nothing's sexier than great quality bedding -- or more restful, if that's more your thing!

Image courtesy of Aulitfinelinens.com

4 Flooring
Slate tiles are sophisticated and add a dark, modern feel to the bathroom. They can be expensive though, so one way to get the look for less is through rustic slate-look ceramic tile like this Cairo Blue floor tile from Eliane.

Image courtesy of Homedepot.ca

5 Accessories
A glass vanity console like the Tiffany with built-in sink makes a grand statement in a modern bathroom. It's an impressive hit of eye candy that seems to float weightlessly in the room.

Image courtesy of Art-bathe.com