"Working with Internova was very fluid. Their integrated technical department team totally understood what we wanted to do, mainly for custom carpentry elements. I am glad to have met Antea and Nenad Carić for their seriousness, organization, and savoir-faire."
Léonie Alma Mason
Founder and chief designer at LA.M interior design studio

Located on the sunny island of Hvar, in the historic village of Stari Grad, Maslina (which translates as an olive tree) is a brand-new luxury eco-friendly, contemporary resort. Surrounded by spindly olive groves and terraced vineyards, the resort offers 33 rooms, 17 suites, and three villas, nestled in two hectares of fragrant pine forest, overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

The resort is a part of the Relais and Châteaux establishment. The team included the Croatian architect Tomislav Alujevic, French interior designer Léonie Alma Mason, and landscape designer Thomas Seconde that approached the project with great respect for the rich cultural and natural heritage of Hvar Island.

The main goal for the whole project was to use organic materials with limited plastic usage since the hotel mantra is Mindful Luxury. Local Brač stone, Iroko wood, brass, and tones of terracotta harmonize with the natural color scheme. The bespoke interiors and carefully handpicked vintage pieces complete a comfortable and intimate space designed with the guest in mind.

Special attention is on the interior bar and restaurant, where the designer wanted to reflect the same feeling inside-out of the hotel, using a color scheme and materials to represent four natural elements surrounding the hotel: pearly rocks, dense green pine forest, cerulean Adriatic Sea, and salty summer breeze.

The restaurant has custom-made benches upholstered with soft velvet fabric in warm, appealing shapes that express comfort and french chic style through the design language. Bespoke armchairs which surround sofas give the whole space a touch of classic luxury.

The majority of interior furniture is custom-made, developed in collaboration with the interior designer. Through customization, samples, and testing, the focus was on every detail, from shapes, sizes, materials, and comfort. The project goal was to design a space that makes guests feel at home.

Rooms were equipped with iroko wood or oak wood, depending on the floor of the hotel. The ground-level rooms have a combination of terracotta floors and Iroko wood, and the upper floors have oak floors and oak wood. All FFE elements were provided and coordinated with Internova.

Some rooms have the so-called travel trunks - a bespoke luggage wardrobe look alike. It is a multifunctional space for the clothes and coffee and tea making set.

Together with the interior designer, we developed and produced bespoke wooden bathtubs. Wooden soaking tubs owe their heritage to the Eastern tradition of relaxation in harmony with natural surroundings. The design combines Japanese simplicity through simple design and the Western concept of luxury, leisure, and comfort. The Interior of the bathtub is made out of Corian material to create the sleek impression of a single flowing surface.

The exterior is made of exotic Iroko wood, protected with natural oil to preserve its natural look. Custom-made brushed brass cover with engraved logo of the hotel and iroko tray gives the special touch of luxury. There are three different sizes for both freestanding and in-built versions.

The spa area includes a fitness room, a hair salon, and thermal wet areas with indoor and outdoor spaces for complete relaxation. All wooden elements are made of oak wood, both massif, and veneers. Brass touch is again very present, through custom-made handles, specially engraved signs, and mirrors.

At the entrance, there is stainless steel oval table, with a tabletop in 2800x1200mm dimension, with a special hand brushed surface to have a more soft appearance. The base of the table is a special shape, again made of stainless steel with small doors for administrative papers.

The central element of the SPA is a mirror box that serves as a partition between the living area and hair salon with a more intimate atmosphere. The makeup table is made of veneer wood with a bespoke brass hanging unit and rotating mirrors.

On the first road to the coast, the guests can enjoy their drinks and sunsets overlooking the Adriatic sea from the beach bar. The counter is a bespoke element made of solid oak wood, with special treatment due to the proximity of sea and salt. Each upholstered seat has a different dimension and is custom-made to fit perfectly inside each niche and between each tree.