Mercure Hotel, Exeter Southgate

Background: In 2025, Providence Hotels expanded its portfolio with the addition of the Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel. This contemporary four-star property is ideally located in the heart of Exeter, just a short walk from the city centre and its key attractions. Combining comfort, convenience, and modern facilities, it is an excellent choice for both business and leisure travellers.

Brief: The room design, created by Matthews Mee, was inspired by the rich architectural heritage of Exeter. The striking stained-glass windows of Exeter Cathedral provided the creative influence for the carpet design, and this theme of incorporating architectural elements was carried through into the headboard concept. Keen to retain a simple, hand-drawn aesthetic, the designers produced a series of sketches featuring Exeter's most recognisable landmark buildings. Skopos took these illustrations and then combined them to create a continuous skyline design that captures the character and identity of the city.

Outcome: To bring this vision to life, Matthews Mee commissioned Skopos to create a bespoke headboard fabric, resulting in a distinctive design that celebrates Exeter's architectural heritage and provides guests with a strong sense of place. Working to colour cues which complimented the rest of the scheme, coordinating fabrics from the Skopos portfolio were carefully selected to work with the bespoke design. Curtains were specified in Laon in the Mountain colourway, finished with a contrasting leading edge to add depth and visual interest. The cushions (deskchair) featured the bespoke Exeter skyline design on the face, paired with a herringbone reverse in Plume from the Studio Collection in the Candlelight colourway. To pick out the gold in the headboard, Marble in Harvest Moon, from the Studio Collection, were introduced to add texture and enhance the layered, contemporary aesthetic. Carefully considered fabric combinations created a cohesive scheme that reinforced the hotel's connection to Exeter's and the high design standards of the hotel.

The interior was centred around the hotel's architectural heritage, while delivering a sophisticated and welcoming guest experience.The scheme was completed with upholstery in Gaia, a recycled fabric, in the Cinder colourway, complemented by a cushion base in Kiri faux leather in the Saddle colourway. Together, these elements create a cohesive and contemporary interior that reflects both the character and style of Exeter.

Skopos was delighted to work with the hotel to deliver a comprehensive, full-service solution, encompassing design, measurement, make-up and installation. This end-to-end approach ensured the project was fully supported by the Skopos team at every stage, from initial concept development through to final installation and sign-off. By managing the entire process, Skopos helped ensure a seamless delivery, with every element carefully coordinated to bring the design vision to life.