Interior designer Pierre Yves-Rochon the French designer has given Rome?s revered grande dame a fresh new face.

Among its many historical monuments, Rome has an unexpected new one. The magnificent St. Regis Rome, inaugurated in the city center in 1894 by the legendary Swiss hotelier César Ritz, has a fresh new face. Now as it was then, the hotel?originally called Le Grand Hotel and a monument to hospitality, just like the Ritz in Paris or London?is a royal retreat, known for hosting dignitaries and celebrities in its gloriously gilded rooms. But recently, the landmark looked a bit worn with age, so Pierre-Yves Rochon (the visionary behind the design of the Four Seasons Georges V and other spectacular properties) orchestrated an overhaul to bring it back to its former glory. Three years later, the lobby is now a lively jardin d?hiver with natural light, ficus benjamina trees, and black-and-white marble floors. The ballroom is back to its original splendor with restored Pre-Raphaelite frescos and Venetian mirrors. And the rooms are modern, elegant, and welcoming with marble bathrooms, terrazzo and mosaic floors, all in the style of the Roman Empire. With his meticulous work, Rochon has no doubt created a real-life set for a 21st-century La Dolce Vita. To find out what drove him to this dramatic reincarnation, we sat down with the man himself.How would you describe Rome"
Rome is a city with an amazing lifestyle, beautiful weather, abundant greenery, and elegant interi...