As I wait for my latest book to publish, I thought it might be fun to share a little of the creative process that went int the designing the setting that unites my upcoming slow burn series.
Welcome to the Hotel Aurelia, a luxurious seaside resort inspired by the golden days of the French Riviera – a place that will serve as the backdrop for stories of love unfolding at the gentlest pace.
Bottom Left – The Entrance ✦ ❖ ✦ Bottom Centre – The Winter Garden ✦ ❖ ✦ Bottom Right – The Rooftop Patio
When I first began shaping Hotel Aurelia, I knew I didn’t just want a setting — I wanted a living, breathing world. A place where characters could collide gently, where emotions could simmer, and where the architecture itself whispered possibilities. Three spaces became the emotional anchors of the hotel: the Winter Garden, the Entrance, and the Rooftop Patio. Each one grew from a different spark of inspiration, and together they form the heart of the Aurelia’s slow‑burn magic.
The Entrance — Where Every Story Begins
The entrance of Hotel Aurelia was inspired by the golden glamour of 1930s Riviera hotels — the kind that glowed like beacons at dusk. I imagined guests stepping out of cars, the sea breeze brushing their clothes, and the warm spill of lamplight welcoming them inside.
I wanted the entrance to feel like a threshold moment. Not just a doorway, but a promise. The inspiration came from Art Deco façades in Nice and Cannes, the romance of old travel posters, and the idea that every arrival carries a story waiting to unfold. This is where characters first cross paths, where first impressions spark, and where the hotel’s quiet magic begins to work.
The Winter Garden — A Sanctuary Born from Stillness
The Winter Garden began as a single image in my mind: rain tapping softly on a curved glass roof while someone sits alone among orchids. I wanted a space that felt timeless — part conservatory, part secret refuge — where characters could slip away from the bustle of the hotel and into a quieter world. The inspiration came from a blend of Edwardian glasshouses, Riviera conservatories, and the botanical calm of old European winter gardens.
What I loved most was the idea of a room that listens. A place where confessions feel safer, glances linger longer, and the air itself seems to hold its breath. The Winter Garden became the Aurelia’s emotional heartbeat — warm, green, and always waiting.
The Rooftop Patio — Twilight, Lanterns, and the Slow Unfolding of Love
The patio grew from my love of twilight scenes — that soft, suspended hour when the world feels gentler and more honest. I pictured terracotta planters, lanterns glowing like fireflies, and the sea stretching out in shimmering gold.
The inspiration came from Mediterranean rooftop terraces, the hush of evenings by the water, and the idea that romance often blooms in the in‑between moments. The patio became the Aurelia’s place of possibility — where conversations stretch long into the night, where laughter drifts on the breeze, and where slow‑burn connections finally find their spark.
Why These Three Spaces Matter
Together, these rooms form the emotional architecture of the series. They’re not just backdrops — they’re catalysts.
The Winter Garden holds secrets.
The Entrance begins journeys.
The Patio invites transformation.
Each space was designed with intention, shaped to nurture the kind of romance that grows quietly, steadily, beautifully.
Eleanor Whitlock 
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