The 7th floor does have lower ceilings than the rest of the hotel, although we specifically requested the 7th floor as it is a more contemporary art deco feel than other floors.

You are right about the Bernardaud china, although I think it works nicely in the Foyer. We did actually go to the Dorchester one night for dinner at Alain Ducasse and the lobby areas felt much livelier later in the evenings.

It will be interesting to see what the Four Seasons and the Savoy will be like once they open later this year after renovations. We had a tough time choosing our hotel this trip, as we were trying to balance a larger room with a more contemporary style (the Connaught's rooms seemed much smaller, although more contemporary). Overall, Claridge's was a nice stay!