In the second edition of Hotel Designs LIVE, sponsored by Technological Innovations Group in association with Crestron, editor Hamish Kilburn returned to host a number of panel discussions and interviews with the aim to keep the conversation and the industry connected.
Following on from the inaugural Hotel Designs LIVE where an expert panel questioned the very existence of lobbies in the wake of Covid-19, Hotel Designs was back to put public areas back under the spotlight.
To move away from pure sterile solutions and to instead inject design and character back into public areas, Kilburn invited internationally acclaimed designers and hotel figures, such as Constantina Tsoutsikou, founder of Studio LOST; Erica Pritchard, Associate at HBA; Eric Jafari, CDO of Locke, Erik Nissen Johansen, Founder of Stylt, onto the virtual Hotel Designs LIVE sofa.
The panel discussion, which was sponsored by Falcon Contract Flooring, started with Kilburn asking how the industry can authentically create purposeful areas that evoke interesting first impressions.
While you’re here: click here to watch Hotel Design LIVE’s exclusive interview with Bill Bensley.
The recordings of the other two sessions (Reassuring the post-corona consumer and The revival of smart tech post-pandmeic) will go live shortly.
SAVE THE DATE: Hotel Designs LIVE will return for a third edition on February 23, 2021. Session titles and speakers will be announced shortly. Once these have been announced, tickets for Hotel Designs LIVE will be available. In the meantime, if you would like to discuss sponsorship opportunities, focused PRODUCT WATCH pitches or the concept of Hotel Designs LIVE, please contact Katy Phillips or call +44 (0) 1992 374050.
Industry insight: adapting public areas to the “new normal”
Hotel Designs is on the hunt for stylish ways to adapt public areas. Reintroducing Adrenalina, the upholstery label by DOMINGO SALOTTI…
The Adrenalina first made it onto Hotel Designs’ radar in 2018. The Sir-Pent was a functional, quirky and certainly different furniture option. Two years later, in a very different landscape, we believe its design is ideal for the post-pandemic hospitality world.
Adrenalina is the upholstery label by DOMINGO Salotti, born in 1999 with the intention of “breaking the mould”. Adrenalina’s innovative and iconic styles continue to attract the attention of designers who specify our collections for their projects in hotels, restaurants, spas and social spaces around the world.
Each Adrenalina’s piece is the result of a collaboration between cutting edge designers and the knowledgeable and experienced craftsman in our workshop. Each style is 100 per cent hand-made and 100 per cent made in our workshop in Italy.
Adrenalina’s core busines is contract with designers and specifiers of commercial spaces tending to be the brand’s biggest fans and so the companies most important clients. The radical changes brought on by the recent outbreak of Covid-19 have had a considerable impact on the contract market. The last few months at Adrenalina have been quite a journey!
Image credit: TIGRAM by Adrenalina
These months have been an unprecedented experience for everybody, client and company alike. We have all experienced a radical interruption of our everyday routine (both at work and at home). Everybody is now trying to guess what their “new normal” will look like.
Much has been written on the future of workplaces and commercial spaces in general. Being one of Adrenalina’s big markets, we have been keenly following these conversations. One theme everybody would appear to agree on is that the new normal will be a blend of homeworking, virtual collaboration and physical space. People will spend more time working from home, but these months of lockdown have also made us realise that there is no virtual substitute for the authentic face to face interaction that happens at work. Smart working has its advantages, but it does not promote human connection. Human connection is not only the antidote to loneliness and isolation, but, more importantly, it is the main instigator of new the ideas and innovation that spark from causal conversations.
The physical office, our workplaces and the need to socialise at work are here to stay. We now need to work out how to reshape them. How can we bring people back to work in spaces that will promote collaboration and opportunities for human connections while respecting new safety guideline and maintain social distancing? How can we maintain aesthetically pleasing environments whilst at the same time creating safe, clean and socially distanced workplaces? This is where Adrenalina with its playful, joyful and iconic pieces can really help.
While we are still learning about the virus and workspace scenarios are still changing, the general recommendation from architects, designers and interior experts is not to take any radical decision with regards to your workplace. There is a lot you can do to adjust commercial premises to respect the new guidelines and adjust the space to your new needs. Look at your workspace with a new pair of eyes and an open mind (or better yet, hire a specialist to do that on your behalf).
Although there is not a one-size-fits-all solution, there are many Adrenalina products that have already inspired and helped many of our clients to solve these problems.
Modular systems
New social distancing rules are affecting the number of people allowed in a workspace. Meeting rooms, labs, break out spaces are being repurposed to create additional seating to address the issue in the short term.
Image credit: SIR-PENT by Adrenalina
Adrenalina modular systems have helped many of our clients creating additional desk stations and pods as companies bring people back into workplaces after the initial phase of lock down. Adrenalina modular soft seating structures are made of panels and blocs that can easily connect by a bayonet system or by hidden magnetic connectors.
The newly reconfigured layouts do not have to be a permanent solution either. The same panels and blocks can be used to create different layouts every time you need. Using one of Adrenalina’s modular structures means that once the Covid-19 emergency has ended you can still use your furniture adapting them to your changed conditions.
All our modular products can be integrated with technical devices (plugs, phone chargers, lightings etc.) and customised to better suit your project’s requirements. Ad hoc solutions can also be studied to add additional devices such as screens, tablets etc.
The systems below are favourites of designers facing the challenge of dividing open spaces to create social distancing:
Seek the advice of your favourite designers or contact our in-house team of creatives if you need help configuring your layout.
Multipurpose furniture
These unprecedented times have forced many logistics changes on a lot of companies. It is difficult to experiment with design geometry reconfiguring workspaces while budgets shrink and you have little idea of what the future is going to look like. The trick should be to allow your mind to be open and your workspace to be flexible, so that you can all evolve and adjust with the change of conditions.
Image credit: MAJI by Adrenalina
Adrenalina acoustic seating is useful to take phone calls or to do some heads-down work in isolation from background noise (check our styles GEA HIGH BACK, WOW, SLY). Adrenalina high back pieces can be used in waiting areas or in restaurant and bars to create areas for small group to gather (GEA high back chairs and Sofas / SLY / MICROMEGA just to name a few). The Gea High Back seats placed around a table can easily create a restaurant booth for diners, a private environment to have a meeting or produce some teamwork.
Single modules from our banquettes systems can work as a solo seat-desk or can become a starting point for a composition of multiple elements (stations, nukes, pods, row of desks).
The MAJI office PODS can easily be turned into desk stations thanks to the way the panels link, which allows the composition to be set up and dismantled as required.
Bigger focus on health and hygiene
Cleanliness is here to stay. Sanitising will have a bigger place in our lives. Not only our hands – it has been proven that disinfecting and cleaning provides employees with a sense of security.
Image credit: Adrenalina
Adrenalina are integrating hand sanitiser and surface cleaners into some of the furniture (MAJI). Equipping desk stations and office pods with hand gel dispenser or surface cleaning products in order to reassure your staff.
Integrating sanitising products into our furniture will help promote hygiene in the workplace and will also help promote new behaviours. With surface cleaners built into the furniture, your staff will be prompted to clean surfaces before leaving a meeting, or before starting one. This will serve to enhance your staff’s sense of safety. Making sanitising products readily available to staff will also signal to employees that their wellbeing matters.
The Adrenalina’s in-house team of designers can advise about ways to integrate sanitising products into your chosen furniture.
Growing evidence that the Covid-19 virus can remain airborne for longer than originally believed is drawing a lot of attention to the quality of the air in enclosed public spaces. Increasing ventilation with outdoor air as well as air filtration will help mitigate the spread of airborne germs.
Opening windows to let fresh air come through remains one of the best defences against airborne germs. When talking about enclosed places, being able to monitor the quality of the air and/ or the rate of airflow is important.
SIR-PENT by Adrenalina can be equipped with JSMART, an innovative air monitoring system and air purifier for the indoors. JSMART uses an ornamental plant as a filter. Once connected to the relative app, it monitors and helps control temperature, humidity and pollutant levels indoor.
Domingo/Adrenalina is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here.
The debut Hotel Designs LIVE, which took place during lockdown on June 23, broadcasted four engaging virtual seminars. Editor Hamish Kilburn and publisher Katy Phillips share the highlights…
On June 23, hundreds of leading designers, architects and hoteliers from around the world tuned in for the debut of Hotel Designs LIVE.
The new one-day virtual conference, hosted by editor Hamish Kilburn from his hometown of Whitstable in England, broadcasted live conversations with industry experts on topics such as technology, public areas, sleep and wellness. In his opening speech, Kilburn explained how the concept emerged. “Hotel Designs LIVE (sponsored by Technological Innovations Group) was born in the chaotic realms of the coronavirus crisis,” he said. “It is our way – and we believe the most meaningful method – to keep the industry connected while also keeping the conversation flowing.”
Seminar 1: technology
To kick-start the event in a spectacular fashion, Jason Bradbury made a dramatic entrance, on a hover board (we wouldn’t expect anything less). The former presenter of The Gadget Show, who has built an international career as a futurology and tech-trends corporate speaker, took the microphone to start the conference’s debut session entitled: Technology’s role in tomorrow’s hotel.
Emma King (Head of Design (Europe) IHG), Alon Barronwitz (Director at Baranowitz + Kronenberg) and Geraldine Dohogne (Founder of Beyond Design) got comfortable on the virtual sofa to discuss the difficult reality of public areas post-pandemic. The main takeaways were adapting as designers to meet modern consumer demands to create flexible and clean spaces, while embedding discreet technology to enhance the guest experience. The panel also discussed the need for intuitive public areas for ‘bleisure’ guests.
Stylo Graphics, which sponsored the session, asked the panel whether they have managed to implement directional signage controls and physical distancing measures to safeguard guest and staff wellbeing whilst maintaining great guest experience. King responded: “We have adjusted layouts of public areas and included social distancing measures in our hotels. To do this effectively, we have ensured that the colours and styles we have used are in keeping with our brand standards.”
Up next, steering the conversation away from the pandemic, Kilburn focuses the editorial lens on sleep with a session entitled: Designing the guestroom to evoke a better night’s sleep, which was sponsored by Silentnight Group.
In order to explore this area of the hotel experience, he welcomed Darija Aziz, the in-house designer for Zedwell Hotels, to discuss one particular project that centres its entire model around sleep performance; Zedwell Piccadilly.
Zedwell has been designed with sleep at its core but also to promote health and wellbeing in every form,” Aziz explained. “Rooms were designed to eliminate clutter and remove anxiety, hence no TV or complicated controls. Interestingly, all the guestrooms have no windows in order to eliminate central London noise and bright lights.”
Adding context to the conversation, and bringing technology back into the discussion, Kilburn welcomes sound architect Tom Middleton into the seminar who explained that technology generically exposes the wrong frequency, and the fact that influences such a circadian rhythm needs to be more considered when designing the guestroom to evoke sleep performance.
To aptly conclude the series of seminars, Kilburn hosted the session entitled: The future of wellness post-pandemic, and shared the screen with Beverley Bayes (Director of Sparcstudio), Michael Lahm (Vice President and COO of TLEE Spa and Ivaylo Lefterov (Hotel Development Director at Miris), which is the developer behind Svart, the world’s first ‘energy positive’ hotel.
As well as looking at hygiene, the panel discussed the demand for biophilic design, Covid-19 friendly materials such as copper and pushing the limits of wellness. In addition, injecting personalisation (and bespoke elements) in design and service.
Short-term, the pandemic has put a question mark on F&B in spa areas, but the general thoughts of the day were that healthy cuisine was a link that connects wellness and wellbeing.
When asked what each of the panelists look for in a spa experience, the general consensus was a meaningful treatment and seamless execution and experiences within the spa that balance indoor and outdoor spaces.
The seminar included an insightful PRODUCT WATCH pitch from hansgrohe.
Following the success of the inaugural virtual conference, Hotel Designs LIVE is back for a second edition, which will take place on October 13. The themes selected for the next event will include the evolution of discreet technology in hotel design, sustainability in design and architecture, reassuring the hotel consumer post-pandemic and adding personality in public areas.
Tickets for Hotel Designs LIVE will be available shortly. To discuss sponsorship opportunities for any of the sessions above, please contact Katy Phillips or call +44 (0) 1992 374050.
PRODUCT WATCH: Sileather – a technical revolution in sustainable faux leather
Robert Walton, Managing Director of The Lindhurst Group, explains a break through technology in faux leather. Sileather is a sustainable, durable solution in the post-pandemic hospitality arena…
The Lindhurst Group has more than 50 years’ experience in identifying and finding solutions for issues experienced by operators in the hospitality sector with furniture and soft furnishings.
This has led to the discovery of break-through technology in faux leather. Whilst total lockdown due to Covid–19 put a halt to real life presentations, designers, specifiers and operators who have been working from home have taken the time to look at, and understand, these new technologies. Cue the discovery of Sileather.
“Sileather breaks all the conventions in that it is constructed of 100 per cent Silicone carried on recycled polyester backing without the use of any added chemicals.”
The challenges being presented by global warming have brought about the necessity for all businesses to review their activities and consider products being used within their supply chain. When it comes to the credentials for faux leather, Sileather breaks all the conventions in that it is constructed of 100 per cent Silicone carried on recycled polyester backing without the use of any added chemicals. Silicone is a recyclable product, and even the backing cloths are made of recyclable materials.
Image credit: Gantley Hall/The Lindhurst Group
The process for recycling silicone fabrics can be attained by separating the silicone from the cloth and recycling the two parts individually – silicone can even be reused in electronics!
Silicone is a unique material because of its sustainable qualities – it is one of the most common elements found in nature. Not only is the material less intrusive on the environment, but the production of the silicone is less taxing on natural resources. It takes less water, raw material, and electricity to produce compared to PU and PVC.
Image credit: The Lindhurst Group
Sileather has been developed to create a fabric that is not only beautiful, stylish and with high performance but is also sustainable and eco-friendly. The innovative and cutting-edge techniques for designing the silicone leather fabrics to perform to high standards has allowed the use of environmentally friendly methods.
From its beginning as simple quartz sand that is found everywhere in the world, silicone is a product that has its origins from nature itself. Once it is processed, it becomes a more familiar material that is seen everywhere: baking mats, oven gloves, baby bottle nipples, and now, silicone leather. Silicone products save nine times the quantity of greenhouse gases used in production and disposal by enabling energy saving technologies and a more efficient use of energy and materials
Whilst ticking all the boxes environmentally it is important that the material works from a practical viewpoint when presented through the supply chain to include interior designers, specifiers, furniture manufacturers, operators and , importantly, the final user. The key performance characteristics listed below serve to underline the benefits of this material across the chain:
inherently fire retardant to Crib 5 and IMO part 8 – no additional treatments required
naturally stain resistant to biro, denim bleed, coffee, red wine, ketchup, suntan lotion, mascara etc. wtc
weather resistant – remaining cool in the sun but able to withstand temperatures down as low as -40°C without losing felxibility
salt water resistant – for use on Cruise Ships and by the sea
chlorine resistant – for use around swimming pools
alcohol resistant
non toxic – safe to use on children’s furniture
highly durable – resistant to scuffing from buckles and belts
easy clean – biro can be wiped off with just a damp cloth
Pre-coronovirus these attributes had obvious advantages for all areas of the market but now the parameters are being challenged further to ensure that premises are doing all they can to regain the confidence of the customer by practicing strict cleaning regimes using strong disinfectants that will kill the virus.
In addition to these disinfectants, which can include concentrations of ethanol up to 95 per cent and bleach solutions using up to 10,000ppm of available chlorine, there will be copious hand sanitising stations using alcohol gels. Consideration needs be given to the durability of the fabrics selected and their ability to withstand such stringent regimes. Being constructed of a very stable material, Sileather is designed to withstand these regimes and maintain it’s appearance and structure for a long time.
Prior to Coronovirus, Sileather was gaining a reputation as the “magic” material to withstand staining from biro and denim bleed whilst also being sustainable and eco-fiendly. In a Coronavirus world Sileather retains these benefits buts adds it’s durability to withstand extreme cleaning practices.
The Lindhurst Group is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. And, if you are interested in also benefitting from this three-month editorial package, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.
USM introduces protective attachment screens that are suitable for USM Modular Furniture…
The hotel landscape has changed, and the design of the reception area needs to evolve to support this. Organisations are already investigating how they can make hotel spaces safer, effective, and efficient whist still adhering to government guidelines of social distancing.
One of the challenges that many hotels will have is how to ensure that their guests and employees feel protected at the reception area. Protective measures are essential so that employees feel safe and valued in these challenging times, whilst also reassuring guests.
Due to the spread of Covid-19, hygiene and protective measures must be treated with the highest priority. To protect employees and guests from mutual contact, devices are required that form a physical protective barrier against the transmission of bacteria and viruses through coughing, sneezing and human contact.
In keeping with the elegant clean design of USM Haller modular furniture there are different solution orientated variants with which you can quickly upgrade existing reception desks.
USM Modular Furniture is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. And, if you are interested in also benefitting from this three-month editorial package, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Oh, how the check-in desk has changed
Today’s lobby, as well as its check-in desk, has to be a multi-functional area in order to live up to modern travellers’ demands. Hotel Designs asks USM Modular Furniture how its latest commercial desk system is suitable for tomorrow’s modern hotels…
A lobby is one of the first thing that guests will see when arriving at the hotel. This means that the reception area presents an opportunity: to shape how guests see your company with an environment that represents your company’s brand, style and ethos.
The design of the USM Haller modular system is the perfect piece of furniture to build a unique reception desk that can be designed for the hotels specific needs and can also be reconfigured if the needs of the reception area changes.
The check-in/reception desk has to fulfil a number of functions: workstation, point of contact for members of staff, and a scene setter for new visitors. The USM Haller system lets you build a reception desk that performs each of these functions for your business flawlessly. Design a completely unique reception desk with built-in storage or display features, tailored to the environment of your reception area.
Image credit: USM Modular Furniture
Colour is one important factor: choose from the 14 classic USM colours to set the tone for the area. Cool grey or dramatic black is ideal for contemporary spaces; minimalist pure white suits fresh, clean settings; bolder yellows, reds and oranges give a more playful introduction.
Shape and structure are also important – and completely customisable. Choose a rigid, closed front for a more traditional set-up, or open the piece up a little with front-facing display modules for magazines, pieces of art, or your company’s own products. For even more playful and welcoming designs, let your imagination run wild: incorporate more open shelves, glass display pieces, or a mixture of different colours.
Bring a stylistic unity to the reception area with a full suite of furniture built on the same principles of elegant simplicity as your reception desk. The USM collection includes a hugely versatile range of surfaces from which you can build bespoke coffee tables and magazine display stands with a beautiful colour-and-chrome finish, mirroring that of the reception desk.
You can also use the USM Haller system to design additional storage and display pieces for the area: freestanding pedestals for documents and stationery; display cases for awards, art and your products; shelving for reading material or any other kind of piece to meet the specific requirements of your business.
The design of the USM Haller system is fantastically simple, however it is the Swiss precision in which the components are made that give the furniture the strength, versatility and clean lines that have made USM a design classic. Launched on to the market in 1965 the USM Haller system has become a watchword for timeless design all over the world. Its acceptance into the Design Collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York (USA) at the end of 2001 was a high distinction and confirmed the artistic character of the product. The design classic is used in offices, the home, public buildings as well as hospitality.
USM Modular Furniture is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. And, if you are interested in also benefitting from this three-month editorial package, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: The role main areas play in tented lodges & camps
As the modern luxury traveller demands more one-off experiences, there has been rise in demand for lodges and camps. Hotel Designs asks the experts at Bushtec Creations to explain how designers can utilise a hotel’s main areas in these accommodation styles…
In short, your main area can be whatever you want it to be. Having a successful main are however, now that is where the secret lies.
First impressions are the ones that last. The moment a guest steps into the main area, a tone or impression will be set that they will expect from their stay, and it helps to dare to push the boundaries and be different. When it comes to luxury tented main areas, Bushtec Safari and Bushtec Creations has many years’ experience and products well suited to be used whereby the guests’ first impression will surely be one of amazement with the type of luxury, comfort and beauty these classic tents hold.
When it comes to tented resorts or tented hotels, first you need to determine how many guests your tented lodge/camp will be accommodating so that you can make sure you have a spacious enough main area. Then, you need to consider the design you are trying to create, specially for the roof, and aim to keep the same design flowing straight throughout your camp.
You also need to consider your location and space you have available for the development of your camp, so as to determine whether you will have one large main unit, or rather a main area made up of several smaller tents.
Image credit: Bushtec Creations
Think about what you want included in your main area. We have done several camps with main areas and not 1 camp is the same. You can have a main area that only includes a dining facility, you can have a main area that consists of multiple functional areas including a reception area, a lounge where your guests can relax, socialise, read books, access the restrooms, be near a bar area where your guests can sit and enjoy refreshments. Apart from this, you can even decide to include a sushi bar, which will take your main area to the next level.
Now let’s speak ambience. Want to add a fireplace but not sure if it can be one in a tent? Of course you can! With Bushtec Creations anything is possible. Adding a fireplace is also dependant on your location, you won’t necessarily want to add a fireplace if you are located in the desert at 40 degrees for most of the year, however with that being said, most locations can do with a fireplace and you can’t go wrong with adding one.
Now that we have covered the inside characteristics of your main area, let’s have a look at what you can do outside. That’s right, there is more! Most main areas will include a swimming pool on the front deck with some sort of remarkable view, cocktail table spread across the deck with umbrellas and even a fire pit to have memorable nights covered by a billion stars.
Your kitchen can also form as part of your main area and be enclosed for aesthetic purposes, however this also varies from one lodge owner to another. Alternatively you can have your kitchen apart from your main area connecting it with a walkway to create easy access for your personnel.
Image credit: Bushtec Creations
Image credit: Bushtec Creations
The options of connecting your main area with your accommodation units also plays a part in the entirety of your lodge/camp. You may want to connect the units with walkways throughout your entire camp, or you can leave your units separated should you wish to not stop wildlife from moving throughout the camp.
With all of the various considerations involved in creating your perfect tented lodge/camp, you still don’t have to feel overwhelmed as our Bushtec Creations team has years of experience to guide you through the process from start to finish. We have our own passionate in-house design team who does regular site visits across the globe. Several discussions will be held to determine your exact requirements and the latest technology is used to create a virtual render of your entire camp to showcase your project so that you will know what to expect.
In closing, your main area plays a substantial role in your tented camp/lodge and is ultimately where your guests will get together to relax, eat and socialise. This is where you want them to feel at home and keep them coming back for more. A tented lodge main area is the biggest asset not only for you as the lodge owner, but also for your guests.
Bushtec Creations is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. And, if you are interested in also benefitting from this three-month editorial package, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.
When it comes to design, the hospitality industry demands some of the most aesthetically pleasing outdoor environments in the commercial sector.
From luxurious outdoor swimming pool areas to glamorous receptions, restaurants and bars, the flooring and surface choices that are made within exterior hotel design will play a vital role in the success of the overall appeal of the hotel.
From large luxury projects to smaller boutique hotels, CTD Architectural’s approach to service and design remains the same. Thanks to its ever-expanding portfolio of exterior tiles, CTD Architectural is able to source the latest products to deliver premium quality for both appearance and performance.
20mm porcelain is increasingly used in designs for luxury commercial and public realm projects, including swimming pool surrounds, balcony decks and pedestrian walkways – particularly in the hotel industry.
An extensive range of 20mm-thick porcelain tiles, the Porcelain Pavers collection by CTD Architectural is specially suited to outdoor environments. Recreating architectural materials such as cement and stone, the range comprises 22 different tiles to meet all the technical and design requirements for exterior applications.
For a variety of inside / outside combinations, the Porcelain Pavers collection is guaranteed to deliver on practical and aesthetic qualities. Along with the excellent technical qualities of thick porcelain, the Porcelain Pavers collection is extremely durable and resistant to breaks and scratches as well as being fade and frost resistant. Boasting a +36PTV (wet) slip-resistant structured surface, the tiles are also extremely low maintenance thanks to their exceptionally low porosity.
Offering the added benefit of easy installation, the 20mm ranges can be installed in a number of different formats depending on the environment and project requirements. Providing the ultimate flexibility, the products can even be loose laid onto gravel, sand or pedestals, making them both accessible and re-usable.
Image caption/credit: CTD Architectural Tiles’ Albaroc range
Anti-Slip tiles for swimming pools
Made effective by their slightly textured surface, anti-slip tiles are the perfect complement to other materials, such as stone, wood and concrete. An essential for high-traffic public areas, particularly around outdoor swimming areas, CTD Architectural’s range of anti-slip tiles has all the technical qualities to meet any project requirement without compromising on aesthetics.
From natural stone-effect finishes to imitation wood designs, each of the collections are guaranteed to help architects, interior designers, developers and specification professionals deliver on any manner of swimming pool project brief.
CTD Architectural’s stylish Albaroc range is inspired by the hard dolomite stone found on the Mediterranean coast. Available in three natural stone-effect colours and two different surface finishes, this collection includes a full range of complementary stair treads, risers and strips – ideal for creating a fully cohesive, effortlessly classic look in exterior and interior spaces of all sizes, and offering peace of mind where safety is a must.
Nature has been a source of inspiration for designers for a number of years and has now developed into all areas of interior design, including surfaces. A seamless marriage between rustic influences and the trend for contemporary design has inspired a number of CTD Architectural’s most recent tile designs, to enliven outdoor spaces of all sizes.
An effortless stylish addition to any outside space, wood flooring is renowned for its beautiful, natural finish. Although undeniably a popular choice, natural wood isn’t always practical in high footfall public areas. Wood effect tiles celebrate the unique beauty of the natural material and combine the importance of a realistic finish with the practical benefits of ceramic or porcelain tiles.
Offering the warmth and beauty of real wood, CTD Architectural’s Natural collection of wood-effect exterior tiles promise a refined finishing touch to any outdoor scheme. Available in three different light, mid and dark wood tones, the collection is comprised of matching edge profile and angle pieces for swimming pools with skimmer systems and boasts an anti-slip finish of R11C Class for total safety.
To replicate the classic beauty of natural stone in any outdoor space, CTD Architectural offer two beautiful ranges: Petra and Roca Polar. Petra has a timeless appeal with a choice of three different colours, along with the added benefit of an anti-slip Class C porcelain surface.
Reproducing the exquisite characteristic features of natural quartzite stone, Roca Polar is an exceptionally beautiful collection. Available in either a matt or structured finish, the simply yet elegant tile is ideal for those looking to create a luxurious outdoor space and comes complete with corresponding pool edge and stair fitting pieces and corners for a truly unified scheme.
When it comes to specifying tiles for outdoor and public areas for all sizes of hotels, CTD Architectural is able to provide products and technical solutions for architects, designers and specifiers to help ensure the project runs smoothly, looks impressive and conforms to the highest technical standards.
CTD Architectural Tiles is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. And, if you are interested in also benefitting from this three-month editorial package, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.
A Norfolk based brand has taken the concept of a feature wall and merged it with hand-crafted, industrial-like shelving so that it can be utilised in hotel public areas. River Bespoke’s Katie Haynes explains…
As the hospitality industry changes rapidly, hotels are looking for new and creative ways to elevate their spaces. Hotel lobbies are evolving into places in which guests gather to meet, network, work and socialise and interiors need to accommodate these shifts in behaviour.
Guests want to be able to access services wherever and whenever they want within a hotel, so designing multi-purpose, flexible spaces that can cater for these changing needs is key in hotel design.
Hotels around the world are increasingly being seen as great design case studies exploring the stylistic directions for the whole interior design industry. They feature innovative concepts, shapes, colour schemes, novel materials or just play with the known to create something extraordinary and breath-taking. These bold hotel designs push us to embrace new interior perspectives.
Image credit: River Bespoke/The Langham Hotel London
Image credit: River Bespoke
At River Bespoke, we specialise in the creation of handcrafted bespoke feature walls from individual shelves. We’re all about simple, clean, elegant designs; living wall art that is ever-changeable as well as functional, adding interest to any space.
Whether on a solid or glass partition wall, our shelves work perfectly in delineating areas, whilst keeping them open, light and airy. River Bespoke accessorises and transforms a regular wall into a personalised art installation.
Case study: Palm Court, The Langham London
To date we have focussed on residential installations, but we’ve always said our bespoke feature walls would work equally beautifully in a commercial context. And now we’ve been able to prove it thanks to a commission from the world-renowned Palm Court, Langham Hotel, London.
Image credit: River Bespoke
We approached The Langham directly as part of a small campaign to target high-end London Hotels as a first step to enter the commercial sector. At our first meeting, we presented a few of our sample shelves and they immediately liked the concept and could envisage how it could work for them in an area they had been struggling with for some time. Palm Court, The Langham is famed as the place where the tradition of afternoon tea was born more than 150 years ago. It had previously been updated with a timeless and elegant interior however the bar area was dark and didn’t have the same luxury elegance as the rest of the room.
“We have been wanting to update the bar in Palm Court for some time and were looking for something different and special, River Bespoke’s shelves fitted the bill perfectly,” – Karina Ellias, Director of Food and Beverage at The Langham London
They wanted a unique and eye-catching backdrop for their bar, that would not only look stunning but also work to provide much-needed storage and display capability for a busy, customer-facing area.
We worked closely with the hotel team to trial different layouts, material choices and finishing touches. With the addition of ambient surround lighting, beautiful textured wallpaper and distressed bronze mirrors, we have helped them to create a truly beautiful area to compliment the luxurious Palm Court and fulfil the brief.
“We have been wanting to update the bar in Palm Court for some time and were looking for something different and special, River Bespoke’s shelves fitted the bill perfectly,” said Karina Ellias, Director of Food and Beverage at The Langham London. “We now have a beautiful champagne bar completing the stunning Palm Court. River Bespoke were very easy to work with from the initial concept, design and renders to working with our team to install the shelves on the day. Fitting was easy and flawless.”
Other hotel projects
As well as The Langham, we have also been working with another flagship hotel in London. The two projects are very different and address two separate issues, however they share the collective aim of creating beauty from a plain wall or partition.
We are quickly gaining traction in the hotel design arena, and adapting with designers to plan and create functional and beautiful environments. We are looking forward to seeing our feature walls in more commercial spaces in the future.
River Bespoke is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. And, if you are interested in also benefitting from this three-month editorial package, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.
To mark the change of focus of Hotel Designs’ editorial lens, editor Hamish Kilburn goes on a journey to discover some of the world’s most unconventional hotel lobbies and public spaces…
From striking rooftop bars above bustling metropolises to home-from-home hot-desk sanctuaries, the design of hotel public areas have evolved to capture not only a property’s rare personality but also a brand’s ethos and character.
While luxury hotel etiquette and demand has changed, one thing has remained firm for the operators and designers alike: you only have one opportunity to make a lasting first impression, which is arguably most true when it comes to designing the hotel lobby and public spaces. It’s a fine balancing skill to master. Designing a space suitable and accessible for everyone, but creating skilfully and meaningfully designing public spaces that add drama in all the right areas without coming across too strong can take a well-designed hotel into the realms of extraordinary masterpieces.
To kickstart Hotel Designs firmly positioning Public Areas under the editorial spotlight this month, here are nine uniquely designed lobbies and public spaces that each aptly amplify a hotel’s purpose and charm.
With a unique yet graceful design, The Ritz-Carlton – Astana is a natural extension of the square around the nearby Bayterek Tower, a monument and symbol of modern Astana. The property features an architectural lighting scheme designed by Nulty Lighting with carefully positioned luminaires in the soffit, which graze light across the fins for a dappled effect. In the restaurant, surface-mounted spotlights nestle within a bronze trough that cuts through an otherwise architecturally clean ceiling, complemented by a suspended rail with adjustable spotlights, which drops from the same detailing to provide a focus along the continuous marble counter, drawing the eye through the space.
Featuring what our editorial team are unofficially concluding as the largest sofa in the world, PUBLIC, designed by legendary designer Ian Schrager, has all the necessary ingredients of a successful urban retreat. The New York-based hotel is known for being refined, sophisticated, smart, simple, yet flamboyant and provocative all at the same time. Its public areas, complete with high ceilings and modern comfortable furniture, attract locals and guests alike to work, socialise and simply chill out in a comfortable setting.
The ground floor inside The Standard London was inspired by the groovy 70s, a decade full of character with Psychedelic Furs (the early years), Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin and the debut of The Muppets and Star Wars capturing the movement.
The Standard London’s lobby/lounge features fabulous circular fixtures and quirky furniture that set the scene. The carefully curated library pays homage to the building’s original use. Look down and you’ll notice a sumptuous orange rug leading the way into the hotel, look up and the bright red ceiling offsets the striped wooden walls and the blue mural behind the reception – forcing you to take everything you thought you knew about maximalism and throwing it out the window. The muted lamps and pot plants only enhance the boldness of the lobby’s design.
Architecture studio Mecanismo was responsible for the construction and interior design of AKELARRE Hotel. The carefully and meaningfully designed public areas evoke a sense of calm with a clever use of curves. The design concept was to use elements that coexist in harmony with the surrounding environment, to connect the interiors with the striking views of landscape that surrounds.
The Murray Hotel was a preservation project undertaken by Foster + Partners, the brief being to design a 336-key luxury hotel within the shell of one of the city’s most iconic landmarks that was built in 1969.
The hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant both reflect Hong Kong’s vibrant cosmopolitan style, open to the city’s flamboyant population. The interior spaces feature high-end luxury furniture from Minotti, including Aston sofas and Lounge little armchairs animated by vivacious Cesar side tables. A wraparound terrace frames the restaurant with Aston “Cord” Outdoor sofas, armchairs and dining chairs.
The patterned-geometric rug, cosy leather seating and contemporary white lighting reflects Scandi modern living. The home-from-home lobby inside Nobis Hotel Copenhagen, designed by Wingårdh Architects, shelters subtle deft touches, clean lines and playful colour while balancing the well-to-do elegance of the original building.
The Langham Chicago, designed by Richmond International, is part of the former IBM tower, the final masterpiece of architect Mies Van Der Rohe and a well-loved feature of Chicago’s skyline, which the design team respected while creating a new, luxurious hotel inside its magnificent shell.
The designers opened up the reception with double-height spaces and introduced views of the city and the Chicago River. Materials such as bronze and travertine reference the original building, while decorative elements including onyx and velvet were inspired by the architect’s residences. The result is a warm, elegant hotel that honours its past.
‘London Reloaded’ was the interior design concept for nhow London. The design studio Project Orange stretched that broad theme to its limits when imagining the look and feel of the the lobby inside the 190-key hotel. Although the arrival experience is impressive and memorable, we believe that the corridors, which often become ‘dead spaces’ are a true reflection of the studio’s ability to uniquely narrate a story with interiors. Inspired by a London stroll in the park, the corridors feature detailed HD carpets by Brintons and has been brought to life with humour. Each floor, facing the lifts, features a stencil of a bike chained to a fence. As guests move up each levels of the hotel, another part of the bike is removed, which is a playful nod to the reality of most, if not all, for cyclists in the city.
The flagship property of Proper Hotels is nestled in a landmarked flatiron-style building in San Francisco’s vibrant Mid-Market district., and features captivating interiors by designer Kelly Wearstler. The designer’s luxury residential style is arguably most felt in the lobby, which has been created using a clash of patterns, colours and textures alongside European furniture pieces from a number of design movements in history.
LIGHTING WATCH: Berkley Collection from Christopher Hyde
Christopher Hyde Lighting beautiful Berkeley table lamp was recently supplied in the lobby area of a luxury hotel in Moscow…
The stunning and imposing table lamp allows the interior designer to put the finishing touches into their own five-star project. The design of the Berkeley collection features delicate cast brass details. Available in many different finishes from the ever popular french gold and antique silver to polished rose gold and soft bronze. Complimented by Christopher Hyde’s hand crafted silk lampshades the Berkeley table lamp is sure to brighten up any lobby.
The Berkeley range is on display at the company’s showroom at the Design Centre in Chelsea Harbour, London.
Christopher Hyde’s new catalogue is released soon and is available to order.
Christopher Hyde is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.
PRODUCT WATCH: UNILIN’s Clicwall is a striking wall without compromising durability
UNILIN, division panels, has released an extra-high panel in its Clicwall fast-to-install decorative wall system…
Producing seamless vertical runs on walls up to 3.5m in height, Clicwall high panels retain the ease and simplicity of the patented Uniclic click-joint and easy slide strip, delivering superfast fitting in commercial interiors.
Ideal for retail stores and hospitality interiors looking to deliver high-impact wall features, Clicwall is available in 137 different decors, as well as ClicwallPaint, ready for paint, fabric, wallpaper or a custom high-definition digital print.
From plain colours to a range of realistic wood and concrete designs, spaces can be instantly transformed with walls that deliver great looks and faultless commercial performance.
“Clicwall is made from 100 per cent circular wood, with not a single tree ever felled to directly produce the panels.”
Heleen Verhamme, product manager, Clicwall, says: “Where high walls could be covered by putting two panels on top of each other, Unilin panels now offers an easier and faster solution: a second standard dimension of 3500 mm height. The new size makes Clicwall even more versatile and ready to take on a wider range of commercial environments, including retail stores and hospitality venues. With the wall as a key visual space in these locations, Clicwall’s new high panels can lead to a cleaner look that really helps digital print graphics pop.”
Available in standard, fire-retardant and moisture-resistant MDF core specifications, Clicwall comes in a 10mm thickness and in panel sizes of 600 x 2785mm and 600 x 3500mm. Clicwall is made from 100 per cent circular wood, with not a single tree ever felled to directly produce the panels. The MDF boards are based on pre-consumer wood supplied by the timber industry and thinned wood from sustainable forestry and verge management, much of which is sourced locally to reduce pollution caused by transport and provide a solution for wood seen as waste by our suppliers.
With a huge array of wood, stone and concrete finishes that look and feel just like the original material, Clicwall uses the know-how developed through Evola decorative surfaces to bring a striking wall without compromising durability, everyday performance and easy maintenance.
UNILIN is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.
Carlton Tel Aviv reveals new public area interior scheme
Award-winning hotel Carlton Tel Aviv speaks to bleisure trend with infusion of new, contemporary art, stylish lightning schemes, and a circular beachfront lobby bar and beyond…
Carlton Tel Aviv, a The 268-key luxury property that was voted “Israel’s Leading Business Hotel 2019” by World Travel Awards, today officially reveals its newly designed lobby, corridors, business lounge, work spaces and lobby bar.
With the aim to offer guests an infusion of new and artistic decor, lighting schemes, public areas and workspaces, the hotel commissioned interior design studio Yaron Tal to manifest new and fresh renovations as Tel Aviv continues to excel as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for both leisure and business travel.
To make walking through the corridors a more meaningful experience, the new design exists of deep, warm and rich materials. Warm colors such as deep blue and copper are used, and rich materials such as copper and brass. Wallpaper printed with copper accents are to be found throughout the corridors. The unique and reflective, yet romantic lights, gives a sense of lightness in the historic Brutalist building.
The concept in the lobby was to make a lighter, less heavy feel to the lobby that is a blend between business and pleasure. Materials such as oak wood, rich fabrics, glass and brass, allow a more formal atmosphere to mix with young and sophisticated, and with the feeling of a luxury vacation.
In the old floor plan, the bar was somewhat hidden in the back of the lobby. By bringing the bar to the front of the lobby it becomes more inviting, and a central meeting point at the hotel. The design, with ceramic tiles of which both colour and shape complement the view, the bar is now a central area, offering a relaxing environment for breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails with a view over the Mediterranean Sea.
Hotel Designs’ recommended supplier Signbox explores how to make the most out of Pantone’s colour of the year, Living Coral…
Since the 1960s, Pantone has been influencing creatives who rely on its standardised colour reproduction system for design and print continuity, consistency and inspiration. Every year it unveils a new Pantone Colour of the Year to reflect a new season of trends and influences that will fire the imagination of product developers and purchasers, designers and retailers; in 2019 that task falls to the incoming Colour of the Year: Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral.
Described by Pantone as ‘sociable and spirited…the fusion of modern life…a lively presence’, Living Coral looks set to make a rapturous impact on the work of the signage industry’s more ingenious manufacturers – and that means energised workspaces, invigorated teams and an altogether happier working environment.
This isn’t just marketing parlance; according to Pantone, there’s a psychological connection to be had with Living Coral and it could just be the game changer that business owners are looking for if the wellbeing and productivity of their workforces need a lift.
The Pantone Colour Institute is the unit that forecasts global colour trends and advises companies on product and brand visual identity colour palettes to leverage the power of colour – so it knows a thing or two about emotional responses to colour.
“Living Coral’s flamboyant, lively and effervescent shade will mesmerise the mind and create an aura of confidence, energy and positivity.”
“Vibrant, yet mellow Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment’, explains Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute. “In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of Living Coral welcomes and encourages light-hearted activity. Symbolising our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.”
Translate that to a workplace or hotel environment and Living Coral’s flamboyant, lively and effervescent shade will mesmerise the mind and create an aura of confidence, energy and positivity. Consider the impact of Living Coral’s hue on branding, wayfinding, environmental graphics and glass manifestation, for example, and it’s easy to see how powerful an interior design scheme can be as a motivating force. It’s a colour that encourages communication too, so expect to see leadership spirits fired and employees galvanised.
The power of colour when it comes to branding
Never underestimate the power of colour to create an emotional relationship with a brand and its physical space. With the capacity to affect us physically, intellectually and emotionally, colour is a critical component when it comes to applying a brand identity and an interior workplace scheme that reflects it.
Take digital wallpaper. It can be a big, bold and exciting step that can transform your office vista. But, don’t just choose a show-stopping image to project across your walls and place your order; consider first how your colour palette will influence your team, your partners and clients – the decisions they make and activities they undertake can have a serious effect on your business. Set them up for success with a colour that suits your environment, your market sector and the mood you want to induce.
A perfect colour for hotel and leisure environments
Take Living Coral. It’s comprised of red, yellow and orange – colours that can increase workplace productivity and inspire workforce wellbeing. What’s not to love?
Red is a physical colour that represents courage, strength and excitement – a great colour to use in work areas that demand physical exertion.
Yellow is an emotional colour that represents creativity, friendliness, optimism and confidence. Incorporate it when you want to stimulate positivity, creativity and happiness.
Orange blends the physicality of red with the emotion of yellow to create a sense of comfort and nurturing.
So, when you’ve assessed the impact that colours like Living Coral can have on the human body and its emotional relationships with space, you can apply it to the most appropriate areas. Living Coral can inspire transformative change in areas where creativity or physical activity needs an added stimulus – think design studios and gyms, for example. Since it also stimulates socialisation, it could work wonders in hotel and leisure environments – places where you want your clients to linger for longer and spend more perhaps.
If you want more advice on how to use colour to energise, inspire or motivate, talk to Signbox about impactful environmental graphic solutions on +44 (0)1784 438688, click here for our electronic brochure or send us your requirements. If you’d like guidance on what architectural signs or graphics will help your organisation perform better, an on-site consultation will give you the answers you seek.
Signbox is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.
The newly redevelopment of the hotel & spa unveils contemporary design that blends Scandinavian style and British countryside sophistication…
Nestled in the heart of the Lake District’s beautiful Borrowdale valley, Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa is excited to share the luxury design details of its multi-million-pound redevelopment, including a new state-of-the-art spa and 18 new Spa Suites. The 87-bedroom hotel received a full ground-floor refurbishment in 2017 and in April 2018 opened a pan-Asian restaurant, Mizu. The final phase of the redevelopment is now complete, opening a new destination spa and accompanying spa suites.
The new Falls Spa has been designed with guests’ comfort and relaxation in mind, featuring Scandi-inspired décor, bespoke designer furniture, luxury bathrooms and cosy seating areas. The purpose, style and mood of the spa according to each room’s function have been carefully considered. Furnishings and light fixtures by Tom Dixon and Moooi help blend streamlined Scandinavian style and British countryside sophistication.
The overall ambience of the spa’s Champagne Bar is a moody, Scandinavian revival, reflected through its elegant light fixtures exclusively designed by George Cawardine for Anglepoise, Chen Bikovski for Compagnie and Terence Woodgate. The upholstery is all bespoke leather and fabric sourced from Skai, Warwick, Osborne and Little and Casamance. Soft furnishings have been meticulously chosen to entice spa goers to truly relax into their depths, leaving behind the stresses and strains of everyday life.
“The Falls Spa is a natural haven where water inspires the fluidity of the spa design.”
Guests are welcomed into the spa reception by stylish upholstered furniture, designed by Tom Dixon and Graham and Green, boasting custom-made velvets, tweeds and dobby weaves, showcasing the best of elegant British design. Guests feel the harnessing power of nature as the earthy hues of the spa bring the outside in. The Khaki/Aqua/Chartreuse colour pallete is intended to compliment the environment whilst remaining fresh and contemporary.
The spa’s Relaxation Room bridges the gap between interior and exterior through its floor to ceiling windows that fill the room with natural light and offer guests breath-taking panoramic views over the stunning fells, forest and lake. This room is designed to be more soothing and restful, with Anthracite panelling, Faux Shagreen ceiling and grey carpet, lifted by gleaming copper wall lights and plush loungers. The Relaxation Room loungers are bespoke for the spa, upholstered in Osborne and Little Velvet, complete with a custom-made cushion in reversible fabric from Zinc Textiles
The treatment rooms complete the Scandinavian revival and Nordic retreat feel. Taking great inspiration from the beautiful surrounding nature and the hotel’s gorgeous grounds, the outdoors seamlessly blend with the spa interior. The Falls Spa is a natural haven where water inspires the fluidity of the spa design and treatments; from the soothing rhythm of the Lodore Falls waterfall, to the reflective tranquillity of Derwentwater. The walls and floor have a modern, functional take on lime washed wooden planks and Faux Shagreen ceiling to associate with the Relaxation Room. The treatment rooms feature ambient lights designed by renowned designer Moooi, with adjustable settings to tailor the mood of the room with the treatment being offered.
After a dip in the infinity-edge vitality pool guests can make their way to their luxurious room, choosing from 18 brand new spa suites, allowing guests to maximise their time at The Falls Spa. Guests booking into the new Spa Suites enjoy complimentary access to The Falls Spa, while all other hotel guests can visit the spa for £25 for a four-hour experience. Most suites boast spacious balconies and panoramic views of the lake or surrounding forests. All suites are Scandi-inspired in their aesthetic and are fitted with modern, high quality amenities meaning that guests can settle down in a comfortable chair while reading a book or watching the large flat screen TV. When it comes to bed time, guests can look forward to a restful night’s sleep between crisp white sheets on luxurious Sealy beds.
Room schemes are paired back, with textured wallpaper, whitewashed oak and teak cladding, while pops of colour in fabrics, carpets and abstract prints sourced from King & McGaw bring the rooms to life. Several of the bespoke upholstered sofas are fun redesigns of chaise lounge sofas, paired with cushions from Romo, Osborne and Little and Rubelli.
This historic property is filled with understated yet luxurious touches such as muted tones of leather, tweed and rich velvets and a strong focus on modern design and high quality finish. Designed through a contemporary lens, these new design details blend seamlessly with the property’s traditional elements and offer guests an unforgettable stay in a luxurious and stylish hotel.
The hotel’s F&B areas in the Cotswolds was designed by Central Design Studio…
Inspired by the colours and textures of the nearby Cotswolds countryside with a contemporary spin, Hilton Puckrup Hall has completed an F&B renovation that was led by Ian Haigh, creative director Ian Haigh of Central Design Studio.
The aim of the renovation was to create a restaurant and bar with a modern, British feel.
Designed to resemble more of a country house rather than a hotel public area, the restaurant is a celebration of local British produce, without being old-fashioned or stuffy. Modern paintings adorn the walls, and quality crafted furniture and upholstery add to the sense of place.
The bar has an informal character whatever the time of day. Dark woods and a deep indigo colour scheme complement tactile British fabrics and finishes, again with colourful and curated artwork playing a part.
Many of the furniture and lighting pieces were designed bespoke by Central Design Studio, in close collaboration with various artisans and manufacturers in the UK and Ireland. In addition, the artwork was curated and commissioned especially for the project, including the large-format paintings that hang in the restaurant, using up-and-coming illustrators and artists.
“The challenge with this project was to make the space feel contemporary, without compromising on that cosy and comfortable atmosphere,” said Haigh. “The artwork in particular really helps this, as it brings a subtle energy and freshness to the design.”
Accents of lightly antiqued brass add to the sense of familiarity and warmth, and run throughout the whole design. This is highlighted by two large, hand-crafted brass screens made in South East London. Designed by Central Design Studio in collaboration with Creative Metalwork, they are a real feature and talking point and cleverly used to divide up the restaurant space.
High-quality Axminster carpet was chosen for the floor finish in both the restaurant and the bar, again to a tailored design developed by Central Design Studio and Brintons. The pantry on the other hand, used primarily for breakfast service, has more of a country kitchen aesthetic to it with a limestone-effect floor and lighter colour scheme.
