Formerly named the Beehive, MGI were asked to reimagine this historic traditional pub situated in the popular Liverpool One area to ensure its continued survival for years to come. The brief was to create a premium high end pub offer with a quality range of beers and an extensive cocktail list. The site was imagined to act as a hybrid offering coffee and patisserie to shoppers through the day before transforming into a vibrant night time venue in the evenings.
The name change was inspired in homage to the Futurist on lime street which had been demolished in recent years and nods to that building’s art deco design and life as a cinema from the 1930’s through to the 1980’s and is reflected in the choices of bric a brac, light fittings and tin tiling utilised throughout the interior. MGI proposed a design that retained and enhanced a number of the original features of the original building such as the bar servery and backfitting, paired with new features and finishes designed and specified to a high level to create a luxurious feel to the site.
The use of Victorian wall tiling, timber panelling and velvet upholstery and drapes, along with the liberal application of black and polished brass creates an inviting yet intimate space that welcomes its guests in a warm embrace. Highly decorative booths were formed to the rear of the site to offer areas of privacy or seclusion to small parties and are expected to be one of the most popular areas of the pub.
Due to the site's long and narrow footprint, natural lighting was previously an issue to the pub. To combat this MGI proposed the strip out and replacement of the entire ground floor shopfront with new full height glazed bi-fold doors allowing light to flood into the front of the site. Natural light was further brought into the rear of the site through the reinstatement of a previously covered over glazed roof. Despite the use of dark finishes throughout, the site now feels light and airy through the day.
Further structural works were proposed in order to maximise available trade space including opening up beneath the existing staircase and completely stripping out the existing catering kitchen and WC facilities at the rear.
About MGI Partners
MGI Partners are an award-winning Interior design practice with decades of experience within the hospitality and commercial sectors. Our talented team have honed their skills and specialist industry knowledge to provide beautiful, commercially viable design solutions that meet our client`s specific brief and can be delivered no matter how challenging the project or budget spend is.
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Art is at the heart of Rachel McLane Ltd's interior designs for the new high quality Eden Valley farm barns conversion of the Flakebridge Estate.
The major interior design project has an array of traditionally constructed stone and slate barns, cattle byers and dairy into a stone hospitality centre and holiday cottages which are now open at Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria.
The main old barn has been transformed into the hospitality centre for the new facility with a drawing-room, bar and breakfast room, shooting/gun room and a large commercial kitchen. An adjacent barn houses a billiards room and wine cellar. Seven stone cottages have also been converted from the former farm buildings and come with their own bespoke kitchens and en-suite bathrooms.
Rachel McLane Ltd worked from the architect’s planning drawings at an early stage to incorporate their vision into the internal detailing including all the internal finishes, electrical and lighting positions and spatial arrangements. Rachel McLane Ltd sourced all fixtures and fittings, including bespoke joinery, lighting and furniture.
As part of the project Pickering-based Rachel McLane Ltd's award-winning design team have created a unique and original look for the development after commissioning an abstract acrylic/multi-media painting by fine artist and founder of Red Dog Glass Design, Sally Coulden.
"I'm a big admirer of Sally and her art and have wanted to work with her for some time now," said Rachel, whose business has won and been finalist in numerous awards including the Northern Design Awards Best Hotel Interior Design 2020 for their work on the Bike & Boot Hotel in Scarborough.
"The farming history, stone and timber structure of the barn and the cottages with the addition of Sally’s artwork gave us the perfect opportunity to create a unique and beautiful design which compliments the surrounding landscape of the farm.
She visited the estate as part of the preparation and to fuel her inspiration for the original painting. Having found a great view which she felt captured the essence of the landscape she spent several days sketching, taking photographs and getting to know the environment before heading back to her studio to start work on the painting." - Rachel McLane
The end result is a 2m x 1.5m abstract painting on canvas, which now hangs in the main barn and reflects the rural, family nature of the estate, with found objects from the surrounding fields, including foliage and pheasant feathers.
"It was a leap of faith on Rachel's part as we hadn’t worked together before but it has been such a brilliant partnership throughout the process. In addition to the original painting, Red Dog Glass Design has created a contemporary art glass panel which sits behind the aga in the main breakfast room, the design for which has taken specific features from the original painting." - Sally Coulden
Rachel McLane Ltd was part of a project team led by LHL Group, architects, quantity and building surveyors, and GEM Construction, both of York.
LHL Group's managing director Richard Hampshire said, "We were able to incorporate Rachel into the full design team at an early stage, so this has made the integration of architectural and interior design so much easier and has avoided any design clashes at the outset, and ensured that we were all working to budgetary constraints.
Working in old buildings is always challenging but every project meeting has been well spirited and any problems were countered with solutions in the quest to meet the brief and it is clear to me that we had a team all working to one goal. The unique Rachel McLane Ltd flare shines through."
Giles Bilton, of Morgan Bilton, who acted as land and estate agent on the property for the owner Flakebridge Estate said, "This was a lovely courtyard of old farm buildings which were once part of a tenanted farm within the Flakebrigde Estate. We were able to purchase the land and old farm buildings in the knowledge that the tenant farmer was soon to retire.
The seven cottages of this first phase sleep 24 people, with five two-bedroomed and two one-bedroomed cottages, but the eventual plan is to sleep at least 34 including a new as-yet-to-be built five-bedroom home. Low Barn is available to book as individual cottages, or the entire complex."
About Rachel McLane Limited
Rachel McLane Ltd offers a full design service that interprets a client’s brief and delivers their project on time, on budget, and as envisaged. Rachel’s attitude is not to be overly precious; interior design is not about her forcing her ideas onto clients and their customers. Instead, it is about creating something that works for them and enhances their business. It is about producing the best solution they can for the budget – and that does not mean holding back on quality or design. Good design does not have to cost the earth.
Built on a legacy of sporting excellence, Anthology Stratford Mill offers luxury canalside accommodation within a thriving new East London community just a stone’s throw from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
When property developer Lifestory Group was looking to construct a complex of apartments in this vibrant location, the aim was to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing scheme that reflected the locality’s industrial past and provided desirable accommodation that would support health and wellbeing long into the future.
The contemporary exterior is complemented by a comfortable interior that offers a clean minimalist canvas on which residents can express their individuality. A soft natural colour scheme and wood design flooring are balanced by bolder industrial style elements for a relaxing atmosphere that provides a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of life.
Bill Haworth, development manager at Lifestory Group, explained: “Externally the engineered stone and aluminium window frames fits in well with the style of other developments around the Olympic Park. Internally we wanted to provide generous living spaces with plenty of light that would connect residents to the local environment and a neutral design that they can put their own stamp on.”
While floor to ceiling windows let natural light flood in and offer panoramic views, a neutral colour scheme creates a gently soothing space. Dark aluminium internal window frames, mid-grey kitchen units and black metallic elements provide a bolder contrast to the softer finishes.
Across the open plan kitchen and living rooms, the light tones and straight grain detailing of Texas White Ash from the Korlok range introduces a fresh biophilic element and a crisp, clean finish.
Bill said: “The Texas White Ash flooring effectively balances the darker features around the home, giving our customers a stylish look and durable hygienic surface. Being a multi-level residential development, the rigid core format conveniently provides good acoustic benefits without the need for further subfloor layers. The click-locking mechanism also meant that installation was quick and simple which helped us meet project deadlines.
“When choosing suppliers we aim to use those with a proven low environmental impact. The Korlok range has an Environmental Product Declaration which is one of the frequent qualifications we look for to achieve our targets.”
The Korlok range presents a wide selection of wood and stone designs with a rigid core construction and pre-attached acoustic foam backing for effective sound reduction without the need for a separate underlay. This reduces the transmission of ambient noise to the floor below by 21dB. Suitable for installation over uneven subfloors or floors that are still drying out, its 5G click-locking structure means each plank simply clicks into place. The floor can be completed with a colour matched scotia or skirting board for a professional finish.
For increased flexibility over multiple subfloor conditions, the Van Gogh multi-format collection offers a range of rigid core wood designs in both full sized and smaller herringbone planks as well as matching gluedown planks, providing the option to continue a single flooring design throughout any interior.
Increasingly, sustainability is an important factor when it comes to specifying for new developments. Produced to ISO 14001 Environmental Standard and ISO 9001 Quality Standard, Karndean flooring not only offers the stunning aesthetics of natural materials and the practical benefits of luxury vinyl but also offers a healthy product that improves indoor environmental quality and contributes to a greener built environment.
Product used: Korlok Texas White Ash RKP8105
About Karndean
We travel the world in our quest to bring you exceptional floors that inspire and delight. From the ancient forests of Europe, to the remote Australian outback and beyond, we seek out expressive and intriguing forms in the natural world to influence our unique floor designs. By combining these original features with cutting edge design, we create simply beautiful floors that you’ll love for a lifetime.
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With subtle visual cues to divide different spaces using a combination of warm-toned and geometric floor designs, Karndean Design flooring served up the perfect flooring choice as part of the new-look Aberdeen Altens Hotel based in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
Located just outside the city, the owners of this popular hotel appointed architect and design consultants ICA to redesign the restaurant and bar areas, creating a high-quality dining experience for guests staying in its 216 bedrooms and its many daily visitors.
The brief was to design a flexible open-plan catering and social space which would reflect the stunning landscape and history of the locality, appealing to discerning hotel guests as well as local residents and businesses.
Rebranded as Coast and Keg, the hotel’s three restaurants and bar have been combined into a new open-plan space, increasing capacity and creating an adaptable entertaining space with both formal and casual dining options.
Fleur Carson, commercial sales director of Karndean Designflooring, said; “Using different flooring designs across the large open plan area has created zones which can be used for a variety of functions such as dining, socialising or working.
“In accordance with current social distancing requirements, the design offers the flexibility to implement temporary one-way navigation and for furniture and buffet services to be adjusted as required, enabling the hotel to guarantee a safe and high-quality service.”
Karndean’s Lime Washed Oak was selected across the seating areas to introduce a natural element with interesting textures and a contemporary sun-bleached driftwood appearance.
Fleur added: “Using both straight lay and herringbone laying patterns, the flooring has been laid in zones to create an intimate and welcoming atmosphere.”
In the bar area, the serving zone is highlighted with the traditional geometric pattern of Lansdown from Karndean’s Heritage Collection to help guests understand they are in a different space. This adaptation of a classic monochrome tiled floor, in Laurel colourway, adds a sense of fun and balances the stark industrial features, connecting the contemporary design to the nearby historic city.
Lauren Hughes-Glass, associate at ICA, said: “Coast and Keg was designed with specific customers in mind, from locals to the various hotel guests. The customer had to feel relaxed and at home with careful definition of spaces to create some intimate private space alongside places for larger groups to eat, rest, drink and have fun.”
The new design combines traditional Scottish features with contemporary design for a welcoming residential ambience. The sociable open plan layout features an industrial-inspired décor and cool grey colour palette paired with black metallic elements such as shelving, lighting and seating while modern technology such as a self-order app offers the convenience of digital service.
Lauren explained: “The calming colour tones and natural finishes helped to generate a classic contemporary and relaxed atmosphere.”
Kris Manship, general manager of The Aberdeen Altens Hotel, said: “Our new, multi-faceted dining environment really reflects the diversity of our guests and represents a major advancement in our food and beverage offering. We’re delighted with the final result, which perfectly suits business and family visitors as well as groups of friends.”
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C.P. Hart delivered superior quality bathroom schemes for London’s iconic Grade II listed Centre Point, formerly a 1960s office building. Located on Tottenham Court Road, this landmark 34-storey tower development has been transformed into 82 high-end residential apartments.
The Specification
C.P. Hart worked in close partnership with Conran & Partners as they managed the planning and completion of the shell and core, interior design and complete apartment fit-outs. Drawing from its long-standing relationships with Europe’s most highly regarded bathroom manufacturers, C.P. Hart supplied vanity units and sanitaryware from Dornbracht, paired with the brand’s Lulu brassware range in Platinum Matt finish; WCs from Duravit and Vola; freestanding baths from Bette; and Bleu de Savoie marble stone walls.
The team also supplied a comprehensive range of products for the building’s accessible rooms, providing specialist advice to ensure the highest possible level of comfort for any user.
The Result
One of the most exciting developments in London, Centre Point has breathed life into Tottenham Court Road. The individualistic and cleverly designed bathrooms complement the bold and imaginative residential scheme that Centre Point has become. All parties involved have been delighted by the bathroom product selection, certainly a factor in attracting instant attention from potential new owners.
Architecture and interior design practice, SHH has been engaged by The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) to deliver design enhancements to an array of Food & Drink facilities around the Grounds, all part of cementing Wimbledon’s reputation as the world’s leading premier sporting event and ensuring the highest quality visitor experience.
SHH was initially engaged in 2013, and since then has embarked on a redesign masterplan, which encompasses the development and refurbishment of several hospitality facilities catering to different groups of guests attending The Championships.
For every project, the brief was to complement the AELTC’s design ethos of “tennis in an English Garden”. The colour palette clearly reflects this with green, purple and pink shades offset by oak features. The refurbishment effort aims at bringing the outside in, using indoor planting and floor to ceiling windows, flooding each area with ample natural light and affording uninterrupted views over the landscaped areas. Enhanced wayfinding signage delivered clear communication for those visitors using the facilities.
SHH redesigned sites include the Champions’ Room, the Media Restaurant and a suite of cafes, brasseries and restaurants spanning a variety of different tier dining options to suit the vastly diverse visitors at The Championships.
SHH was initially approached by catering company Compass to carry out upgrades to the Media Restaurant. The restaurant is situated beneath Courts 14 and 15 – a large basement space wrapped around three sides of a light well – which provides catering to hundreds of accredited press and broadcast journalists during The Championships. Operating as a 24-hour facility, it is zoned into three areas providing a deli, pizza bar and coffee offer on an assisted service-type model. All aspects of the design were particularly important given the international nature of the user group and their experiences at competitor venues around the world. The space was designed in a Scandinavian and minimalist theme throughout.
The Champions’ Room is an exclusive hospitality venue for Centre Court debenture holders at The Championships providing an elegant and relaxing space for fine dining or afternoon tea. Working with the AELTC , SHH designed and delivered fresh, elegant interiors starting from the entry point through to the design of the tableware, creating a complete portrait for the restaurant in finite detail. This was reflected in the refinement of the space, with exquisite details and subtle use of colour to reflect Wimbledon’s ethos and the prestigious event it celebrates.
SHH’s brief was to combine two offerings within the same large space: a walk-in brasserie and a more formal white-tablecloth sit down area. The new area needed to guarantee flexibility between the two catering spaces facilitating pre-booked volume and walk-in demand. The brasserie affords external views across the courts while the main courtside restaurant features adjustable sliding screens and walls to allow the space to double up as a conferencing and training facility, providing useful space for AELTC Members and staff throughout the year, not just during The Championships.
The Walled Garden was completed ahead of The Championships 2018. The area consists of several different catering offerings: the Walled Garden Food Market, Aorangi Bar, Aorangi Larder and Aorangi Café. SHH’s design approach was to relate to the architecture of No.1 Court, by establishing a material connection with the courtyard and the new catering spaces. The colour palette mixes different shades of green, grey and oak. Servery areas have been upgraded with a variety of glazed green terracotta counter fronts and oak panelled counter fronts. Floor to ceiling oak-panelled screens with plants help delineate areas by creating impact to this vast open-air catering space.
The Terrace is the most recent project undertaken by SHH for the AELTC and was completed the summer of 2020. The Terrace is one of the dining facilities that caters for Centre Court debenture holders during The Championships, but is also used year-round for larger events, such as drinks receptions, in conjunction with The Courtside. The main focus of the refurbishment was to improve the servery area, which could get congested at peak times. SHH’s redesign significantly enhanced the flow around the area by increasing the space behind counters for food preparation and facilitating the quick and easy movement of visitors. The Terrace is a long and relatively narrow room, which resulted in visitors tending to linger near the entry during drink receptions without using the full capacity of the space. To address the issue, SHH has introduced moveable oak panelled waist height screens to help delineate areas where required and improve flow. The original look and feel of the space, including the floor, walls and furniture, was dated and required a revamp to reflect the style of the rest of the facilities around the Grounds. Ribbed oak fronted counter screens, oak slats on the ceiling, and shades of green, grey and purple reinstated the “Wimbledon” colour palette and style. Floor to ceiling sliding window doors around the perimeter of The Terrace guarantees ample natural light, while the furniture remains very practical with light, easily movable tables and chairs.
About the Author
Created in 1991 by David Spence, Graham Harris and Neil Hogan, SHH is an award winning Chartered Architectural and Interior Design practice working globally and based in London. SHH works across sectors – Residential, Hospitality and Commercial, and across disciplines – Architecture, Interior Design and FF&E. Offering a multifaceted bespoke design service, focussed around achieving the best possible end result.
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