Project Team

interior design: Alexander&Co (Jeremy Bull, Bianca Isgro)
builder: Calida
wall rendering: Diaorama

Suppliers

furniture: Prototype, Thonet, Cote Maison, Chesterfield House, Lincoln Brooks, Evostyle, Mulbury Furniture
lighting: Laura Kincade

A new cocktail bar has opened its doors above Durty Nelly’s, take the stairs and enter a room filled with old-world charm and glamour: ornate chandeliers, vintage mirrors and large leather chesterfield lounges. The soft lighting reveals a beautiful custom-built bar and quirky accessories including an old typewriter, antique soda syphons and historic quotes hand-written on the walls.

Designers Jeremy Bull and Bianca Isgro say that one of the most unique features of the site is the specialty warm apricot render on the walls.

They wanted to create an ideal place that people could go to bask in the sun with friends on the balcony in summer while enjoying one of the venue’s signature cocktails. And equally a place to settle in on one of the leather banquettes inside with a bottle of red.

The main contractors were the builders Calida and Eamon O’Kane at Diaorama did all the specialty render on the walls and ceiling

The designers had to work around a heritage pressed tin ceiling that they could not touch which had its challenges. Also, the shape of the building is very odd with no perpendicular walls, so sizing in the main banquette to fit this space was difficult for the joiners.

The space was programmed according to how a patron would experience the space. The hero is the bar and the performance of the cocktail flairer. So as much as possible, from every part of the space the patron is able to enjoy and see this spectacle.

All material choices were selected based on the story of the character of the space. It’s a turn of the century ‘old world’ bar, so aged looking leather, brass, black steel and deep walnut timbers are plentiful.

Again, like the material selection it all came back to the character of the space. It was important to balance the feminine apricot pink render on the walls, which is quite prominent with masculine browns and deep indigo blues in the chesterfield and ceiling renders.

The render that was achieved on the walls is really unique and unexpected. The way the chandelier lights reflect off this is beautiful and inviting.

The existing lighting was retained – just cleaned up and reinstated. Brass picture lights from Laura Kincade were added.

One of the nice surprises was when the designers sanded back the existing red timber floors, to reveal a stunning blackbutt, which was stained to give it new life.

A favourite design solution is the centre bench which is high seating on one side, and dining seating on the other. It was an interesting way to resolve two spaces divided by two stairs.

design_focus

Le Grande Chair

Old leather with bent steel legs minimalism and premium quality are at the very heart of this original line, ensuring stylish and sturdy furniture.

Prototype

chair