Located in an iconic Victorian building smack bang in Manchester’s student quarter, the Deaf Institute is a day and night offering of breakfast through to late-night cocktails and an upstairs auditorium for events. My brief for the refit was to opt for sustainable and reused materials to create a venue that felt worn and familiar.

We started by sanding all the wooden floors and deploying reclaimed wood – including old door fronts – around the bar area. Colours were kept muted and all decorative objects were second-hand, ranging from taxidermy to a vintage dovecote. Patinas and distressed finishes were embraced throughout, so everything spoke to a life already lived, whilst working nicely against the vintage chairs, tables, banquettes, copper pipes and industrial light fittings.

Our only real brand new indulgence was the wallpaper – designed by world-renowned wallpaper specialists Timorous Beastie. The ornate patterns brought all those different spaces and visual elements together whilst adding a touch of humour, and got a big reaction from the clientele.

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