A two-storey bar, restaurant and nightclub in Edinburgh’s Chambers Street has been transformed following an overhaul by architecture and interior design experts KBA.

The £500,000 refurbishment has created a series of complementary and contrasting spaces within the building, formerly known as Beluga, moving away from its minimalist style to embrace a more natural and elegant feel through the use of stripping back the original design and introducing natural light, views out, texture, natural materials, and lighting.

Gail Thomson, KBA’s Design Director, commented: “After working with Revolution in Swansea, it’s great to be working with them in our home town. The original spaces felt quite claustrophobic and isolated so it has been interesting to be able to create a series of spaces that relate to each other and to be in a position to introduce natural light allowing the spaces to breathe a little more easily”

The ground floor restaurant/brasserie has been extended by reconfiguring the stair towards the entrance, and introducing a new floor structure creating an area for lounge seating. This area has a worn retro feel with texture and warmth introduced with natural rough cut timber and parquet timber flooring throughout, in conjunction with warm contemporary fabrics. This theme is anchored with a stunning timber-top bar featuring an illuminated handmade decorative embossed concrete front.

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The concept of natural light is embraced and clear glazing replaces the stained frosted glass at the rear of the building, drawing the view outwards allowing the space to breathe enhancing the sensations of space and light. Strategically placed mirrors inside serve to further increase the light and open the space, while boldly patterned wall paper on the walls create a contemporary and dynamic twist.

The furniture is a varied eclectic mix of 70’s retro with some seating from the same family, and others contrasting. The tiling on some of the table tops are original and extremely vibrant. The spaces remain connected through the introduction of a shiny tin ceiling treatment which reflects much of the colour and light from around the room.

Contrasting with the ground floor to clearly define it as a late evening venue, the lower-ground floor embraces an elegant semblance using rich textures. Colours and materials are rich, and a sense of exclusivity in the style of a traditional study or gentleman’s club is achieved through classic wall panelling, Chesterfield-style upholstery to the fixed seating, linoleum inserts’ to the timber tables, a warm coloured monolithic marble bar and an open living flame fire.

A new secret area with back bar service is created behind the bar, with slots through the back bar structure offering glimpses of movement, and the idea of motion and reflection is picked up with wall-mounted mirror balls and up-lighting to the original glass barrel vault roof structure. Concealed lighting in the ceiling coffers offer a subtle glow to the seating areas, while mirrored walls break up the timber panelling allowing shattered reflections and views around the main space. The space has a seductive and warm quality softly encouraging customers to relax and enjoy themselves.

(CD)