The Bourbon

PKD has successfully reinvented the iconic Bourbon & Beefsteak, creating a contemporary yet timeless feel. The new space cultivates a mixture of Chicago and New York inspired references, with the music edge of New Orleans.

Use of classic influences means the Bourbon feels like it has always been there, a centrepiece of the historic Kings Cross scene. Refined textures mix with lush furnishings to create a sumptuous and enlivening experience.

This new design incorporates a breathtaking, state of the art, fully outdoor 30-machine gaming room.

Category Hotels, Pubs & Gaming

Budget $4.5m Fit-out $5.0m Base (PKD)

Year 2013

Size GD 1,300m2

Total 5,200m2

The Union Hotel

The Union Hotel gaming room is a luxurious and timeless design. Inspired by the buildings Art Deco exterior, the space features curved geometry, rich colours, and a decadant brass ceiling light sculpture.

The gaming room design compliments the rest of the venue, creating a harmonious transition between spaces. Specialty lighting design further enhances the gaming room experience.

Year 2021

Size 125m2

El Toro Hotel Gaming Room

The El Toro Hotel is located in Sydney’s Liverpool Area. The Hotel already had a strong Gaming revenue but Parras Hospitality wanted to maximize this and asked Paul Kelly Design to be involved.

The Gaming Room has a dominant ceiling design that maximizes the available ceiling height. The ceiling design provides the perfect balance between form and colour with the perception and size of the room available for patron comfort and safety. The selection of materials and geometry match perfectly with the gaming layout and machine selection, whilst providing a timeless response to gaming design.

Category Gaming Budget $1.8m

Year 2022

Size 250 m2

Entrance Hotel Gaming Room

The Entrance Hotel is located on the NSW Central Coast and is owned and operated by the Thomas Family. The scope for this project was to create a stand alone gaming venue adjacent to the hotel but with direct access to the car park and non hotel guests.

The Exterior of the venue is intended to Architecturally pick up on the coastal design from the 60’s and 70’s utilising single story references. The exterior palette has links to the hotels coastal location and the sandy natural tones in the waterways in close proximity.

The Interior of the space touches on the Gold Coast and the exciting colours and experience of a beach holiday. The experience is definitely Casino inspired with bold expressions of colour and materials, backed up with vibrant lighting and sub-tropical landscaping.

Category Gaming

Budget $1.8m

Year 2022

Size 350m2

Rose Bay Hotel Gaming Room

Classic Australian Hotel design is paired with the latest developments in boutique gaming experience at the updated Rose Bay Hotel.

Elegant, traditional timber features have been enhanced through a comprehensive design process. The design has drawn inspiration from the existing building architecture, emphasising and embellishing existing features such as arch windows, feature curves, and repetition of key elements. Contemporary approaches to room lighting and attention to details such as custom carpets have created a gaming experience that is modern yet timeless.

Category Gaming

Budget $1m

Year 2018

Size 115 m2

Mayfair Lounge

Opulent and exclusive, Mayfair Lounge by Paul Kelly Design delivers an intimate performance and hospitality space in Sydney’s Darlinghurst. Entering through the Kirketon Hotel, Mayfair Lounge’s rich finishes and sophisticated detailing transports guests into a theatrical showcase of live performance, premium cocktails and cuisine.

Tasked with creating a warm and inviting interior with a feeling of exclusivity, Paul Kelly Design sought to create moments of depth and intrigue. The customer is designed to sit in the shadows, while the performance, food and drinks are played out in front of them – a dynamic that is crafted through deep contrasts in materials and lighting.

Category Bars

Budget $1.2m

Year 2023

Size 120m2

Jade Rabbit

When first encountering Jade Rabbit at The Star, the viewer is struck by the dramatic use of light and materials. Light emanates from the backlit sculpted bar, and plays through the complex ceiling artwork, created from hundreds of crystal clear acrylic rods.

PKD has designed the surfaces to explore reflection, from the spectacular illuminated display feature behind the bar, the mirrored columns and perforated panels, through to the dramatic use vertical fish tanks. The unique carpet, inspired by the way light hits water, anchors the design, while the custom furniture softens the surfaces, creating an inviting and stylish space to experience the excitement of The Star.

Category Bars

Budget $2.2m

Year 2019

Size 180 m2

Harbord Diggers

Paul Kelly Design developed the Harbord Diggers project with the Mounties Group to become a key entertainment destination and part of the larger overall residential site development. The project was to relocate the heart of the Harbord Diggers development into the new Entertainment Precinct, also designed and planned by Paul Kelly Design. The process had several stakeholders and a large consultant team, requiring a detailed team approach resulting in one of the most awarded club developments in Australia.

Category Clubs

Budget $20m

Year 2019

Size 3500m2

St Johns Park Bowling Club

PKD worked with the owners of St Johns Park Bowling Club to invigorate and diversify this Western Sydney entertainment destination. A general seating area provides a gathering point at the heart of the venue, with a diverse mix of food and beverage facilities for customers to choose from.

A retro-inspired design offers both comfort and functionality, integrating a number of development initiatives to create a complete club picture for Western Sydney customers.

Category Clubs

Budget $11.5m Build/Fit-out

Year 2016

Size 220 0m2

Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL

Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club is now a destination of choice in Sydney’s Inner West, a place known for its variety of dining and entertainment experiences. PKD has worked with the venue owners to continually diversify and extend its offerings, attracting a new class of patronage, while maintaining a quality offering for its loyal community.

PKD’s ambitious redesign relaunched the venue as a landmark destination, positioned to attract the premium, discerning patron. Bold floor and ceiling concepts entice patrons into an elaborate gaming experience. An all day dining offer is featured within a vast yet classic space, awash with natural light and ambient elegance.

Category Clubs

Budget $3.8m

Year 2018

Size 700m

Walker Parramatta Square

Paul Kelly Design worked closely with Walker Corporation to create the retail Precinct for the new Parramatta Square Development. The project involved the master planning, retail design and co-ordination of all retail areas of the development. The project which is to be phased in opening until 2024 will see the realisation of a total spend in excess of $2.4B.

The concept Paul Kelly Design used for the project was based on the local Hills district precinct, with a direct connection to the Landscape which forms a large part of the physical location. The overall concept was based on the materials and colours found within the eucalyptus tree, with their soft pink hues all the way to the warm tones of the local sandstone which adorns local experiences for all Parramatta city residents.

A large component of the development is the creation of the outdoor dining areas, with architectural structures and retail design management by Paul Kelly Design, placing some of Sydneys top food and beverage operators in close proximity to the main Parramatta Square area. The integration of the key elements of the local landscape being ‘prospect and refuge’ and ‘Refuge’ have made these external spaces not just an extension of the internal retail but a standout retail experience.

Category Retail Commercial Budget $15m

Year 2020

Client Walker

580 George Street

580 George Street is located in the centre of one of Sydney’s most dynamic commercial landscapes. With 33 floors of commercial office space, three levels of retail, concierge services and ‘best in class’ end of trip facilities, the main lobby space is a very busy thorough fare. Paul Kelly Design were commissioned to reimagine the main lobby space from a transition space to a destination in and of itself, while bringing the 580 George Street brand to life.

To achieve this elevated customer experience Paul Kelly Design has created three visually connected zones; the Business Lounge, Central Concierge Area and Copper Espresso Café. The integrated mixed use including food and beverage, individual work hubs, small catch ups tables, semiprivate larger meetings spaces and building services touch point, all combine to creates a multi-dimensional space that allows customer to meet colleagues and or relax for a moment or two.

Category Retail Commercial Budget $1.8m

Year 2019

Client GPT

Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches

Inspired by retro American diners and Australia’s suburban milk bars, Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches is a Quick Service Retail Brand developed by Paul Kelly Design that plays on old world charm and nostalgia.

Nickel metal finishes, formica wall paneling and lightbox menu boxes are a nod to the diner of old. Authentic counter stools, diner style chairs and tables, and bespoke banquette joinery further adds to the familiarity and charm of the venue. Historical photographs of diners and milk bars line the walls, pieces of memorabilia that inspired the venue design.

Harvey’s focuses on delivering quality, simple and unforgettable sandwiches. The venue design aims to compliment that offer by creating an experience of authenticity, nostalgia and familiarity for the diner.

Category Quick Service Retail Budget $1.2m

Year 2021

Size 230m

Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co.

Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co is the new creation of PKD, launching its first venue in Noosa, QLD in 2014, and now operating in 20 locations nationally. The concept is a contemporary take on the nostalgic ‘burger joint’ offering, serving the juiciest and most mouth-watering burgers around. The frozen custard and signature ‘Concretes’ set this throw-back apart from the rest.

The interiors concept is a fusion of 1950s optimism with the rustic appeal of a weather-beaten beach shack, relaxed in its simplicity with plenty of quirky twists. This successful, casual dining formula has seen Betty’s Burgers and Concrete Co. hit the streets right across the country.

Category Quick Service Retail

Budget $1.2m Fit-out $500k Base (PKD)

Year 2014

Size 140m2

Threefold Pastry

A working pastry and bakery kitchen, Threefold’s is a space that is functional, bespoke and streamlined. Utilitarian in its look, the design of the space celebrates the industrial bakery equipment, which are in full view for the customer.

Simplicity in its design, finishes are kept to the minimum. Mosaic white tiles, white wash brick, concrete floor, marble and terrazzo serves as a backdrop to the stainless equipment. A full length servery counter, complete with custom cold and warm baked goods display greets the customer upon entering. It’s clad in marble, with a fluted marble front to add texture and interest to the counter. Above the counter is a custom light feature. Linear tube lighting illuminates the space, whilst the arches above provides the neon glow.

Threefold Pastry brings next-level indulgence to its customers with a creative range of sweet and savoury pastries folded to perfection. The venue is designed specially to cater for these creations, providing a space that is functional, simple and contemporary.

Category Quick Service Retail

Budget $800K

Year 2021

Size 70m2

Fish & Lemonade

PKD worked closely with the operators to create this QSR Brand with its first store opening on Sydney’s iconic Manly Wharf.

The routes of this unique offer stem all the way back to childhood memories, for us that’s the mid 80’s when timber wall linings and pink tiles were the acquired taste for interiors. We used this rational and the concept of marrying two things great together, to create a visually enticing and fresh approach on something that has been on offer to the vast majority for decades. This belief flows from the interiors, to the visual graphics and right through to the way the food is prepared, packaged and presented to the customer.

Warm materials such as sandstone crazy paving and timber wall / ceiling linings, provide a natural and calm experience. While the cooler / harder materials such as powder coat metal, painted bricks and mosaic tiles have been introduced as contemporary and youthful components, with the overall blend being a wellbalanced experience.

The iconic location of Manly Wharf is the icing on the cake, which some would consider to be one of the most famous Sydney locations to stop for fish and chips.

Category Quick Service Retail Budget $1.2m

Year 2021

Size 205m2

Rydges Powerhouse

Located in the heart of Tamworth, the Rydges Powerhouse Hotel is an iconic regional hotel with 30 years heritage. With a reputation for exceptional service, quality, and classic interior styling, Paul Kelly Design was engaged to reinterpret this positioning with a contemporary edge. The new lobby and lounge areas are strikingly polished yet grounded in timeless details and welcoming warm timber tones.

The Hotels room design celebrates Tamworth’s locality and history through the referencing of the site’s historical background, formerly a Power station. They are contemporary with a sense of history, a space that is timeless and memorable. Aesthetic connectivity between the hotel’s rooms and public areas aims to create a seamless and harmonious transition for the hotel guests.

Category Hotels

Budget $4m

Year 2019

Size 630m2 and 81 Rooms