DESIGN AND BUILD: THE MAYLANDS HOTEL

A hotel to call home

In an unusual move, Matthews Hospitality hired a boutique home and garden designer to refurbish its heritage Maylands Hotel.

TUCKED AWAY in the back streets of the leafy eastern Adelaide suburb of Maylands is a hidden gem – the Maylands Hotel which late last year threw open its doors with a new look and feel.

The venue’s operator, family-owned hotel group Matthews Hospitality, broke with tradition when creating the hotel’s new look by choosing boutique residential stylist Deb Barnes rather than a recognised commercial interior fitout consultancy to lead the design.

The refurbishment aimed to cater to patrons wishing to experience creature comforts and intimate, unique spaces when going out in response to the lockdowns and social restrictions faced during the Covid pandemic.

The priority was to ensure loyal patrons had their input in the changes so the hotel didn’t lose its ambience, whilst also attracting a more diverse clientele, according to Matthews Hospitality CEO Andrew Kemp.

To achieve this, different design concepts of the past were consolidated to create a cohesive vibe to appeal to new clientele yet still feel like home to the locals.

The lounge features a variety of spaces and ultra-comfortable seating.

“It does not rely on its location or street presence, but once you’ve found The Maylands and experienced its charm, you can’t help but want to go back and enjoy its interesting spaces and inspired food and beverage offering,” Kemp says.

The brief

The lead designer chosen for the project was Deb Barnes, a boutique residential stylist, in a tradition-defying move that aimed to ensure the project broke away from your typical pub renovation.

“Previously, we had worked with a selection of architects, designers and commercial interior specialists to modernise and update our venues,” Kemp says. “The Maylands required something a little different.”

The project design brief highlighted the need to consider a younger demographic, as well as families and older patrons.

Matthews Hospitality, which owns nine South Australian venues, was established during World War II by Seymour and Doris (Dossie) Matthews with the Bayview Hotel lease in Whyalla.

In mid-2020, the family implemented a succession plan with Matthews Hospitality now wholly owned by third generation siblings, Lisa, Scott, and Ward Matthews.

Deb Barnes had worked on a home design project with Lisa, and the professional relationship grew from there.

As Barnes recounts, “Lisa asked me to renovate the Maylands and I was so surprised. I’d only ever renovated gardens and some interiors of homes, but I thought, why not?

Extra seating at the bar gives the space a more casual vibe.

“I’ve always enjoyed the ambience of the Maylands Hotel and I didn’t want to mess with that feel, but I did want to turn up the wow factor.

“I set about creating homey, cosy areas in the pub for diners seeking an intimate experience complemented by quirky, modern touches that inspire and appeal to a younger crowd.”

The spaces

Barnes worked closely with the Matthews team, including venue manager Ali Davis, and outdoor bench seating, indoor high bar tables with stools, and extra seating at the main bar were added to give the space a more casual relaxed vibe.

The lounge bar was originally dark and dated but had an amazing view through to the park with beautiful northern light, according to Barnes.

“We had to maximise that view by bringing the outside in. By removing the old wooden windows that had a dark filter over them and adding in new white aluminium bifolds by Grandview Windows, it instantly opened up and brightened the space,” she says.

Instead of the long fireplaces found in many pubs, Barnes opted for the sort you’d find in a lounge room, with the fire surrounded by comfy chairs to encourage patrons to sit and linger.

“The variety of this space allows customers to enjoy it for different occasions and also as the seasons change,” Barnes says. “It’s light and bright with great connectivity to the adjacent park, and the fireplace area has ultracomfortable seating in multiple directions to encourage the locals.“

The main bar was also very dated with a glossy timber front. To modernise this feature, and to accentuate its curves, timber moulding was clad to the front by Project Meraki and painted dark.

“We kept the original granite top and also retained and extenuated the curve drop ceiling overhead by painting the middle level dark. We added some opaque glass sphere ‘Southern Moss’ pendant lights from Asser & Co and new stools from 1K Chairs,” Barnes says.

“Curved sofas from Aura Objects are a crowd favourite, and one in particular has created quite the talking point as it is covered in a crazy cat fabric from Abode Interiors.

“Conscious of budget and waste, we recovered four armchairs in a lovely mix of fabrics that add to the character of the room. A bold black and white artwork by Kerry Armstrong is the perfect modern art piece to sit above the banquette seating.”

The Ivy Room in the old part of the building boasts architectural features and high ceilings

An old cashier counter that took up a lot of useable space was removed and replaced with a dark stained high table. A charcoal rug with a cluster of wicker pendant lights above creates a separate dining space for up to 12 people.

“One of my favourite things in the room is the black and white cactus wallpaper that wraps around the long curved wall from Abode Interiors,” Barnes says.

“It adds a visual interest and a fun element to the room. We added three gubi cobra wall sconces from 1K chairs that sit beautifully with the wallpaper and make it glow.”

Everything has had a fresh coat of paint and dark feature walls help break up the white and plants bring some softness.

The Ivy Room in the old part of the building boasts architectural features and high ceilings, and Project Meraki installed timber mouldings to the walls there.

“We carried the black and white theme through as well by painting the gold pressed metal ceiling black and walls white,” Barnes says.

A huge Napoleon Crossing the Alps artwork hangs between two huge kentia palms that sit in large hourglass pots from Asser & Co, and two magnificent new chandeliers were installed to finish the luxe look.

A grand entrance

In the carpark entrance and foyer, gold and bronze coloured wall tiles were removed along with a non-functional old-style water feature. This was converted it into a planter box highlighted with up lights.

“A new chandelier with a modern take was installed to add a bit of glamour to the entrance,” Barnes says.

“There’s been a shift to boutique experiences and that’s what we’ve strived to create with the Maylands renovation,” Kemp says.

Black and white cactus wallpaper adds a fun element to the room.

“With everyone spending more time at home during Covid, we’ve combined the creature comforts of a beautiful, welcoming home with some intriguing twists.”

The Maylands renovation also manages to appeal to loyal patrons who enjoy traditional intimate dining areas while also attracting a younger demographic, he says.

“By having a mix of spaces that have their own unique feel yet flow together nicely, we’re catering for the diversity of the community we serve.”