Three years after the birth of MiMi Mei Fair London, our fictional Empress MiMi has expanded her residences to the home of glamour in Downtown Dubai. Expanding on the 1920’s Shanghai decadence that inspired the first restaurant, Dubai is adorned with hand-painted silk chinoiserie wallpaper, art deco lighting, antique vases and many more trinkets of discovery throughout.
Dubai’s outpost has focused on maintaining the intimate dining rooms of London but with an added touch of flair and theatrics to suit it’s new home in Dubai.
The interior draws upon a palette of traditional Italian buildings with their soft plaster render facades and olive green shutters, re-imagining this dusky landscape as a contemporary Italian residence through textured plaster walls framed with walnut timber accents and handmade tiles softened with olive green upholstery and verdant planting. This home away from home is interspersed with collected mid-century glass lighting pieces and striking curated art pieces to create a relaxed and informal all day Italian neighbourhood restaurant with an elegant, planted softly terrace overlooking the bustling neighbourhood of South Audley Street in Mayfair, London.
A love letter to the Italian-American restaurants of New York.
Louis is an ode to the classic New York restaurants which are often portrayed on the silver screen as a home from home, where guests are welcomed into an intimate booth, surrounded by quietly excellent cooking and perfectly mixed cocktails, whilst live performances provide the soundtrack to the evening.
Drawing upon both the rich, iconic Jamavar shawls and the rich origins of the textiles that today’s fashion industry is built upon, Jamavar Dubai is the modern imagining of India’s opulent history, creating a vibrant setting for a bustling, dynamic atmosphere.
Tracing the roots of the textiles industry back to their Indian origins, we have built a modern palette of these textiles whilst drawing upon the the rich heritage of the dye ingredients and history of their trade.
A truly modern interpretation of Jamavar.
SAMBAROOM.
High energy. Refined. Bold.
This cocktail bar and lounge is the embodiment of the Sushisamba spirit; saturated in orange and copper tones set on the 39th floor above London’s famous Sushisamba restaurant.
Guests are welcomed through a striking gilded canopy entrance into a mirrored walkway, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience. Distinguished by its soft curves, spectacular London views, and innovative cocktail offering, SAMBAROOM exudes warmth and elegance while celebrating Sushisamba’s Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian heritage.
Adjacent to the bar is a versatile lounge illuminated by the London skyline and adorned with retro furniture that embodies the mid-century Brazilian aesthetic. This unique space seamlessly transforms into an intimate private dining room with a touch of theatrical flair by artfully suspending a custom-designed sculptural table for 30 guests from its ceiling.
Situated on an elegant corner of Fulham Road, Josephine introduces itself as a neighbourly yet exquisite French Bouchon, inspired by theFrench capital of gastronomy – Lyon.
Taking notes from the chef owner Claude Bosi’s Lyonnaise roots, Josephine is a convivial and welcoming family space, inspired by the classic Lyonnaise Bouchons alongside touches of the the city’s rich history as the European capital of silk as well as it’s fascinating history as the birthplace of cinema. Josephine brings together the culinary excellence and charm of Lyon’s cuisine and warmth of the Bouchons to the doorstep of Fulham’s gastronomic explorers.
Drawing inspiration from the scorched landscapes and Greek seas, Fenix brings the essence of the islands of Mykonos and Delos with its carefree hedonism and organic beauty to Manchester’s dining scene, timelessly celebrating Hellenic culture in every aspect of the design. Diners are enveloped in a space subtly layered and softly lit to tell the mythological story of a Fenix rising from the ashes.
Core 2.0
A modern classic.
A distillation, amplification and sharpening
of the Core DNA.
In an ode to the craft and capability of the
British Isles, our re-focussed DNA is
expressed through indigenous materiality and
refined craft to align with the ethos of this world famous
3-star kitchen.
This second incarnation depicts a
modern, confident, assured and progressive
restaurant, comfortable in it’s own skin and
always looking forwards.
British Fine Dining meets British Fine Craft.
The Wolseley City plays host to a reimagined incarnation of the original grand café restaurant, drawing its identity from reference points that inspired the first outpost.
The grand interior highlights Byzantine chandeliers, Baroque ironwork, and intricate 1920’s Egyptian Revival touches. A reimagination of the well-recognised symmetrical vista upon entering the restaurant – the centralised horseshoe banquette, the groyne vaulted ceilings, the central starburst flooring and chandeliers align to offer the perfect composition and balance to the grand double story space.
Noble Rot’s third restaurant is located in the atmospheric alleys of Shepherd Market, built on the site of the late 1600s’ original ‘May Fair’ that became notorious as Central London’s rackety red-light district. In true Noble Rot style, the site of this restaurant is rich with history; formerly The Running Horse pub in the mid- 1800s, it had earned a reputation with court cases citing it’s clientele as ‘effeminately- dressed young men’ & ‘undesirables’ Taking inspiration from this history, the restaurant aims to retain the cheerful loucheness of the past.
A familiar sight and a faithful companion to Londoners and intrepid tourists alike, Manzi’s offers a refuge coupled with wild abandon- a hedonist’s escapism, should you indulge, can be found inside it’s walls and certainly within it’s restaurant upstairs.
The essence and backdrop of this exotic shrine to the sea is re-floated in a modern guise, albeit swathed in romantic decadence and a teasing toward debauchery shall ensure Manzi’s continues to live up to it’s Soho legend.
Set on a sun- kissed corner of South Audley Street in a Grade II listed building, Socca transports guests to Southern France with Michelin star chef Claude Bosi partnering with LSL Capital to create comforting yet exquisite French dishes that pair seamlessly with the warm and inviting interiors.
The restaurant drew inspiration from French institutions such as La Columbe d’Or- the historic French restaurant that had a strong connection with local artists at it’s incarnation and the whimsical stylings of Villa Santo Sospir. Fabled commissioned multiple artists to help create the interior palette; from hand illustrated lampshades to portraits painted on the walls.
With the turning of the seasons the duck has settled in a new home amid the castle ramparts and Royal Mile, perched high for all to see…
The new Duck & Waffle has fledged into an experiential, engaging and dramatic gastronomic journey; a migration witnessed through all senses conjuring intrigue, discovery and glorious delight!
Photos courtesy of Duck & Waffle
Poised amongst the elegant frontages of Grosvenor Street, framed by two large picture windows with tailored, green awnings and ombre dyed noren blinds; Koyn takes it’s inspiration from the Zen Gardens of Japan and the beautiful pink moss phlox (shibazakura) gardens growing on the volcanic, fertile land in the shadow of Mount Fuji.
Photos courtesy of James McDonald Photography
Personifying the symbol of eternal life through the iconography of water and air, Aqua Shard is a celebration of sculpted, water-worn forms, vaulted volumes and intimate glittering layers…
A jewel in London’s crown, an icon of the city and an experience to behold…
The secret London residence of MiMi, who has opened the doors to her otherwise very private residence for the first time.
Filled with trinkets, antiques and heirlooms from MiMi’s personal collection, each room has been thoughtfully designed with inspiration drawn from the Forbidden Palace of Beijing, ancient folklore tales and whimsical 1920s Shanghai.
Photos courtesy of James McDonald Photography
Our second outpost for our client Jamavar sits in the noble Sheraton Grand Hotel in Doha.
Drawing upon both the rich, iconic Jamavar shawls and the rich origins of the textiles that today’s fashion industry is built upon, Jamavar Doha is a modern imagining of India ’s rich heritage creating a vibrant setting for a bustling dynamic atmosphere.
Tracing the roots of the textiles industry and trade back to their Indian origins, we built a modern palette of these textiles whilst drawing upon the rich heritage of the dye ingredients and the history of their trade.
A truly modern interpretation of Jamavar.
The pilgrimage of provenance…journeying through the Australian countryside to discover and source the best ingredients and produce has always been at the very heart of Core…
Working with Clare Smyth, we have personified this journey from farm to plate to elevate the humble beauty of nature and celebrate the honest grace of the countryside through using indigenous materials and local craft techniques.
Designed based on the idea of a forgotten room within the Maison Baccarat; Baccarat Bar London in Harrods is to be the personification of the Baccarat brand. Steeped in heritage and craft with a playful sense of whimsy and exquisite elegance and form, the room pays homage to the form and pattern of some of Baccarat’s celebrated pieces. Setting the scene for London’s new standard of cocktails and fine wines, Baccarat Bar Harrods is the jewel in Knightsbridge’s crystal crown.
Amalgamating the rich heritage of Italian design, Margot draws up on the fine craft of Italy’s noted Architects, Furniture Designers and fine Tailors, to create an Italian jewel in Covent Garden’s heart land.
A table fit for a King! Each chair is inspired by the medieval carvings of the hammer-beam roof of Westminster Palace; gothic grotesques realised as a celebration of the stately ingredients used within each of Dinner’s historical dishes. The grand table base is a replica of The King’s Table excavated from Westminster Palace itself- a table used by a succession of monarchs for over 300 years; the sunburst radial veneer is a depiction of the legendary table of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table- a radial design of rosewood and sapele veneers finished with a carved centrepiece of the Olde Rose of England.
Inspired by the its former life as a hunting lodge in the 15th century, The Royal Lounge at the Hinds Head is full of whimsical and beastly taxidermy set amid a plethora of antique furniture and lighting. A cockentrice adorns the wall illuminated by a pair of bespoke chandeliers made from English blunderbusses, whilst The Vicar’s Room tells the story of Simon Aleyn, the famed Vicar of Bray. His story is carved along the centre of a 20 person dining table that was hewn from a single piece of mighty English oak. Downstairs we have added to and embellished the original antique panelling with oxblood leather banquettes, reclaimed wooded floors and bespoke lighting all set to the flicker of two grand fireplaces.
Walking with the story of Hutong along the Silk Road, through the mountainous province of Xinjiang to the borders or Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and beyond, we discover the presence of the mighty Qing Dynasty.
An Imperial empire that established the Manchus against the Dzungars and bought unity to their warring factions through great feasts, the Qing emperors were patrons of ‘The Four Arts’ Qin, Qi, Shu & Hua … each of which are now depicted within the restaurant’s design.
We have drawn inspiration from these border provinces as cultural and religious melting pots to embody the crossover between the Chinese and Islamic worlds.
Taking reference from the Viceroy’s house of New Delhi with delicate colonial flourishes combined with the intricate patterns and vibrant colours from the Jamavar shawls of India, the restaurant will be a glamourous Indian dining room with rainforest and brown emperador marbles, dark timber panelling and gilded lincrusta wallcoverings. The space will be offset with brass accents, hand-cut marquetry and a sculpted bar made up of Indian print block patterns and Lutyens inspired furniture.
Inspired by the iconic copper cupola that crowns the One Aldwych Hotel, the Lobby Bar sets a new precedent for the modern cocktail lounge bar experience.
The colour palette is imbued from the copper and Verdigris cupola cladding with the interior detailing paying homage to the grandeur and craft of the building’s exterior architecture. Flourishes of Art Nouveau and Austrian oak sit effortlessly against modern British craftsmanship inspired by the historical print rooms of the hotels former use as the home of The Morning Post newspaper.
Indigo restaurant has been reinvigorated, coloured in shades of blue in keeping with its namesake. Plastered bronze wall lights and modern eglomise panels frame this destination gallery dining room. Alabaster wall lights sit against tones of indigo and lilac leathers, with pale cerused oak flourishes grounding the room.
A reference to the furniture and cabinet makers of Great Eastern Street, Barboun is the factory and workshop of these artisans.
Showcasing the craft and intricacies of the trade, the interior is swathed in soft oak, with junctions celebrated and exposed through dove tail and peg jointing, exotic veneers and oxblood leathers sit handsomely with this industrial shell.
Bedouin architecture meets Shoreditch heritage.
Textured sandstone walls and soaring stone arches temper a refined palette of galvanised metals and hand-worked leathers as a nod to past East London industry.
The difficult second album.
Inhabiting the legendary Gay Hussar on Greek Street, we worked once again with Noble Rot to embrace and embody the creeking bones of this once political hotbed to turn it into a decadent den of different sorts- one now wine sodden and bursting at the waistline….
Nestled on Lamb’s Conduit Street, Noble Rot embraces the soul of a previous ancient wine bar, inheriting all of the wonky quirks and charm of its Georgian architecture to breathe new life as a particularly un-fussy, romantic nod towards the classic bars and brasseries of Paris.
Chin chin!
The jewel in the crown of the Ramsay empire, this three Michelin starred restaurant is swathed in pale leathers and soft bleached oaks and now boasts one of the finest chef’s table liquor libraries in London.
Inspired by the site’s former life as the hotel’s working luggage room, the interior imbues heavy reference to the details from early 20th century travel trunks whilst also re-living the glamour and decadence of the Bentley Boys who used to live and party on the adjacent Grosvenor Square in the 1920’s.
“…Former Bombay meets modern day Mumbai…”
Bombay Bustle draws upon the famed Dabbawala’s of Mumbai and their journeys across the city, delivering home cooked meals to the city’s workers in personalised Tiffin Tins. Taking particular reference to erstwhile Bombay’s train system, drawing upon their carriages as well as the brightly rendered Art Deco theatre buildings of the city.
The Dim Sum Library shall be an ode to the glamour and decadence of Art Deco, with subtle undertones inspired by the colours of native Chinese songbirds; and details from the beautiful cages that housed them, to the intricacies and traditions of the historic game of Mahjong.
Monastic Arboreal Chic.
An exercise in restraint and curated minimalism.
A pilgrimage to St Leonard’s shall be rewarded with an evocative gastronomic experience.
An interior pared back and refined, natural and giving, set amidst the primal cooking display of fire and ice.
Located in the heart of East London, and derived from the name of one of the first steam locomotives to travel over the North London Railway line above, Beagle gives subtle reference to the history of the site; from details inspired from Victorian railway carriages to a floor made from reclaimed railway sleepers.
Nestled within a cosy mews behind Mayfair’s Bond Street, Cartizze is a dedicated Bellini bar cocooned in dip-dyed oak panelling and elegant Nero Marquina marble. Deserving patrons can become a custodian to their own personal liquor locker, storing much loved spirits and champagnes to savour within the bar.
Peru meets Victoriana. A traditional bodega set within an East London former workhouse, Ceviche Old Street is a lesson in understated restraint. Unveiling the original fabric of the interior through conservationist restoration and muted decoration serves to resurrect this grand building to once again serve London’s hungry inhabitants.
Entering through the Royal Horse Bazaar, The Coburg Gardens- from 1817 until 1865; named after the heir to the British Throne, the Saxe-Coburg family, The public park played host to an enchanting gas-lit Winter garden as well as the striking construction of the Dublin Exhibition Palace- a magnificent wrought iron structure modelled on London’s Crystal Palace.
The Coburg restaurant shall be permeated with equestrian detail, wrought iron flourishes and softly lit planted vistas to conjure an inspiring and unique all day dining experience embedded with vernacular history.
Named after the famous fictional traveller Lemuel Gulliver; a pseudonym of the Irish author Jonathan Swift, Lemuel’s Bar will be instilled with the magic and curiousity of Gulliver’s Travels along with the craft of the book binder- marbled lining papers, decorative latches and stitched leather spines shall abound and resonate to create a jewel box of curiosity and wonder.
We reimagined the iconic shotgun houses of New Orleans imbuing the romanticism and mystique of the timeless city straddling the Mississippi.Shotgun captures the vibrant ambience of the absinthe and bourbon soaked bars from early 20th Century New Orleans, whilst elevating them to a more refined atmosphere for modern day bohemians and foodies alike.
