Faber and Company

Wine bar Finch, the latest venue for experiential London operator Grays & Feather, has been announced as a finalist in the 2024 Mix Awards. The project, quite possibly the smallest Faber interior to date, shows that size isn’t everything. Packing a 3.5m cube with floor-to-ceiling brass wine shelving, a sit-at bar and a circular trompe l'oeil on the ceiling, the design demonstrates that even within such tight constraints there are always opportunities for a bit of magic.

Quite possibly the smallest Faber interior project to date, Finch is a wine bar by London experiential operator Grays & Feather.

The space is tiny, measuring just 3.5m x 3.5m x 3.5m - quite literally a cube. In such a small space, every inch has been utilised for wine storage. Floor-to-ceiling racking on every wall left the ceiling as the only opportunity to add a bit of magic.

This magic was achieved with a suspended uplighter, above which a curved ceiling soffit surrounds a circular trompe l'oeil of finches in a forest clearing.

"Inspired by the Italian surrealist artists of the 1920s, Tavola celebrates individual expression and the power of the imagination."
Informal Italian dining concept Tavola is built on the premise that imagination and creativity should be celebrated and enjoyed. A hand-drawn logo combines with custom illustrations inspired by the Italian surrealist movement. The logo itself makes reference to the signature of the artist - deliberate imperfection, an experession of individuality.

From a spark ignited by The Sims to shopping for her own flat, read about intern Jennifer's design journey in our latest ‘Meet the Team' blog…

Working for client Grays & Feather, a wine-focused operator based in London, Finch sees the expansion of their estate with the addition of this small wine bar in Brixton Village. Quite possibly the smallest Faber project to date, Finch occupies a cubic space that measures 3.5m long by 3.5m wide by 3.5m high.

The design draws inspiration from the family of birds of the same name, with a colour palette taken directly from the European Goldfinch. The challenge with designing for such a small space was optimising every bit of space, providing storage space for wine, operational space for staff and of course seating for twelve customers.

From Dougie the sausage dog to The Wombats... In our latest ‘Meet the Team’ interview we get to know Senior Designer Georgina.

We’re absolutely delighted to be a finalist in two categories for this years Mixology North awards - Interior Design Practice of the Year (under 50 employees) and Restaurant & Bar of the Year for The Rosarium! The winners will be announced at what is sure to be an amazing event at Manchester Central on 30th November. Wish us luck!!

The design for Nocturnal Animals was inspired by a playlist of classic 80’s music and used theatrical scene-setting to create a dramatic and other-worldly atmosphere. Find out more in our latest blog post

Our latest Industry Insights Interview features hospitality guru Ann Elliott and covers everything from resilience to the recipe for restaurant success…Visit faber.design and head straight to ‘Stories’ to read now!

The final post of this project feature for The George is the photos!
Every detail has been considered when bringing the design to life from the furniture and finishes down to the bespoke artwork and menu design.

The second part of our project feature for The George Hotel gives you a glimpse into the design stages for this project.
Each sketch visual shows how the range of different spaces lend themselves to telling the story of the two collectors George and Mary. From botanicals to Victorian engineering, every space tells a piece of the story.

From a 19th Century coaching house to an independent hotel, The George in Buckden has always been dedicated to hospitality.

Embodying 'contemporary luxury inspired by a time gone by', its design was crafted around our fictional Victorian love story between traveller and inventor George and local lady Mary, a nature-loving writer named after a nearby church. From the colonial restaurant and gentlemen's club bar to the botanical orangery and ladies' powder room, their journey through life weaves into the fabric of this grade II listed space—with decor themes including Victorian-inspired patent illustrations, floral prints, and colonial-style travel souvenirs.

Our latest Sketchbook Blog is all about our Digbeth neighbours Kilder. A craft beer creation by fashion graduates turned Original Patty Men Scott O’Byrne and Tom Maher, what started out as ‘the bar next door’ to their burger joint has become a buzzing ‘go-to’ venue in its own right. Visit faber.design and head straight to ‘Stories’ to find out how we brought their vision to life!

Forms, 'faffers', friends, and family...In our latest ‘Meet the Team’ interview we get to know Project Manager Alex. Visit faber.design and head straight to ‘Stories’ to read all about what he loves and loathes!

‘Curiouser and curiouser!’

And now we reach the final destination on our latest design journey, The Rosarium photo reveal…

Sitting on top of Les Enfants Terribles’ Olivier-nominated ‘Alice’s Adventures Underground’, it’s an opulent dining experience that ‘heightens the senses’ in a nod to the curious world created by Lewis Carroll.

The establishment, described as ‘truly magical’ by head chef Harvey Ayliffe, comprises of three areas. This spans the elegant, Victorian-style Terrace bar to The Secret Garden: an ethereal space where light shifts in colour, cycling through four seasons in one sitting. And who can forget The Rosarium? Featuring a communal dining table, it honours its name with seating in every shade of red centered around striking rose-shaped light fixtures.

For the next part of The Rosarium’s design journey, we venture ‘down the rabbit hole’ and into the detail of the exquisite establishment’s design sketches.

Here you will see how our creatives imagined an enchanting environment that pays homage to the Alice’s Adventures Underground experience (named after the original title of Lewis Carroll’s famed novel) while remaining an attractive establishment to be enjoyed in its own right.

Every design tells a story. And The Rosarium’s just happens to be inspired by one of the most fantastical of all time, 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll. Meaning ‘rose garden’ in Latin, the enchanting establishment pays homage to the architecture of the quintessential English gardens that are symbolic of when the novel was written.

This week’s design journey starts at Waterloo Station in London, where the wondrous eatery is located alongside the Alice’s Adventures Underground experience. Here our concept boards and bespoke graphics nod to the landscape of the classic Victorian gardens that inspired the one in Carroll’s story.

From flowers to food, and always about family…Our latest Industry Insights interview is with The Rosarium's Exec Chef Harvey Ayliffe, who has cooked for some of the world's most famous diners.

Visit faber.design and head straight to 'Stories' to read all about the food veteran's inspiration and experience…

Cin Cin!🍷

In our latest experience blog, FF&E Designer & Buyer Grace describes her visit to Nebbiolo Wine Bar, Copenhagen—a venue dedicated to the Italian tradition of 'Aperitivo' with not a menu in sight…

Visit faber.design and head straight to 'Stories' to read all about it!

Located within the Edwardian splendour of The Grand, York's only five-star hotel, the brief for Legacy was to create an intimate fine-dining experience that would be clearly differentiated from the larger hotel restaurant.

The design needed to respect the history of the building, originally the headquarters of the North East Railway Company. Considering how the new should relate to the old was a key consideration.

Read more about how we achieved this by heading to the 'stories' section on our website.

From The Rolling Stones to running out of time, find out Faber Associate Mark’s favourite things and fears in our latest ‘Meet the Team’ Blog. Visit faber.design and head straight to ‘Stories’ for the full interview…

The final stage of Darleys’ design journey is a full-colour appreciation of its nature-inspired interior! Darleys’ photo album showcases its vast original windows that allow sunlight to flood the bistro to stunning effect. And we aimed to ‘bring the outside in’ with Darleys’ beautiful waterfront views being reflected in the colour scheme of the decor. This signature blue—along with the natural wooden, marble, and leather furniture—looks striking against the crisp white walls at this historic, award-winning establishment.

As we continue Darleys’ design journey, the next stop is our sketch work. After all of the creative brainstorming—including concepts and mood boards—we establish every detail of a venue.

At Darleys, the original restaurant had low ceilings throughout which made the space feel cramped. To solve this problem, the ceiling was lifted which exposed the original timber A-frames and opened the space up. And by keeping the dining room separate to the bar with a step up, it distinguished it as an intimate space with perfect views of the river. By separating the bar and dining areas in this manner, we created the potential for two distinct experiences, allowing the bar to be used throughout the day in a more informal style.

This week we’re setting sail on the design journey for waterfront restaurant Darleys in Derby.

Housed inside a grade II listed 18th Century cotton mill, a World Heritage Site no less, the fine-dining restaurant’s riverside location had a strong influence on the watery colour scheme of its branding.

Featuring a plate-shaped swirl, the logo's blue perfectly complements its traditional style font, a nod to the venue’s two-hundred-year history but in white for a fresh, contemporary look. This is reflective of Darleys' Michelin-recommended menu of classic British and European dishes with a modern twist.

Today is the launch of our Industry Insight Interviews, and who better to start with than Music Consultant Simon Eltringham?

From his uni DJ days to advising global brands, Simon gives us the lowdown on a job that you most probably didn't know existed and the important role it plays in achieving immersive hospitality. Visit faber.design and head straight to 'Stories' to read all about it!

Our latest Sketchbook Blog features the iconic Ironworks in Tondu, South Wales. Starting life as a blast furnace, this Grade II listed building has been transformed into an intriguing hospitality venue that slices through the culture of the industrial revolution across its three floors. Visit faber.design and head straight to ‘Stories’ to read more…

Student Life, Sims, and Spiders…Our latest ‘Meet the Team’ interview features Faber’s incredible intern Megan. Visit faber.design and head straight to ‘Stories’ to read all about her!

📷 ‘A Syrian-style sanctuary in the second city…’ 📷

We've reached the final stop on our latest design journey: the Damascena photo reveal! Housed within Lyndon House in Edgbaston, the award-winning eatery promises to take patrons on a journey of the senses with its vibrant menu and majestic decor.

Light is intrinsic to the atmosphere at the coffee house—with Arabian-style handmade brass lamps and floor-to-ceiling glazing on both sides of the venue creating the perfect balance, whether it’s the morning or evening. A striking sun-dial lighting fixture and bespoke floor pattern set off the central seating area, with the wicker chairs complementing the foliage and creating a sense of serenity in the city.

‘Savour the flavours, inhale the aromas, and take in the majesty of the Middle East at your local, far-away coffee house…'

The second stop on this week’s design journey is our detailed sketches for Damascena, a Syrian coffee house inspired by the courtyard houses of Damascus.

The design is built around a focal point, which in a Syrian courtyard would typically be a fountain. Here we’ve created a central cluster of deep green leather upholstered bench seating in homage to the social importance of eating together in this part of the world…

‘A journey to a new land through aromas, colours, and flavours…’

We love taking you on our design journeys and this recent project—Damascena in Edgbaston—is no exception. It’s the fifth coffee house for the Birmingham-based independent. And call us biased, but we think it’s the best one yet!

A true haven in the hustle and bustle of the city, Damascena promises to take you on ‘a journey to a new land’ through the senses—helping you to escape via ‘aromas, colours, and flavours’. It’s a unique venue, paying homage to the culinary culture of the Middle East like nowhere else does. And as you can see from our concept boards, we were inspired by the ancient architecture, patterns, and colour palettes found throughout this part of the world.