Explore the look: The Imperial Hotel

Led by principal architect Sophie Harris, the Alexander &CO design team has transformed the interiors of The Imperial Hotel in Sydney’s inner-west into a high-impact visual feast. The three levels of the bar and dining venue may appear overly decorative at first glance, but this project showcases a collection of robust building materials such as bricks, concrete, steel and timber.

The texture and character of the historic building’s raw materials have been celebrated within every room, while the exposed structural features of the architecture form an industrial base on which a high-contrast, glamorous and richly hued vernacular has been built. An Art Deco to mid-century approach has guided the furnishings, resulting in a multi-dimensional space with depth, layers and style moments.

Apply these decorative techniques to your own home or project to recreate your favourite elements of The Imperial Hotel.

From the burgundy leather stools, timber-clad bar and red marble benchtops to the cobalt blue brickwork, framed archway and stepped grey ceiling, it’s texture that guides your eye through this space. When applying this method at home, apply the visually lightest material to your furniture and the heaviest to your walls, cladding or cabinetry.

At first glance you may not notice that shades of pink appear in the floor tiles, upholstery, lampshades, tableware and overhead artwork of this dining room, but this clever and precise application of colour is what makes this room successful. Do it yourself by incorporating various shades of the same colour at every level of your interior, from the floor to the ceiling – then make it pop with metallic accents, such as the chair frames and table base pictured here.

Pleated skirts on leather chairs and fringing on an ottoman are unexpected yet delightful details that bring character to these furniture pieces. While these features may not work in every home, a particularly shapely or unusual piece of statement furniture positioned in pride of place always will.

Feeling inspired? Consider introducing these gorgeous products to your own home to create a similar interior scheme.

This blue velvet chair from OneWorld Collection would fit into the furniture selection at The Imperial perfectly with its tufted back, studded arms and turned-timber legs. These types of chairs are also wonderful additions to home libraries or studies. 

Featuring a marble top and base with a gold centre, this side table from Bubuland Home has just the right amount of opulence and glamour to hold its own in a colour-rich theme, or take centre stage in a pared-back scheme. 

A chandelier is the height of luxury, and the presence of such an elegant fixture among the raw materials of The Imperial's architecture creates a wonderfully surreal contrast. However, lighting such as this piece from Florabelle Living also fit snugly into Hamptons, country and Federation-style homes. 

A gold table lamp is an art-deco element that pops in any interior – from Art Deco to mid-century modern, contemporary and minimalist – it all comes down to clever styling. For a high-impact effect, pair lighting such as this brass lamp from Bloomingdales with other metallic elements. In minimalist or contemporary scenes this lamp will feel more comfortable standing on its own as a statement piece. 

No dinner party tablescape is complete without gorgeous glassware. This goblet from Space Furniture comes in an agreeable shade of pink that will play well with any colour scheme. 

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