The Grayson
Dublin’s St Stephen’s Green was laid out as a residential square in 1664. No.41, which faces onto the square, was subsequently built in 1745 as a residential home for Mrs Ruth Croker. Since her days, this beautiful building has hosted many fabulous parties, seen many eminent figures pass through its doorway, and witnessed episodes of turbulent Irish history unfolding on its doorstep.
Appointed to do the complete fit out and restoration of the building, Pure Fitout, Northern Ireland’s fastest growing fit out company, oversaw the development of The Grayson, highlighting its extraordinary original features while installing modern elements to create a fresh, bright and comfortable feel.
The first detail guests notice is the façade, covered in luscious ivy that runs the height of the building. Through the Georgian doorway you are greeted by a marble floor and exquisitely carved pitch pine staircase that winds its way up to the two stories above. Meticulous care was taken by Pure Fitout to pare back hundreds of years’ worth of layers of paint that covered the original wooden staircase and handrail.
Mixing the old with the new, Pure Fitout’s in-house metal and joinery workshop played a significant role in creating new features that would complement and blend in with the original design. This included creating bespoke bronze vanity frames, door handles and foot rails. Custom-made marble tiles and sinks feature in the bathroom, sourced exclusively from four varieties of Portuguese marble by Pure Fitout’s team.
The original cornices and fireplaces were poorly damaged from countless modern replicas, so Pure Fitout’s skilled craftsmen took great care to rebuild them using exact replicas and by taking the time to use traditional methods.
Ronan Higham, Managing Director at Pure Fitout added: “It was an exciting opportunity and a challenge to work on the fit out and restoration of one of Dublin’s most stunning buildings. Extreme care and attention to detail had to be maintained in order to restore the intricate features and original detail of the building and we worked closely with O’Donnell O’Neill Design in order to realise our client’s vision.
We believe in providing a fully integrated approach and manufacturing every feature in-house where we can. I personally travelled to Portugal to source the marble and bring it back to fabricate in our workshop. Whether it’s custom-made bronze finishing’s or hand-cut marble tiles, we guarantee the highest quality materials for the in-house creation of bespoke features.”
Work inside on the sites transformation was undertaken by Interior Architecture and Design Studio O’Donnell O’Neill.
Interior designer Ann-Marie O’Neill said: “We were very much guided by the original Georgian features in the existing building when developing the interior design concept for The Grayson. We saw it as a priority to show of the beautifully retained features of the original house in the interior design. Yet at the same time, it was also important that the interior was glamorous, contemporary and chic. Working alongside Pure Fitout, we carefully researched and chose beautiful materials to use in the design such as Italian marble, rosewood veneers and bronze to emphasize the chic and contemporary ambience of The Grayson.”
When you first enter The Grayson, head down the hallway and enter the Ground Floor Bar, a cosy spot for casual lunch from 12pm until 3pm Monday to Friday or for drinks and bar snacks any time of day or night seven days a week.
Step towards the back of the building and you’ll find yourself under a dazzling glass roof. Take a seat in the Atrium and feel like you’re dining al fresco, without being exposed to the elements; bright and warm during the day, romantic and cosy with stars as your ceiling at night. An open topped terrace with an exquisite marble bar sits a few steps above with a reclining roof to unfold when the sun shines.
One floor below, the lower ground floor has been transformed into beautiful bright rooms with bronze topped bars created exclusively for The Grayson and manufactured in-house by Pure Fitout’s craftsmen. This floor is set up with hi-tech AV systems, perfect for work meetings during the day and entertaining at night.
Venture up the welcoming staircase, taking in the original decorative ceiling high above, wall panelling and gold detailing that decorates the staircase and you really get a sense of the grandeur of this building. Art brightens the walls across the entire building, with pieces from artists Phillip Allen, Mark Francis, David Godbold, Callum Innes and Swiss artist Liliane Tomasko.
The two floors above offer dinner seven nights a week from 5pm and long lunches every weekend from 12pm until 4pm. The rooms are simply stunning, with big sash windows overlooking Ireland’s arguably most famous park. High ceilings, parquet wooden floors, exact replicas of the original fireplaces and elegant small bars shape the rooms.
The top floor is one big pop of colour and sure to surprise. Bold turquoise walls with fantastic contemporary art, comfy seats to sink into, windows to gaze out of, it’s a place to while away the afternoon with friends, celebrate special occasions and make memories.
James Gibson, General Manager of The Grayson said: “The Grayson is a place of lush comfort and good times for all of our guests. There’s something for everyone here. I truly believe that attention to detail and seamless service is key to any hospitality success story. If we approach service like we’re entertaining at home, we get a natural standalone service.”
Ryle + Company
Ryle + Company Interiors undertake turnkey interior fit-out and refurbishments in all commercial sectors, specifically hotels, show-homes, restaurants, cafes and theatres since 1998. They specialise in the redesign of existing interior architecture.
They create exciting designs, concept development and integrate functional furniture in each spatial design. Ryle + Company are stockists of a wide range of furniture, fabrics, wallcoverings, lighting, flooring, soft furnishings and all types of blinds and curtains.
They offer an in-house manufacturing service for bespoke pieces to suit all budgets. Ryle + Company doesn’t believe in following the design method of current trends and strive to create unique designs based on each client’s brief, ensuring nothing is replicated. It is important to them to adapt their skills, abilities and resources to achieve an eclectic range of design solutions. Their design process always begins with them understanding your brief, budget and desired outcome.
Ryle + Company, suppliers of designer fabrics to Grayson, Dean and Devlin Hotels.
B.W.D.I. Ltd
B.W.D.I. Ltd is a leading construction contractor, specialising in the delivery of drywall, metal partitions, suspended ceilings, insulation and fire protection systems. B.W.D.I. Ltd has been trading as a limited company for 11 years, with more than 20 years’ experience in the construction industry.
Operating across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, B.W.D.I. Ltd has built up a strong portfolio of projects including The Devlin Hotel, Elephant & Castle, WOW Burger and Boojum in Dublin, Next Warrington, Arora Hotel at Heathrow & Gatwick and Top Shop in Warrington & Arklow, amongst others. More recently, the company has been involved with the work at The Grayson, working alongside Pure Fitout to deliver the entire drywall and ceiling package for the restaurant.
Dermot Burke, B.W.D.I. Ltd, said:
“We were extremely excited to be appointed as the specialist drywall and ceiling contractor for The Grayson. From the outset we understood Pure Fitout’s requirements of maintaining the original features coupled with bringing a contemporary look and a Grade A finish to the restaurant. Pure Fitout always had a clear line of communication which resulted in a strong working relationship that ensured we achieved the end goal.”
Dermot added:
“At B.W.D.I. Ltd our ethos is ‘passion for perfection’ – something that we aim to achieve and feel we do deliver with every contract. We work on a personal level, accommodating individual preferences as we acknowledge that no two projects are the same.
“The key to our success lies within customer satisfaction, a commitment to understanding and meeting our client’s requirements for safety, workmanship and on-time delivery, whilst maintaining a high standard of quality throughout.
“We adapt to each client determining the most appropriate solutions based on their demands and budget while adhering to the strictest safety standards and on-time completion.
“We feel privileged to have worked with Pure Fitout on The Grayson and many other acclaimed projects and wish them every continued success for now and the future ahead.”
