Toast to the twenties

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To recapture the art Deco spirit of the ’20s, the fluted ceiling panels and decorative cornices of the hotel DeBrett house bar were repainted in Resene Tradewind.

There is a bar in every city that everybody knows – one they return to many times over the years. The house bar at Hotel DeBrett in Auckland is such a place, and has been for nearly a century.

The iconic house bar has undergone a dramatic transformation, however, as part of the recent hotel upgrade. Co-owner Michelle Deery, who specified all the decorative finishes, says the refurbishment was designed to highlight the heritage features, many of which date back to the ’20s.

“The bar has so much history,” she says. “We wanted to acknowledge this in the restoration.”

Key features include the original oak wall panelling, which has been stripped and restained to bring out the grain of the wood. Fluted ceiling panels and decorative mouldings have also been restored, and the entire ceiling painted in Resene Tradewind – a green-blue colour that provides a bold contrast to the panelling.

“We chose Resene Tradewind because the shade references the original Art Deco look, while still providing something a little different. Painting the entire ceiling, mouldings and the tops of the walls in the same colour provides continuity and helps to unify the space, making it more intimate.”

Resene marketing manager Karen Warman says commercial ceilings are typically painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Zylone Sheen are recommended for walls.

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