projects

· commercial

	PURE SALON PLYMOUTH McCaren Interiors' latest scheme at City College Plymouth houses teaching and learning, alongside the latest treatments in hairdressing, beauty and spa therapies, and sports therapy. The Pure Salon and Day Spa provides a fresh, contemporary space in which Hair & Beauty students can hone their skills in a working salon. Walls and floors in neutral colours and durable finishes provide an understated backdrop for some statement features on a metallic theme. These include a bronze beaded curtain screening the washbasins, wall-mounted copper artworks facing the manicure stations and a feature wall clad in textured bronze behind the reception desk.

	HEADLINE HAIR SALON PLYMOUTH The concept brief for this project was to rejuvenate a dated yet busy hairdressers in Plymouth City Centre. Our Client wanted a refreshing and lively salon look for its established customer base as well as a welcoming and friendly image to attract new business. Space was limited, and with issues such as drainage and lighting, consideration was given to the layout of washpoints, salon seating, reception and staff areas. Emphasising the linear nature of both salon name and footprint, the design incorporated decorative stripes on the walls and a change in colour along the long axis for the new durable natural flooring. The budget was invested in timeless high quality furniture and flooring, using accent colours in accessories and finishes to facilitate simple and affordable redecoration in future years.

	BISTRO / BAR FOR CITY COLLEGE DEVONPORT, PLYMOUTH This project involved the refurbishment of the tired and dated interior of the Bistro/Bar area at City Colleges Kings Road Campus. The new modern, stylish coffee bar is a space in which students can spend their break times relaxing, and also use as a fully functioning training area for their catering courses as required. The Bar and Bistro area within the space are visually separated and defined by different floor or ceiling colours, different furniture, wall, and column treatments. New dividing screen/partitions to separate the Bar and Bistro from the adjacent circulation corridor have been specially designed to help direct customers into or out of the space, as well as adding decorative interest and character.

	BOMBAY BRASSERIE PLYMOUTH This new Indian Restaurant in a vacant commercial unit in Plymouth brings together the lifelong dream of our Client, with our holistic design approach. The project required coordination of various involved parties requirements and consents as well as Local Authority permissions. The interior of this new build space fuses contemporary clean furniture and finishes with strong references to eastern traditional patterns and colours. Initially a space planning exercise for the Client, McCaren Interiors saw the need and commercial potential for the overall scheme to be unified from the external faade treatment to the interior details and finishes. Company branding and continuity of the design has been considered and tailored throughout, from the external signage to the stationery and crockery.


	SHOCK HAIR SALON LTD PLYMOUTH This vacant retail unit in a new development near the Barbican is to become a new Hair Salon. The large and unusually shaped plan of the space with its glazed frontage was ideal for the Salon area with the smaller staff and ancillary spaces concealed to the rear, keeping an open plan contemporary feel. Drawing on our Access expertise the Salon was designed so that all areas are inclusive and accessible to able-bodied and disabled people alike. The project required Planning Permission and Building Regulations Approval in addition to advice on specifications and space planning.

· residential

	LUXURY COASTAL RESIDENCE CORNWALL This new contemporary cliff-side home, designed by McCaren Architecture demands an interior which does justice to the exterior drama of its coastal setting. With contemporary and bespoke features throughout, using only the highest quality of finishes and fixtures, this project promises to be a showcase for McCaren Interiors.

	INTERNAL ALTERATIONS TO GRADE II LISTED VILLA PLYMOUTH The brief for this project was to rearrange and upgrade the existing back of house spaces of this Grade II listed house. Respecting the elegance of this unique 19th century property while creating an interior, which reflects modern day living, was key to this project. A larger Kitchen / Dining Room has been created in the main rooms to the rear of the house, while the existing covered yard area has become integral to the fabric of the building.

	INTERIOR ACHITECHTURE FORMER CHAPEL & SCHOOLHOUSE CORNWALL This old chapel had previously undergone many poorly conceived internal alterations when first converted from a chapel to a home. Our brief was to redesign the interior of the building in a more imaginative and practical way. The result is a striking exploitation of the buildings inherent character and form and the creation of a fabulous, functional family home.

	BED & BREAKFAST TAVISTOK, DEVON In spring 2010 McCaren Architecture undertook a feasibility study for the owners of a property in Tavistock who wished to offer bed and breakfast accommodation in their home. The commission involved looking at various short- and long-term options to extend the property. Alongside McCaren Architectures proposals for extending the building, McCaren Interiors produced mood boards to provide a departure point for interior finishes in the proposed extension. Although the extension work has been deferred until a later date, the existing building has been converted and the boutique style B&B is now open for business. They can be found online at www.rockmount-tavistock.com

· educational

TEACHING SPACE FOR CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH, GIN DISTILLERY PLYMOUTH

An unusual mix of education, retail and leisure tenants in the Plymouth Gin Distillery building made this a very challenging and complex project. Appointed by City College Plymouth we were involved in designing a teaching space for a Hospitality Management course within the existing accommodation of this historic building. The project involved new circulation routes, a bespoke separating glazed screen, manipulation of limited available natural daylight and new disabled access.