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Ribbed cladding, fluted bar front, kit-kat tiles, copper accents, integrated LED lighting, arched display, warm timber veneer, hospitality fit-out, club interior design, Level 1 venue

Club Ashfield

A refined interior refresh defined by rich textures, warm lighting, and an unforgettable sense of arrival.

#Ashfield
#Australia
#hospitality
#Selected
#entertainment
#Hospitality & Leisure
#restaurants


A collaboration of Design Clarity with Swerve Design and Design Delta Architects.
Images by McCann and Daniel Cook Photography.

The interior refresh focuses on breathing new life into an established community venue. Rather than knocking down walls or altering the existing layout, the design relies on smart, targeted updates to make the space feel fresh, welcoming, and modern. The aim was to create a versatile destination that easily adapts for casual everyday dining, midweek corporate bookings, and weekend live music.

The primary spatial change occurs right as guests step out of the lift. A curved timber batten screen wraps around the foyer, framing a solid travertine display table and establishing a clear sense of arrival. These vertical timber slats gently guide foot traffic towards the bistro and function rooms without blocking natural light or sightlines. It provides a memorable entry threshold while keeping the surrounding floor plan open and connected.

Across the main dining and bar zones, the focus shifts to tactile finishes and durable materials built for heavy commercial use. Upgraded joinery—such as the fluted timber apron and olive kit-kat tiles along the central bar counter—anchors the main service area. Custom leather booth seating, a vibrant hand-painted mural, and integrated indoor plants bring warmth and character to different seating areas, giving guests a range of comfortable places to gather.

Lighting plays a key role in shaping the atmosphere from day to night. Concealed LEDs set within ceiling coves and behind feature joinery, such as the arched back-bar display, cast a soft ambient glow. Feature pendant lights above the bar counter, foyer table, and dining areas create clear focal points, allowing the mood to shift effortlessly from a bright daytime lunch space to an intimate evening setting.

By pairing a striking new entry with thoughtful surface updates and layered lighting, the design transforms the venue’s character without requiring a major structural overhaul. It demonstrates how focused architectural interventions can elevate an interior, delivering a modern hospitality fit-out where loyal regulars and new visitors feel equally at home.

Tucked behind vertical timber battens, custom booth seating offers a sense of privacy while maintaining visual connection to adjacent zones. The arrangement balances soft tactile upholstery with architectural millwork to create a refined dining enclave.

Cognac leather upholstery, timber slat screen, globe pendant lighting, glass partition, woven rattan dining chairs, booth seating layout, acoustic partitioning, hospitality dining, club interior fit-out
Vertical timber battens, travertine display table, reeded glass doors, crazy paving tile floor, brass ring chandelier, digital wayfinding displays, ceiling cove lighting, venue foyer, function room entry, architectural screen partition

Curved timber screens delineate circulation paths, guiding guests from the entry threshold toward the bistro and private function spaces. A sculpted stone centerpiece and warm cove lighting set an elegant, welcoming tone for the arrival experience.

An expressive hand-painted mural brings vibrant color and energy to this expansive dining zone, establishing a playful backdrop against grounded organic materials. Integrated planting running along the benchtop ledge introduces biophilic elements that soften the surrounding architectural envelope.

Custom painted mural wall, terracotta leather upholstery, woven rattan dining chairs, integrated planter box, biophilic interior design, woven shade pendant lamps, brass sconce lighting, continuous banquette bench, Sunshine Room fit-out
Vertical timber battens, cognac leather armchairs, acoustic timber partition, lounge nook seating, metal signage, globe pendant lighting, crazy paving stone flooring, club lounge design, venue foyer fit-out

Vertical timber battens create a semi-private seating alcove, balancing spatial enclosure with visual transparency. Positioned near the main event room entryways, this quiet lounge zone offers a comfortable resting spot framed by rich timber textures and soft ambient lighting.

Architectural millwork integrates functional access doors into the continuous wall plane using vertical timber battens. A matte black pull handle provides a clean tactile touchpoint, emphasizing the precise craftsmanship embedded throughout the venue's joinery detailing.

Vertical timber battens, matte black door handle, architectural joinery, concealed door integration, tactile wood cladding, custom millwork detail, commercial interior fit-out, timber wall feature
Timber batten screen, digital room displays, custom metal signage, Bistro Ashfield entrance, crazy paving floor, travertine table, commercial circulation, interior architecture, hospitality fit-out

Curved timber screening defines the main entry portal into Bistro Ashfield, balancing open visibility with structured thresholds. Flush-mounted digital displays and custom overhead signage streamline guest arrival while creating a sense of transition between circulation paths and dining zones.

Precision joinery details define the transition between architectural elements throughout the venue. Where vertical timber battens meet the ceiling plane, a recessed black shadow reveal creates a clean, floating boundary that emphasizes spatial height and structural craftsmanship.

Vertical timber battens, shadow line reveal, ceiling junction, architectural millwork, wood grain texture, linear cladding, custom joinery detail, commercial ceiling interface, timber slat partition
Fluted timber apron, olive kit-kat tile counter, copper oval pendants, arched back bar, under-counter LED strip, crazy paving stone floor, cylindrical wall sconce, textured plaster finish, glass partition wall, hospitality bar design

Anchoring the main hospitality floor, the full-width service counter combines rhythmic millwork with organic stone paving underfoot. Layered task and ambient lighting highlight the material transitions, framing the bar counter as an accessible focal point for patrons.

Framed by floor-to-ceiling timber screens, the elevator lobby functions as a central transition node between venue levels. A sculpted stone pedestal table acts as an immediate anchor, guiding sightlines through the open foyer towards comfortable waiting lounges and vertical circulation.

Travertine pedestal table, timber batten screens, elevator lobby design, brass ring chandelier, recessed ceiling cove, crazy paving floor, textured area rug, cognac leather armchairs, indoor greenery, commercial foyer fit-out
Arched LED mirrors, olive green glazed tiles, zellige ceramic wall tiles, matte black tapware, wall-mounted spouts, undermount basins, engineered stone vanity, backlighting, commercial washroom design, club amenities

Tactile glazed wall tiles and arched backlit mirrors bring a sophisticated ambiance to the vanity amenities. Integrated illumination softens the architectural lines, creating an ambient atmosphere designed for high-end hospitality restrooms.