Styled Interior Design: Revamping the Riverside

When bosses at Middlesbrough Football Club decided they needed a new look for their tired hospitality suite, they turned to Styled, the Saltburn-based interior design company that’s making waves across the region. Here, Styled head of interior design Bethany Walker talks North East Times Magazine through the process, revealing how the firm created a very modern space in a traditional home of football.

 

When Bethany and the Styled team first entered the Riverside Stadium’s hospitality suite, one of the first things they noticed was how dark, dated and heavily branded it was.

Not such a problem on matchdays, perhaps, but at odds with the club’s desire to reach a wider audience.

Bethany [pictured, on opposite page] says: “The ultimate aim of the project was to create an appealing and multi-purpose space for all to enjoy, and encourage private events, such as wedding receptions and baby showers, as well as the usual matchday hospitality.

“That’s where we came in, to offer our eye for design and expertise to bring the project to life.”

As well as the Middlesbrough Football Club (MFC) branding, the original room was, says Bethany, “quite dark, had not been updated for several years and had little design consideration.”

A major job, then, made even more pressurised by a tight timescale of less than eight weeks from the initial meeting with the client to the finished product.

 

A vision for all

MFC’s goal was ultimately to increase revenue by being able to use the suite for more than just matchday hospitality, making flexibility a key consideration.

The existing layout of the suite was very crowded, so the team set to work creating a space that had enough breathing room for guests, with luxury touches to appeal to the Insta generation.

Furniture was all made to spec by local suppliers and subcontractors, in order to maximise the available space and allowing for more creative freedom.

The previous layout was replaced with a variety of small and larger tables to make the most of each corner of the room, along with booth seating to the window area, creating a more usable and flexible space.

Meanwhile, the bar area was ripped up and started again; a new bar was commissioned, featuring custom-built brass shelving for drinks and glassware with a bronze mirrored wall, marble worktops and a cladded front, with pendant lighting above the bar ceiling area finishing the look – again, appealing to the aesthetic sensibilities of a younger generation.

 

A question of colour

The Styled team started from the ground up – literally.

“Our starting point was to replace the floor; getting rid of the dark carpet and replacing it with much more durable, herringbone effect luxury vinyl tiles throughout the main suite and accompanying boxes,” says Bethany.

She adds: “As our goal was to create a space that is adaptable to a range of different events, we opted for a lighter colour palette consisting of soft blues, greenery and accents of terracotta, which would be carried through into the furniture, wall murals and custom cabinetry.

“However, as the space is still heavily and primarily used for match days, we wanted to keep a nod to the club’s branding in a more subtle way,” says Bethany, revealing this was achieved by adding soft red accents throughout the backrests in the chairs, doors and custom cabinetry for the serving area.

 

A tight turnaround

“This project had an incredibly tight deadline, so the pressure was on to complete it in time,” says Bethany.

“To do this, our team worked with local companies and subcontractors for the works, including everything from decorating, bespoke joinery, the new bar area and the furniture.

“As part of The SDDE Smith Group, a huge part of Styled’s business is helping to create better places to work, live and stay, which is why choosing local companies for this project was a fantastic way to reflect this – and they all did us proud.”

 

A new era

The result was the Styled Suite, a modern, versatile space with a warm and vibrant atmosphere, suitable for everything from baby showers and wedding receptions to its original use – matchday hospitality.

“It is a great feeling to have not only our designs showcased in the club, but to also have the suite re-named after us,” says Bethany.

“Having our work showcased in such a popular venue in the local area will be a huge boost for us.

“There are so many businesses who partner with the club and attend events there, so it is great brand awareness for Styled.”

 

www.styledinteriordesign.co.uk

Instagram: @styleduk