Colonial flavour

One of the first things British entrepreneurs and explorers established as they colonised countries such as India, Singapore and Africa was the notion of an exclusive members-only club.

Bar owner Sam Ansley has developed this theme in his latest club, Smith, which is on the ground floor of a 100-year-old building in downtown Auckland.

"When we looked at this space, we decided we wanted to do something that would be in keeping with the era of the building," he says.

"Overseas, we had seen bars set up to reflect period themes, such as a French boudoir. For us, the explorers' club idea fitted with the architecture and age of this building, and matched our intention of creating a bar where guests feel as if they are enjoying high tea or a drink in the comfort of someone's front sitting room."

To re-create the old world feel of a private club, Ansley has drawn together various elements that epitomise this look furniture in a Victorian or Edwardian style, table lamps and chandeliers, mounted animals' heads, gilded mirrors and old-fashioned landscape paintings, also in ornate, gilded frames. The original timber floorboards are dark stained, and Persian-style rugs, most with a red hue for consistency, add warmth to the space.

"My intention was not to create an exact replica of clubs from this era. Rather, I aimed to establish a bar that would be welcoming and comfortable for guests wanting anything from a high tea to a cocktail, both during the day and in the evening," says Ansley.

Furniture, sourced from a variety of second-hand shops, includes velvet-covered, button-backed, grandfather and grandmother chairs and sofas grouped around small wooden occasional tables. Table lamps add a cosy sense of intimacy to these groupings.

"We have placed the furniture so as to create six or seven pockets for small groups of two or four patrons, as well as a couple of settings for larger groups. Of course, with the type of furniture we have, it is easy for people to move it around if they wish," says Ansley.

The bar was custom-made from an old Victorian sideboard that was stripped and stained. A plinth was built as a base, and the sideboard now sits on top of this, creating a huge and imposing back bar. Wine racks and book shelves built on each side of the sideboard provide extra storage and help it look more impressive.

Groups of small gilded mirrors and single large mirrors reminiscent of the era give the bar a more spacious feel. They also reflect light from the various lamps and chandeliers around the room. Deep, strong shades of green and brown on the walls draw the different decorative elements together and help maintain the ambience, even at night when the lights are low.

For a colonial outpost look, the outdoor seating area is furnished with cane chairs, and protected from the street by potted palms.

Story by: Mary Webb