Brave Design at the Port Hotel - as seen in Elle Deco

The sleepy seaside town of Eastbourne wasn’t the obvious choice to launch a chic boutique hotel with an interior you might find in Manhattan or Miami. Painting the exterior black set the community chattering before pouring concrete sinks and laying cork floors. Co-founder Peter Cadwallader chose London-based interior designer Imraan Ismail for his ‘quiet modernity’ which may sound jarring against a Victorian architectural backdrop, but has a soft overall effect which layers a palette of soft plaster and natural Scandinavian furniture.

Ismail chose a full rolling library ladder in a raw finish for the bar area. The simplicity of the black rail and horizontals of the rungs works in complete harmony with the geometry of the bar design, rows of bottles and shimmering pink disc as the focal point. The fluted wooden bar was crafted by local artisans with a pleasing vertical design.

Ismail has been clever to leave a lot of space on the walls and between furniture to allow the rooms to feel spacious. Yet the rooms aren’t sparce, more cocooning evoking a sense of calm. The colour palette is muted, filled with natural tones of putty, terracotta and vanilla with flashes of black which add depth and weight to the overall scheme. The designer shares his influence for using the pastel pinks, “it’s the soft pinkish hue that bounces off the sea at sunset.”

The end result is a truly comfortable and contemporary hotel which doesn’t feel at all out of place in this pretty seaside town.

What next?

All our library ladders are available to purchase online here.

For more guidance on the style and height of ladder you require, you can

• Download a ladder brochure here
• Download a Guide to Ladders for more information here 
• Request a Call Back – one of our small team of expert advisors will call you back to discuss your requirements