Located on the harbourside in Ipswich, Suffolk, Salthouse invited Faber to reimagine the hotel’s ground floor public spaces - transforming the existing lobby into a destination bar and reconfiguring the restaurant to create a more spacious and effective dining environment.

Rather than taking the obvious route of drawing from the visual language of the local context, the concept took inspiration from something far more personal: the owners’ passion for collecting art. Paintings, objects and installations fill the hotel, creating an atmosphere of curiosity and creativity throughout the building. Our response was to ensure the interiors became an active participant in that story - not simply a backdrop for art, but an expression of creativity in their own right.

Beginning with the visual identity, the project was conceived as a complete and cohesive experience, with the narrative woven throughout every touchpoint of the guest journey.

The bar is warm, tonal and atmospheric - designed to feel inviting from the outside and relaxed and comfortable once inside. A restrained palette of clay tones and textured materials is punctuated with deliberate moments of contrast, while commissioned artworks bring individuality and depth to the space.

Within the restaurant, the layout was carefully orchestrated to create a variety of distinct dining zones, ensuring every table feels considered. The creative narrative explores the theme of salt itself - from paintings inspired by magnified salt crystals, to a sculptural lighting installation derived from the molecular structure of salt. Together, the elements celebrate the idea that creativity can be found in even the most familiar things.

The result is a hospitality environment rich in atmosphere, identity and artistic expression - confidently distinct and deeply connected to the character of the hotel.