16th February 2012

Andrew Muirhead & Son brings vibrant Latin American colour to Stratford

Andrew Muirhead & Son has recently supplied bespoke leather for Las Iguanas, a new Latin American themed restaurant within the recently opened Westfield Centre Stratford City, London.

Reflecting the rich colour palette of the southern hemisphere, the Low Carbon Leather selected follows the 'post-it note' colour trend of the season and was dyed to match customer specification.

Situated within the Westfield shopping centre at Stratford City, London, the restaurant overlooks The Olympic Park, a green backdrop for the 2012 Games.

After consultation with designers Martin Brudnizki, leather in bespoke Ingleston Orange with Dalmarnock Orkney finish was used on all banquette seating.

Rachel Phan, designer at Martin Brudnizki Studio Ltd, commented:

"We used custom-coloured Andrew Muirhead leather at Las Iguanas because they were able to produce exactly the colour match that we required within our budget."

Archie Browning, sales director for Andrew Muirhead & Son said:

"The Las Iguanas chain defines the Latin American vibe and our unique colour matching service was able to provide them with a vibrant orange that really fits the mood and theme of the restaurant."

16th February 2012

Modern leather in a traditional setting, Stratford-Upon-Avon

The latter part of 2011 saw the luxury Menzies Welcome Hotel, Spa and Golf Club, specify Andrew Muirhead & Son leather for a variety of furnishings. The Jacobean-style hotel combines contemporary accents with traditional charm, in keeping with the town's Shakespearian heritage.

A Gold Award Winner in the Heart of England, West Midlands Region Excellence in Tourism Awards 2008, the Menzies Hotel is set on 157 acres, boasts an award winning restaurant and has an 18 hole championship golf course.

Low Carbon Leather hides in Ingleston Loom were chosen by interior design company BM Trevillion Interiors Ltd.

Frances Blackham, design director at Trevillion commented:

"The leather was used for sofas and armchairs as part of our major makeover of the hotel. As always, we look to Andrew Muirhead & Son as we are assured of a quality product with the sustainability required for the contract furnishing market."

Archie Browning, sales director for Andrew Muirhead & Son said:

"It is important that Andrew Muirhead & So is known as the go-to manufacturer for high quality and sustainable leather. These high use areas of the hotel require a material that will wear classically with time as opposed to one which will need replacing after a year or so."

16th February 2012

Scottish leather and fine dining at The Lawn Bistro, Wimbledon

Amidst recent successes and five star contracts abroad, manufacturers of Low Carbon Leather, Andrew Muirhead & Son continues to complete projects throughout the UK. Recently specified within the aptly named Lawn Bistro in Wimbledon Village, the on trend natural colour hides have been used to compliment a neutral interior.

Located in the heart the Village, the Lawn Bistro is a new highlight on the fine dining scene - serving simple French food with a British twist. Head chef Ollie Couillaud has formerly graced high end London restaurants such as The Grill at The Dorchester and La Trompette.

The concept behind the stylish yet understated restaurant was put together by design company, Design LSM. Designer, Lucy Robertson commented:

"We chose to work with Andrew Muirhead mainly because of the wide range of colours which are available from stock - we required warm accents to fit with the colour palette of the restaurant. Shades of dark grey were used to compliment the warm atmosphere and graphic prints."

The specified palette of warm grey was translated into Andrew Muirhead hides in Ingleston Gunmetal for use on bar stools, chairs and banquette seating.

Design LSM continued:

"Their product is also cost effective, durable and suits the elegant, spacious and friendly dining environment that we have created."

Archie Browning, sales director for Andrew Muirhead & Son said:

"Even though we have been highly successful in the international market of late, Andrew Muirhead leather continues to be used extensively on home soil. As our most recent restaurant project to be completed, The Lawn Bistro is already a roaring success.

31st January 2012

Scottish low carbon manufacturer featured in Hilton Hotels in Europe and Azerbaijan

Scottish manufacturer of Low Carbon Leather, Andrew Muirhead & Son, has worked with Hilton Hotel Designers on a refurbishment and new-build project in Vienna and Baku, Azerbaijan respectively. The hospitality industry is still growing and Hilton is off to a busy start this year, having just launched their first Hilton Honours loyalty promotion of 2012.

The first project, five star Hilton Baku, combines elegance with a sense of locality and culture and is situated along the Caspian Sea coast in Azerbaijan. The new interiors, designed by Ara Design, London, set to achieve a luxurious, warm and unique feel in each area of the hotel by using deep colours and specific materials on key furniture for which Andrew Muirhead leather was specified.

Anna Peng, Ara Design commented:

"The whole ambience of the hotel reflects heritage, markets, colours and the people of Azerbaijan."

"The quality of the Andrew Muirhead & Son product and the level of service they offered were highly praised by both us and the hotel. The flexible manufacturing process that they provide was also integral during the colour selection process."

Andrew Muirhead leather in Ingleston Stone was used on the reception lobby sofas. Reception guest chairs and the executive lounge sofas and dining chairs were upholstered in Sateen Sahara with armchairs in Sateen Black. Further hides in Ingleston Loon were specified for use on meeting room chairs and within the guest rooms and junior suites, desk chairs were upholstered in Sateen Sahara.

The Hilton Vienna hotel is home to Vienna's premier conference centre and is located in the heart of Vienna. The hotel has been awarded 'Third Best Hotel' in Europe at the Business Travel Awards and 'Best Business Hotel' title in the past.

Sonja Lager, purchasing for Hilton Hotels, commented:

"When we specified Andrew Muirhead leather for the original Vienna refurbishment in 2004, we wanted to match the quality of the existing colours. After experiencing the level of durability, we knew they would be the best choice."

Andrew Muirhead leather in Ingleston Anthracite, Stone and Atlantic Blue and hides in Sateen Paprika were used to upholster several chairs in the S'PARKS restaurant, Lobby Bar and the Executive Lounge.

Archie Browning, sales director, Andrew Muirhead & Son finished:

"International contracts consolidate our position as an industry leader. To be specified in two Hilton Hotels is a credit to Andrew Muirhead leather and proves that it can take the heat!"

"The level of service we offer is praised frequently by designers looking to achieve something as hassle free as possible. We are in a great position to cater to any need as we manufacture our own leather - we can make anything a customer wants and still deliver on quality and durability."

31st January 2012

Scottish Low Carbon Leather first choice for luxury ships

The UK's largest manufacturers of leather, Andrew Muirhead & Son and Bridge of Weir Leather Company, subsidiaries of Scottish Leather Group, have recently supplied their Low Carbon Leather for the upgrade of two of the world's most luxurious ocean cruise liners, the P&O Oriana and the Queen Mary 2.

As the most established ship in the P&O fleet, the Oriana carries hundreds of thousands of cruisers worldwide and, assisted by London based designers Adfecto and following a multi-million pound refurbishment, has now been rebranded an 'adult only' vessel.

The luxury cruise ship plays host to bars, restaurants, shops and lounges and boasts a stunning Tiffany glass ceiling. She is also home to celebrity chef Marco Pierre White's Ocean Grill, as well as the Sorrento, a fine dining Italian restaurant.

Onboard, Andrew Muirhead leather in Sateen Sahara was used for the refurbishment of existing chairs at The Ocean Grill. Further Andrew Muirhead hides in Ingleston Sable and Bridge of Weir Grampian Taupe hides were used on Knightsbridge furniture at Le Club Nightclub and at the Sorrento Conservatory, Bridge of Weir leather in Grampian Lip was used on fixed seating and chairs by Italian manufacturer Potocco Spa.

Rebekah Ellis, of designers Adfecto Design commented:

"We specified Bridge of Weir and Andrew Muirhead for all the leather projects onboard the Oriana due to price, colour range and the extremely high level of service that they offered."

"Their top of the range colour matching service provided a near exact colour match for the scheme that we were working with."

Archie Browning, sales director for Andrew Muirhead said:

"It is a credit to see our leather used on such an iconic vessel. Named by HM The Queen in 1995 and now featuring Bridge of Weir Leather in some of the most prestigious areas onboard, we are delighted that the service we offer has once again been proved to be first class."

Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 has also undergone a two week refurbishment to celebrate her eighth birthday this month. Working in partnership with the original designers, Tillberg Design, the company aimed to restore the ship's signature elegance.

Andrew Muirhead hides in Lustrana Chestnut and Oxblood were used within the British pub, the Golden Lion, on sofas, stools, barstools and armchairs. The pub underwent a complete redesign where the new design retains its traditional character with warm colours and plush seating.

Linda Hult, interior designer at Tillberg Design said:

"There are two main reasons we chose to work with Andrew Muirhead, the first being that the colour and finish worked very well for the design and style of the pub. The second was the IMO certification of the leather and the fact that this rating was required for all materials used onboard."

Mr. Browning finished:

"Modern ship builders and interior designers up until now have found it difficult to source a leather that has the quality they need to make their design work, while meeting the very high demands for safety and quality at sea."

"We have achieved the coveted Ships Wheel quality accreditation and at last designers can specify premium quality leather that matches the most stringent safety expectations, as well as looking luxurious."

"Not only does it have to look top quality, but passengers need to feel comfortable and our leather delivers on all aspects required."

9th January 2012

Andrew Muirhead & Son continue to storm luxury hotel market. Scottish company supply to 5* Hotel Schweizerhof, Switzerland and Jumeirah Group hotels.

Andrew Muirhead & Son has recently supplied the leather within three five start hotels, in both London and Switzerland. Part of Scottish Leather Group and manufacturers of sustainable Low Carbon Leather, they are well known within the industry for supplying top quality leather for the luxury goods sector.

In Switzerland, Andrew Muirhead supplied leather to Hotel Schweizerhof, a five-star hotel located in Bern. It has recently been entirely restored both internally and externally and as a business hot-spot it is renowned throughout the country.

Within the hotel, hides in Sateen Cashmere were used for guestroom headboards, Lustrana Mahogany was specified for bar stools and chairs in the main lobby area and Sateen Purple is found in the cigar lounge on all seating.

Many elements of the hotel are heritage protected in the 100-year old building. The quality of Andrew Muirhead leather is in keeping with the unique interior of marble pillars, fine plasterwork and antique features.

In collaboration with MKV Design, the hotel specified Andrew Muirhead leather to work with a concept that looked at a competitive pricing point, choice of colour and quality of the leather to add to the contemporary design within the historic property.

The Jumeirah Group operates luxury hotels and resorts which are regarded as some of the most luxurious and innovative in the world. They have won numerous awards and Andrew Muirhead leather is currently found in restaurants at two of the London hotels.

The Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, situated in Belgravia, London, hosts the Lowndes Bar and Kitchen where Andrew Muirhead leather in Ingleston Stone and Nutmeg were specified by the hotel for use on dining chairs and sofas.

Kersi Deboo from interior design firm Distinction Contracts, who specify Andrew Muirhead on a regular basis, commented:

"We are delighted to be working with Andrew Muirhead leather once again as they are a highly reputable brand. From working with them on past projects we knew that the quality, durability and service were extremely good. The flexible manufacturing process that is available with Andrew Muirhead is also a big draw for us when projects require specific shades or colour matching."

At the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, Knightsbridge, voted Europe's Leading Business Hotel 2011 at the World Travel Awards and placed in the Conde Nast Traveller Gold List 2011, Andrew Muirhead leather is featured in the Rib Room Restaurant. Formerly the tallest hotel in London, it was recently revamped for the 21^st century, crediting its 50 year history. Hides in bespoke Lustrana Green were used on all chairs and banquette seating.

Archie Browning, sales director for Andrew Muirhead & Son commented:

"Seeing Andrew Muirhead leather in these luxury hotels is testament to the quality products that Scotland can produce! When both UK and international designers come back to us time and again for their projects we are assured that our leather is one of the best out there."