A MALTON interior design business has seen the doors open on its latest project - Scarborough’s newest hotel.

The award-winning Rachel McLane Ltd has designed and fitted out 65 bedrooms, as well as the bar, residents’ lounge, film club and restaurant, of the Bike & Boot.

The work has included re-upholstering furniture, sourcing local photographs for bedroom doors, creating graphic blinds using original railway poster designs and producing wall mounts featuring bicycle seats and handlebars.

“We were fortunate with the Bike & Boot as the building was once a row of Georgian terrace houses and retains much of the original architecture. Even now, the envelope of the building remains true to its heritage,” said Rachel McLane.

“It made no commercial sense to strip back and replaster the walls.

“Rather than hiding the faded grandeur of the original building, we have worked with it and given it a new lease of life.

“My attitude is not to be overly precious; interior design is not about me forcing my ideas onto a client and their customers. Instead, it is about creating something that works for them and enhances their business.

“It is about producing the best solution we can, for the budget – and that does not mean holding back on quality or design. Good design does not have to cost the earth.”

Rachel worked on the concept of the Bike & Boot for two years with its directors Simon Kershaw and Simon Rhatigan, and for the last nine months with the local refurbishment contractor Infiniti Roofing & Construction.

“We are thrilled with what we have achieved with the Bike & Boot. From a design perspective, it is all in the detail and we certainly had fun with this project,” she said.

Rachel McLane Ltd and the Bike & Boot would like to thank Scarborough Museums Trust for the use of images from the Scarborough Art Gallery’s collection.