To mark its 30th anniversary as a renowned hospitality destination, Black Ivy Design led a bold and sympathetic redesign of eight of Coombe Abbey’s most historically significant rooms.
Each of the newly transformed spaces – including De Camville, Harrington, Kellway, Griffin, Stuart, Walnut, Cloisters Rooms and Cloisters Bar – have been treated as a design vignette: steeped in story, yet rooted in modern comfort.
Our vision was to create interiors that respect the building’s past, while reinterpreting its spaces for a new generation of guests. Coombe Abbey has always stood as a testament to time, and now – with renewed interiors – it stands ready for the future.
The redesign is both a nod to the heritage as well as a promise of what’s still to come.
The studio retained original features where they deserved to lead – tapestries, oak panelling, stone niches – while layering in bespoke soft furnishings, sculptural lighting, bold drapery, and tonal palettes that amplify atmosphere.
The Stuart Room, often a stage for weddings and landmark events, now envelops guests in deep wallpaper motifs, rich timber detailing and a lighting scheme designed for pure theatre.
In Walnut Room, the designers leaned into the building’s natural elegance: timber walls remain centre stage, now complemented by a warm, neutral palette and a floating fabric chandelier – adding softness and grandeur in equal measure.
Corridors between have been reimagined as transitional moments – with new panelling, plush high-traffic carpet, and upgraded lighting that weaves a narrative thread through the guest journey.
The Cloisters Bar has emerged from its chrysalis into a moody, contemporary cocoon – deep blue-greens, luxe textiles and curved silhouettes speak to comfort, connection and character, while still honouring the building’s medieval bones.
And finally, in De Camville, original tapestries and suits of armour remain, now reframed with rich wall panelling and a bold central chandelier.
Black Ivy Design is a leading interior design studio known for its expertise in hospitality design and its ability to create modern, functional, and aesthetically striking spaces.
Our experience working with heritage venues and those with rich historical significance ensures that we can bring to life a vision that respects the building’s past, while also reinterpreting the space for future guests.
Every decision was made to blend the drama and intimacy of the building with the functionality and comfort expected of a leading venue.
We approached every room as a character in a living narrative, working with texture, colour, and lighting to elevate not only aesthetics but experience.
“Coombe Abbey is known not just for its history, but for what it offers guests today. This refurbishment ensures that our rooms reflect the standards and experience our guests expect, while remaining true to the building’s past.
Partnering with Black Ivy Design, a fellow Coventry business, has allowed us to deliver a scheme that’s both sensitive and bold while demonstrating our commitment to working with top-quality local suppliers, and we’re already seeing strong interest from both corporate and wedding clients as a result.”
Ron Terry, Group Operations Director, No Ordinary Hospitality
