Originally built in 1835 and later converted from five Georgian townhouses in 1904, the Berners Street Hotel carries more than a century of architectural heritage. Paris Ceramics was invited to supply and restore marble surfaces for the lobby, reception, lift lobby, and adjoining areas as part of a sensitive refurbishment.

While the floor was historically described as Carrara, close inspection revealed a nuanced composition — a blend of Carrara, Arabescato, Calacatta Oro, and other marbles of similar Italian provenance. Decades of wear had bestowed upon the original floors an aged and historic patina: soft tonal shifts, gentle staining, and the quiet sheen of countless footsteps.

To achieve a seamless continuity between the old and the new, Paris Ceramics meticulously sourced a tailored range of marbles from multiple quarries, carefully matching colour, veining, and texture. Sample panels were overlaid on the existing cleaned floor, reviewed in natural light, and approved by the client for their accuracy and authenticity.

The installation was guided by a principle of sympathetic restoration. Once laid, the new tiles were lightly honed and blended in situ, allowing the floor’s tonality to unify through subtle refinishing, minimal antiquing, and final sealing. The result is a surface that feels both renewed and historic — a living continuation of the building’s original character.