Abbey Court Hotel Lobby Design
The Abbey Court Hotel & Leisure Centre is a well-known, independently-owned hotel in Nenagh, Tipperary.
When guests arrive, their first impression is formed in the lobby and reception area. Our goal was to make that space feel more inviting, better flowing, and aligned with the hotel’s warm, Irish hospitality tradition. View the final photos below:
Design Challenges & Goals
Reception area felt cramped and lacked welcoming flow for guests entering or waiting.
Furniture layout didn’t maximise comfort or allow natural circulation.
Lighting was outdated or didn’t highlight architectural features or focal points well.
Lack of clear seating zones and focal points made the lobby less engaging.
The reception desk, retail display, and decorative features needed refreshing to align with a more modern Irish hotel interior standard.
Design Solutions & Key Features
To address these challenges, we introduced a number of design interventions to elevate the lobby design:
Furniture Reconfiguration: We added large sofas and a circular banquette seat to create social, comfortable zones. Fixed planters and raised brass planters help define flow without blocking sightlines.
Reception Desk & Front Counter: Upgraded with new paneling, a refreshed front counter with clean lines, refined finishes, to anchor the focal arrival point.
Lighting & Ambience: Enhanced general lighting plus feature lighting to accent arched wall features, artwork, and retail display. Warm tones, layered lighting to blend functionality + atmosphere.
Feature Architectural Details: Introduced wall arches with decorative moulding as focal elements; brass metal glazed screens provide elegant partitions; paneled screens add texture and a sense of crafted detail.
Colour Scheme & Greenery: Bright colour palette to uplift and enliven, complemented by large real plants in substantial pots to bring warmth and an earthy feel into the space.
Retail Display Integration: Brass-metal framed retail display units integrated into the lobby, giving guests something to browse and helping blend service and style.
Materials, Finishes & Atmosphere
Finishes: Brass metal accents, glazed screens, wood panelling, quality fabrics on sofas & banquette seating, moulded arch trims.
- Textures: Smooth panelling juxtaposed with the soft upholstery, organic texture from greenery, polished brass, some reflective surfaces.
- Colour Scheme: Muted neutrals (warm creams, beiges), accented with feature colours (perhaps deep forest greens, mustard tones, or terracotta), which play well with brass. Bright but balanced.
- Green Elements: Real large plants, fixed planters, raised brass planters — introduce vibrancy & a connection to nature inside.
Improving Guest Experience & Flow
- Upon entering, guests are guided naturally to reception desk without obstacles; seating zones are visually defined but not obstructive.
- More comfortable waiting or arrival spaces: circular banquette & lounges let people rest, meet, wait.
- Retail display provides interest and helps soften transitions (e.g. while guests wait).
- Lighting helps orient guests and enhance mood: feature arches draw eye, ambient warmth feels more welcoming.
- Overall first impression uplifted: lobby is brighter, spacious feeling, modern yet warm, with authentic hotel interior aesthetics that align with Irish hotel design expectations.
Why This Matters – Hotel Lobby Design & Irish Interiors
Hotel guests today increasingly look for interiors that feel local, warm, and thoughtfully designed. They appreciate spaces that reflect genuine craftsmanship, good materials, and natural touches. In Ireland, the demand is strong for hotel lobby design that blends traditional and modern elements — and for interiors that feel inviting from the moment you walk in.
By aligning with these trends (welcome flow, seating comfort, architectural detailing, warm lighting, natural materials/greenery), this project not only elevated the aesthetics of Abbey Court Hotel, but also improved guest satisfaction and reinforced the hotel’s position as a comfortable, stylish destination in Tipperary and the Irish hotel-market more broadly.
Conclusion
The Abbey Court Hotel Lobby redesign is a meaningful example of how strategic interior design can transform the guest experience. From improved flow and seating comfort to the visual appeal of arches, brass detailing, greenery, and bespoke lighting, the new lobby design lifts the hotel’s front‐of‐house to match the warmth of its service and setting in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
If you are considering a hotel lobby redesign, reception update, or broader hotel interior project in Ireland, we’d love to collaborate. At Intec Design, we specialise in hotel design Ireland, hotel lobby design, and crafting interiors that reflect place, comfort, and style.
Dublin [+353(0)87 642 7320] | Belfast [+44(0)2890 38 1059]
info@intecdesign.ie or visit our Contact Form
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