Ardbeg House reopens with folklore-inspired interiors
A major transformation has taken place at a 12-room boutique hotel on the Isle of Islay, where the interior design has been shaped by 200 years of distillery heritage. Kaldewei’s sculptural steel enamel played a key role in this project, which saw Ardbeg House emerge from a multi-million-pound refurbishment with Russell Sage Studio in autumn 2025. The result is a unique 12-room tribute to the island’s folklore, distillery history, and craft, with storytelling at its core. The building’s design approach treats narrative as an integral element, rather than mere decoration.
Islay’s Folklore and Distillery History
The hotel’s 12 bedrooms are each distinct, with over 20 Scottish artisans contributing to their design. The team behind the project drew inspiration from the tales and legends surrounding Islay’s coastline and peat bogs, including smugglers, raiders, sea creatures, and the mythical “Islay-gator.” These stories are used to build the rooms around them. They used materials pulled from the island itself, for example a sculptural letter “A” forged from a retired whisky greets guests arriving, then in the Islay Bar, a boat-shaped chandelier strung with green glass Ardbeg bottles hangs overhead.
Integrating Steel Enamel into the Design
Creating an immersive design concept can be challenging, particularly when it comes to hotel bathrooms, which require durability, adaptability, and practicality. To address this, the design team turned to Kaldewei, specifying steel enamel baths and shower trays for the guest bathrooms. This choice was driven by both aesthetic and practical considerations, as Kaldewei’s steel enamel offers clean lines, a smooth surface, and resistance to scratches and stress. Its ease of maintenance also makes it an ideal choice for a working hotel.
The steel enamel baths and shower trays, finished in warm grey and matt black, have been seamlessly integrated into the marble and tiled bathrooms, enhancing the material palette of each space without imposing a dominant aesthetic. Kaldewei’s sculptural forms have been used to create indulgent bathing and showering experiences, designed to feel like a genuine retreat rather than a functional afterthought.
“Being part of the Ardbeg House project is a genuine privilege for Kaldewei,” says Adam Teal, the brand’s UK Country Manager. “Seeing our steel enamel baths and showers integrated into such imaginative, narrative-rich interiors is incredibly rewarding. Ardbeg House sets a new benchmark for experiential hospitality, and we’re proud that Kaldewei plays a role in shaping the guests’ journey.”
