Shop Front Conservation

Our conservation of an Art-Nouveau shopfront to a café in Stockbridge looks fabulous in its new colours. Many people will be familiar with the café under its former name of Maxi’s. Owners Noel and Rebecca had previously carried out some interesting conservation work on the interior, artfully revealling damaged tiles remaining from its previous use as a fish shop, and this project, part-funded by Edinburgh World Heritage, completes the works to the premises.

The project has rescued some unusual stained glass which was in danger of collapsing into the street. The huge sash-and-case windows had rotted beyond the point of repair, but were replaced with exact replicas and fitted with the original stained glass. Missing mouldings were replaced and a pair of handsome new doors, specially designed by us, complete the composition.

The new colour scheme shows off the shopfront to its best, highlighting the low-relief floral motifs in gold paint to add a bit of sparkle.