Restoring a Victorian Merchants House to A Boutique Hotel

The Harrison is completely unique in that almost everything we used to restore the building celebrates local art and talent in Belfast The house was built in the 1870's before Belfast was even a city. The fashionable terrace attracted the most wealthy merchants of the day and the facade is most impressive with its marble columns and decorative plasterwork. Inside the cornicing is the work of master tradesmen the like of which is seldom seen today. Explore these two Victorian residences in the museum and theatre quarter of Belfast.

The Railings

The victorian railings were first installed at the Ebbrington barracks, Derry in the 1840s and are now the first thing you see as you approach the building. Most iron was melted down during wartime for ammunition but these railings survived because they protected the soldiers within the barracks.

Lamp posts

The lamp posts are authentic Victorian cast iron. The tops are replicas.

Floorboards

The mahogany floorboards came from the Royal Victoria Hospital just a mile away.

Carpets

Ulster weavers from Portadown made the Harrison stair carpet

Furniture

The antiques used come from Victorian and Edwardian houses from around Northern Ireland

Wallpaper and Lamp shades

Grainne Maher is a local designer who is best known for her Millinery but also for her brand Pluck and Devour. She hand designed some bespoke wallpaper for some of our rooms. If you look closely at some of her designs they might make you giggle. The rooms are called "The Booboirs".

Cushions

Emma Birney Cunningham Belfast based fashion and wedding dress designer made the cushions and soft furnishings

Field Day

Our toiletries are made by Field Day whose owner lives locally. They are eco friendly and vegan and smell divine.

Radiators

Arroll who made the radiators is based on the outskirts of Belfast and take their name from a famous engineer who worked for Harland and Wolff. The radiators are pure works of art in every room.

Staircase

We restored the old staircase that had been ripped out by buying in antique newell posts and remaking spindles in the original style.