PAINTER & DECORATORS:
M O’Boyle Decorators

CATEGORY:
Accommodation

PRODUCTS:
Johnstone’s Trade Covaplus
Eggshell
Smooth Masonry
Acrylic Eggshell
Jonmat
Undercoat
Gloss

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Nestled beside seven miles of pristine beach in the picturesque Inner Hebrides, the hotel recently underwent a complete renovation and expansion, now incorporating newly developed buildings and a renovated farmhouse dating back to the 1800s.

When it came to decoration, Northern Ireland-based M O’Boyle Decorators was called upon to transform both the internal and external features of the impressive hotel. Director Michael O’Boyle said: “It was an honor to help revive the historic farmhouse while delivering a classic yet modern scheme in the new buildings. It was certainly a unique project and we’d been looking forward to it for a while.”

A brush of excellence
The team were tasked with decorating the entire hotel, which included 47 guest rooms, suites and lodges, as well as the restaurant and spa. In order to echo the quality of the hotel, Michael and the team needed durable paints that could be used on a variety of surfaces and provide a premium finish, so they turned to Johnstone’s Trade. A range of Johnstone’s Trade paints were used across the interiors, including Covaplus Vinyl Matt, Jonmat Premium Contract Paint and Eggshell.

Michael said: “We wanted a product we could trust and we knew that Johnstone’s Trade paints consistently provide strong coverage, retain their colour and leave an excellent finish. In a busy hotel, it was paramount not only for the quality of the scheme to make a positive impression on guests, but that the paints themselves would be durable and stand the test of time.”

Before they could get started, Michael O’Boyle Decorators needed to ensure the colours they used during the restoration were right for the job, and to achieve the perfect colour scheme, a real team effort was needed. They first worked with the Johnstone’s Decorating Centre in Derry to colour-match all the products. They were then mixed by the team at the Decorating Centre in Glasgow, before finally being transported to the hotel via courier and boat.

The paints were used to provide the interiors with a sophisticated colour scheme, with classy neutrals being offset by earthy hues of green and red in communal areas. For the external surfaces of render and brick, Johnstone’s Trade Stormshield Smooth Masonry was applied. The product’s enhanced binding process, therefore, made it the perfect solution to guarantee a smooth finish and weather resistance.

Over land and sea
The project wasn’t without its challenges. The spectacular buildings were situated on a remote island over the Irish sea, meaning the team of five decorators had to endure a two-hour boat trip to get to the job each day, and on days when the sea was too rough to travel, they hired a helicopter to ensure they got there and completed the job on time.

Michael said: “We couldn’t be deterred by the unpredictable weather and rough sea; we simply had to make sure the job was done to a high standard within the timeframe, so we pulled out all the stops to achieve that. It was difficult, but the finished buildings and the transformation that we’ve contributed to made it all worth it. The hotel looks very professional and elegant.”

Critically acclaimed
The team’s effort and determination certainly paid off, with the project beating off stiff competition to be granted first prize in the Accommodation category at Johnstone’s Painter of the Year Awards.

Michael said: “We worked so hard to enhance the beauty of the farmhouse and buildings and feel we’ve created something really special on the island. It was an incredible honour to be involved in such a lovely project and to then win a Painter of the Year Award just made us burst with pride!”

Paul Farrell, Marketing Manager at Johnstone’s Trade, said “Despite facing severe logistical problems in often inclement weather conditions, Michael and the team at Michael O’Boyle Decorators managed to achieve stunning results through sheer hard work and skill. They truly went above and beyond to inject life into this wonderful hotel resort using Johnstone’s Trade paints and are very deserved winners.”