Revamp of Sydney’s Water Bar

Iconic Sydney bar has unveiled chic new look by Cate Young

December 18th, 2007

Sydney’s Water Bar has a reputation to uphold, having been named one of the top 5 bars in the world by Wallpaper magazine in 2004. After a month long surgery, the bar has unveiled a shimmering new look, thanks to designer Cate Young.

Inspired by the harbour setting at Woolloomooloo’s Finger Wharf, Cate Young of Cate Young Design (CYD) has mirrored the venue’s surrounding waters with her use of a darkly luminous interior palette, enriched by glistening Swarovski crystal curtains.

The new theme is continued with an abundance of piano-black lacquered surfaces, silvery velvet upholstery and black mirroring.

Perforated screens by award winning designers, bernabeifreeman, allow pricks of light to penetrate between alcoves. Young’s placement of furniture complements the space, with stainless steel blocks by korban/flaubert and highly sculptural banquettes by Schamburg + Alvisse creating distinct zones in the open plan space.

Water Bar
(61 2) 9331 9000

Cate Young Design (CYD)
cyd.com.au/

INDESIGN is on instagram

Follow @indesignlive

The Indesign Collection

A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers

Fortuna Collection – Lorena Gaxiola + Feltex

GH Commercial

Louvre Roofs – Warema

Shade Factor

Panier Stool

Stylecraft

WhisperPin: Acoustic Pinboard

Materialised

Indesign Our Partners

Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!

Michael Drescher and Jacob Olsen on finding the sweet spot with Herman Miller’s Sayl Chair

Michael Drescher and Jacob Olsen on finding the sweet spot with Herman Miller’s Sayl Chair

In the second instalment of our performance seating three-parter, we turn to DKO’s Michael Drescher and Jacob Olsen to peek behind Sayl’s confident architectural form and explore the ideas of inclusivity, adaptability and freedom to move as hallmarks of what sitting your best actually means.

Material integrity at SJB’s Billyard Avenue

Material integrity at SJB’s Billyard Avenue

Natural stone shapes the interiors of Billyard Avenue, a luxury apartment development in Sydney’s Elizabeth Bay designed by architecture and design practice SJB. Here, a curated selection of stone from Anterior XL sets the backdrop for the project’s material language.

In a different light: The Geelong College’s Belerren Centre designed by Wardle

In a different light: The Geelong College’s Belerren Centre designed by Wardle

The Geelong College’s Sport and Wellbeing Centre ‘Belerren’ designed by Wardle is designed around bringing in natural light. But Shade Factor’s job was to help modulate and precisely control it for the most important competitive moments.

Matter meets design in mineral magnificence

Matter meets design in mineral magnificence

The newest brand to emerge from Cosentino’s creative crucible is Ēclos, a next-generation mineral surface that embodies the organic beauty and tactility of marble in a precision-mineral surface or material.

Related Stories

News

NAWIC Christmas Cocktails

150 guests gathered at Verandah Bar on Thursday 25 November for the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) annual Christmas Cocktail Party.

Celebrating the Launch of Nau

News

Celebrating the Launch of Nau

Last week saw Cult celebrating 20 years of serving the Australian design community in launching Nau – a contemporary design brand from Australia’s most curious and spirited designers…

A landmark for gastronomy and design aficionados alike

A landmark for gastronomy and design aficionados alike

Walker Street Precinct, designed as a collaboration between Cox Architecture, H&E Architects and Etymon Projects, is a project to satiate your urban palette and palate.

Home

100% Design London – IDL

The event features the latest in Interior design and has a strong focus on emerging talent in the industry. It is targeted at interior designers, architects, and specifiers.

While you were sleeping

The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed

EOIs open for Adelaide Design Week 2026

Home

EOIs open for Adelaide Design Week 2026

Adelaide Design Week returns in October 2026 with the theme every*one, inviting designers, makers, studios, collectives and creative thinkers to submit expressions of interest.

“I’m not trying to design a shape, I’m trying to shape a feeling”: Eugeni Quitllet & Pedrali in Milan

“I’m not trying to design a shape, I’m trying to shape a feeling”: Eugeni Quitllet & Pedrali in Milan

At Salone del Mobile 2026, Catalan designer Eugeni Quitllet launched Libre, a new seating collection with Pedrali that focuses on form, function and ergonomics.

Powerhouse Parramatta announces a smorgasbord of Australian design

Powerhouse Parramatta announces a smorgasbord of Australian design

Powerhouse Parramatta has commissioned more than 50 leading designers from across Australia to shape the spaces and experiences of the new museum, including public, exhibition, restaurant and retail spaces.

Some special commercial pieces from Salone del Mobile

Some special commercial pieces from Salone del Mobile

Milan Design Week means more than lounging in luxury and the latest in bathroom beauty. We pull out a handful of exciting commercial furniture highlights.