Ian Curly- Baix

Stone Ambassador is proud to present our latest collaboration with 81 Bay, Brighton’s finest new wine bar and dining destination, brought to life by the visionary British-born and Australian-based chef Ian Curley. Offering contemporary cuisine and expertly curated wines in a refined yet approachable setting, 81 Bay delivers a true city restaurant feel right in the heart of the suburbs. The entire space has been thoughtfully fitted out using our Vasari Porcelain Surfaces Collection, chosen not only for their striking beauty but for their practicality in high-traffic environments. From the moment you walk in, you’re surrounded by carefully selected surfaces that feel great to the touch, are easy to clean, and look effortlessly cohesive.

Ian, the owner of BAIX, visited our Stone Ambassador HQ to hand-pick each stone, ensuring the materials complemented his overall vision from the entrance walkway, with walls in Penumbra and floors in Bianco Carrara, to bar tops in Morocca, a full working kitchen in Omega White, and tabletops in Hermes Grey every surface has been thoughtfully selected to lead you toward the show-stopping Vasari Room, named in honour of the very collection showcased throughout the space. The restaurant is cleverly divided into four distinct zones, Baix restaurant, 81 Bay Wine Bar and Vasari Private Dining Room. each blending seamlessly thanks to the consistent application of Vasari surfaces. Designed to capture a modern, lived-in, and aged aesthetic, the porcelain finishes elevate every corner of 81 Bay while serving the functional demands of a busy hospitality venue.

As Ian put it, “All the Vasari surfaces blend together seamlessly and look how they’re supposed to.” More than just a fit-out, the collaboration between BAIX and Stone Ambassador is a perfect example of design integrity and practical elegance coming together—an entire restaurant beautifully tied together by stone.