Shop Front & Interior Redecoration –
5 High Street, Edinburgh

This shop front and interior redecoration project at 5 High Street, located on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, showcases our experience delivering high-quality commercial decorating work in busy, heritage-sensitive environments.

The project involved the full internal and external redecoration of a retail unit, with the aim of refreshing its appearance while retaining and enhancing the character of the building.

The objective was to introduce new colours, highlight architectural features, and deliver a high-quality finish that reflects the character of the building and its surroundings.

Working on a historic building also required an understanding of the condition and character of older materials, particularly the existing stonework.

Scope of Work

Our team completed a full commercial decorating project, covering both internal and external areas:

External shop front redecoration
Internal shop floor repainting
Basement area decoration
Feature detailing to highlight ceiling elements
Preparation and finishing of all surfaces

The works required a balance of modern finishes and traditional preparation and application techniques, particularly due to the age and condition of the building materials. This helped us achieve a durable, high-quality result while respecting the character of the building.

Project Details

Location: 5 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh
Project Type: Commercial retail redecoration (interior & exterior)
Duration: 3 days per area (interior and exterior phases)
Team: Greig
Subcontractors: None

Materials & Professional Finishes

We used high-performance coatings from PPG, selected for both durability and a quality finish suitable for a demanding retail environment.

Key materials included:

Aqua Guard Satin: Used externally to provide a durable, weather-resistant finish for external surfaces
Ardenbrite Gold Finish: Applied to highlight key features and add a premium aesthetic

Careful surface preparation was an important part of the project. Existing surfaces were assessed, prepared and finished appropriately to ensure the new coatings achieved good adhesion and a consistent appearance.

Specialist Work & Craftsmanship

A key aspect of this project was working with historic stonework, some of which is hundreds of years old.

Older buildings can present challenges that are not typically encountered on modern commercial properties. Surfaces may require additional preparation, careful treatment and appropriate coating systems to achieve the desired finish without compromising the character of the underlying material.

Our team approached the stonework with particular care, including:

Careful repair and preparation of aged surfaces
Use of appropriate coatings to protect and enhance the material
Skilled application techniques to maintain the building’s character
Attention to existing architectural features

The result demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship and material understanding, particularly when working within heritage-sensitive environments like the Royal Mile.

Structured Programme for Efficient Delivery

The project was completed in separate internal and external phases, with each area taking approximately three days.

Our approach focused on maintaining an efficient programme while ensuring the quality of the finished work:

Preparation: Existing surfaces were assessed, protected and prepared for redecoration.

Internal works: The shop floor, basement and feature areas were redecorated with carefully applied finishes.

External works: The shop front and external surfaces were prepared and redecorated using appropriate durable coatings.

Feature detailing: Selected architectural and ceiling elements were highlighted using contrasting finishes.

Final finishing: All areas were checked to ensure a consistent, clean and professional result

Challenges & Approach

Working on the Royal Mile presented several practical challenges, particularly due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic and the historic nature of the building.

The project required:

High pedestrian traffic requiring careful planning and timing
Maintaining a clean, professional working area in a busy public space
Working safely around pedestrians and the retail premises
Working with aged and delicate materials
Achieving consistent finishes across both internal and external areas

Our approach ensured:

Efficient scheduling to minimise disruption
Safe and controlled working practices
Consistent quality across both internal and external areas

Results & Client Outcome

The completed project delivered a visually refreshed retail space, both inside and out, with:

A clean, professional shop front that stands out on the Royal Mile
Enhanced interior with carefully selected colours and feature detailing
Durable finishes suited to a high-traffic commercial environment
Carefully restored and protected historic surfaces

The result demonstrates our ability to deliver commercial painting and decorating projects where quality, attention to detail and sensitivity to the existing buildings are equally important.

Why Choose Us for Commercial Decorating?

Thistle Decorators provides professional commercial painting and decorating services across Edinburgh and beyond.

We offer:

Experienced commercial painters and decorators
Interior and exterior commercial redecoration
Expertise working in busy public and retail environments
Knowledge of traditional and modern decorating techniques
Specialist preparation and finishing of challenging surfaces
High-quality coatings from trusted manufacturers
Efficient project planning with minimal disruption

Whether you’re refreshing a retail unit, redecorating commercial premises or working within a historic building, our team can provide a professional decorating service tailored to your project.