Back in the late 1990s, the idea of setting up shop in the heart of the legal and financial district of Belfast seemed to defy the logic of the location, location, location rule.

But Geoff McConville, who was on reconnaissance for a new space for his eight year old optical practice and showroom, was not deterred by the raised eyebrows or the naysayers when he found 7-9 Chichester Street, a Georgian era gem that had housed L'Estrange & Brett Solicitors for decades.

With a weakness for the faded charm of elegant old buildings, and seduced by the promise of a full scale restoration, Geoff proceeded to bring the four-storey-withbasement building back to its one time grandeur. After months of dust and debris, often the product of his own labours with a sledgehammer, the beauty of the building re-emerged. And the six-strong practice team made the transition to their new home.

Smart move. The south east side of the city centre has proved over the intervening nine years to be a magnet for cool coffee shops and champagne bars, chic boutiques and slick salons, and for Belfast's most ambitious retail venture ever, Victoria Square, which opened last year.

The new space gave the practice room to expand beyond the square footage restrictions that encumber high street stores, to invest in and accommodate cutting edge diagnostic stations and to devise a customer experience that is quite unique in the city.

So, when the practice felt a little frayed around the edges in early 2008, Geoff embarked on a top-to-toe makeover, rearranging the space and breathing new life into the spacious, high ceilinged rooms. He turned to two of Belfast's best respected design specialists, Pat Young and John Timoney and their team at JTPY design.

With a strong feeling for the building's heritage and an uncompromising eye for period detail, JTPY have designed an interior that both respects the historical context and has a modern aesthetic.

The ground floor showspace and reception has been transformed - walls are rendered luxurious with textured Zoffany wallpaper; traditional old school radiators add both character and warmth to the space and the eyewear is showcased in handsome, custom built mahogany cabinetry.

Up the wide staircase to the first floor waiting room, where twin deep cushioned chesterfields beckon, Bach, Beethoven or Bocelli provide a soothing backdrop via the Bose music system, fresh coffee and the The Times or The Observer compete with a Northern Ireland Assembly cartoon chess set for clients' attention. The soft green velvet textured walls and antique furnishings create an atmosphere of a more genteel era – a welcome respite from the constant churn of the city streets.

The main consulting room is a surprise – three stunning ten foot high original sash windows are framed with sumptuous drapes, the dramatic high ceilings are amplified by the elegant fleur-de-lis clad walls, and the sheer scale of the room allows for spacious layout of six testing and diagnostic stations, including the new Zeiss I-Profiler.

What JTPY have managed to preserve, though, throughout 7 Chichester Street, is the serenity of the practice. It is a busy practice, yet never chaotic, lends itself to leisured browsing for eyewear that is quite unique, and its rooms provide pockets of calm for clients during a busy day.

A grand vision indeed!