The Cutting Room opened in late 1999, with a state-of-the-art sound system in its live venue, the comfortably cozy back room, complemented by the front lounge with its dark mahogany bar, velvet curtains, Queen Anne chairs and leather couches. The overall effect is unique and intimate, akin to a spacious living room. "Both Steve and I had to do with the aesthetic of how the place looks; I even brought in some of my own furniture!" Noth laughs, pointing out a funky lamp on the bar and a 'fertility statue' in the window. He explains the origins of the club: "In a gradually teenage-ified city where hip-hop rules, we wanted to have at least one place where you could go where that wasn't going to be the name of the game; there are so many other places for that.