How Top Restaurateurs Are Curating Art-Forward Experiences

This blog post category, "Restaurant and Café Design," offers a comprehensive overview of contemporary culinary establishments worldwide, focusing on the innovative materials and unconventional forms employed in their completion. It showcases a diverse array of projects, highlighting how architects and designers are pushing boundaries in creating unique dining experiences. Recent features include a bistro in Vietnam with an interlinked peaks canopy that echoes mountain ridges, demonstrating a harmonious integration of architecture with the natural landscape. Another project in Lisbon transforms a pizza restaurant with reflective steel interiors and an open facade, actively engaging with and inviting in the surrounding street activity. Vietnam also features a cafe with a striking red facade that forms a welcoming, hand-shaped entrance, illustrating creative and inviting design solutions. Further examples include a cafe in Spain by Zooco Estudio, whose curved interiors reflect the Art Deco style of the Siboney building it inhabits, showcasing respectful yet modern renovations. Wuhan, China, is home to a luxury farm retreat featuring bamboo-woven domed canopies by Various Associates, emphasizing sustainable and organic design elements. Concurrently, a restaurant in the same LuxeIsland retreat, designed by DL Atelier, uses pyramidal volumes with wood strip patterns to frame its interior spaces, offering a distinct visual and textural experience. The category also covers a hybrid hospitality space in Berlin, where COMMON has integrated a microbakery and pizzeria within a flexible interior, reflecting a growing trend towards multi-functional urban spaces. Selgascano's transparent seaside cafe in China, composed of three parallel glass volumes, exemplifies minimalist design that maximizes natural light and views. A collection of works submitted by designboom guest readers from around the world further enriches the category, providing diverse perspectives on bars, cafes, and restaurants. India Mahdavi's rose-draped speakeasy in Paris, designed for We Are Ona, merges art and gastronomy in a unique setting during Art Basel. Crosby Studios created a bright yellow alien habitat for a dessert shop in Jakarta, showcasing playful and imaginative interior design. IDST’s Wave Restaurant in Dubai combines Memphis playfulness with Mediterranean ease, offering a vibrant and relaxed dining environment. An ice cream shop in Argentina features dessert-shaped sculptures crafted from marble and wood, adding an artistic touch to a casual setting. Another ice cream shop in Thailand is uniquely tucked within a coconut grove, featuring bamboo-clad structures that blend with the natural environment. The blog also delves into a book documenting Japan's Jazz Kissa, exploring the architecture of these unique listening spaces. Maison Malapert's Frivole Restaurant in Paris' fashion district is adorned with vibrant fabrics, creating a chic and dynamic atmosphere. Parisian patisserie ABRA frames its pastries against geometric floors and bold primary colors, making the space as visually appealing as its offerings. Pluto Burger Bar in Poland by Znamy Się features a melting interior with caramel tones and fluid undulating lines, offering a whimsical and inviting experience. Isern Serra's JAÇ hifi café in Barcelona, inspired by Japanese listening bars, provides a modern take on auditory dining. Archermit's 'stone kiln in the valley' in Luzhou, China, boasts a petal-shaped roof, demonstrating innovative structural and aesthetic design. Captain George Flavor Museum in Shanghai, designed by Some Thoughts, blends the narrative of taste with an immersive experience. Kim Lenschow and NIKO JUNE's cafe in Copenhagen doubles as a design shop, highlighting synergistic retail and culinary concepts. Formant Studio's Marne Café in Mexico City layers brutalist and industrial textures for a raw yet refined aesthetic. J.AR office introduces a brutalist garden restaurant with green-tiled surfaces in Brisbane, combining robust design with natural elements. SHAWADS's Quanzhou local fish coffee shop weaves maritime heritage into an ocean-like interior. Zooco Estudio's Regma ice cream parlor in Santander, Spain, features a gridded ceiling with oak and travertine, creating a sophisticated environment. Finally, Ignacio Urquiza and Ana Paula de Alba have designed a sand-toned monolithic restaurant on Mexico’s coast, blending seamlessly with its natural surroundings. Craft & Concept’s Huit Sushi restaurant in Montreux features a custom-made LED wall, adding a modern, dynamic element to the dining experience. #RestaurantDesign #CafeDesign #ArchitecturalInnovation #InteriorDesign #SustainableDesign #HospitalityArchitecture #GlobalDesign #UniqueDiningExperiences

The article explores how restaurant design is increasingly becoming a focal point, transcending mere aesthetics to enhance the overall dining experience. Beyond the culinary offerings, elements such as seating height, lighting, and material choices are meticulously considered by designers to create memorable environments. Ben Krone, founder of Gradient Architecture, emphasizes that effective design subtly enhances the experience without overshadowing the food. The piece highlights that exceptional interior design is not exclusive to high-end establishments but can be found in various settings, from dive bars to diners, catering to diverse aesthetic preferences. The article showcases several examples of contemporary restaurant design. Capital City Diner in Albany, New York, exemplifies how a classic American diner can be revitalized with a modern touch. Danu Kennedy of Parts and Labor Design focused on preserving the building's heritage while introducing updated elements like trendier lighting and color palettes, maintaining original features such as glass blocks and chrome. The design capitalizes on natural light, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere. Another featured establishment, 888 in Nashville, combines a Japanese restaurant with a vinyl lounge, drawing inspiration from Japanese kissa bars. Commune Design incorporated natural materials like construction-grade plywood, washi papers, and linoleum to create a warm and eccentric space, complementing a custom hi-fi sound system and curated record collection. The design reintroduces humble materials in imaginative and detailed ways. Lola's, a restaurant whose design began with an heirloom jade necklace, features green tiles and ash wood with a golden hue, alongside a distinct ceiling structure inspired by the necklace's gold. Designed by Krone, the restaurant's long hallway intentionally highlights a green-tiled back kitchen bar, typically hidden from view, making it a central visual element. Va Bene Cicchetti in Warsaw, Poland, takes inspiration from Venice, Italy, with a striking burgundy and green color-blocked design. NOKE Architects integrated the concept of "acqua alta" (Venetian flooding) into the design through floor and lower wall colors. The adaptable furniture and open windows facilitate a communal atmosphere, allowing the street's energy to blend with the interior. Orders are placed at the bar, encouraging a casual and interactive dining experience. Entre Nous, a natural wine bar in Brooklyn, channels French bistro elegance. The House Special Studio, led by Kiki Goti and Vincent Starapoli, prioritized an unpretentious design, focusing on warm orange tones and a wraparound copper bar that develops a patina over time. The design intentionally integrates with the historic building, making it feel like a long-standing part of the neighborhood. Finally, Parconido Bakery Cafe in South Korea draws inspiration from European plazas. Hyunhee Park of Sukchulmok incorporated Italian design elements, such as arched architecture and 1950s minute square tiles. The soft, rounded shapes and natural-toned color palette create a cozy and inviting ambiance. These diverse examples illustrate the current trend of sophisticated and thoughtful interior design in the restaurant industry, enhancing the overall customer experience beyond just the food. #restaurantDesign #interiorDesign #hospitalityDesign #designInspiration #commercialDesign #architecturalTrends #diningExperience #modernDesign #designAesthetics

Muze, a new dining establishment in Khar West, Mumbai, reimagines the glamour of the Jazz Age through its interior design, offering an immersive experience for contemporary diners. Founded by Gen Z sisters Saloni and Anannya, the concept draws heavily from the liberated spirit of the Flapper Girl era, blending vintage charm with a modern sensibility. DesignWorx, led creatively by Shaji Arakkel, conceptualized the space to evoke the bold energy of the 1920s while ensuring it remains current and engaging. The restaurant's aesthetic is characterized by rich Art Deco hues, dramatic geometric forms, and luxurious textures. Emerald, gold, and inky black tones establish a sophisticated backdrop, complemented by playful motifs such as sleek leopards, vibrant parrots, and elegant black swans. This combination creates an atmosphere that is both lively and refined, embodying the fusion of historical inspiration and contemporary taste. The design aims to be dynamic, engaging, and fresh, moving beyond mere homage to a bygone era. Materiality is a central theme in Muze's design narrative. Sculptural Art Deco-inspired columns, adorned with antique mirrors and metallic gold detailing, serve as focal points. A gold mosaic-tiled bar, set beneath a ribbon-shaped bulkhead, provides a fluid and unifying element within the space. The Private Dining Room features a velvet-draped ceiling, enhancing its plush and theatrical ambiance. The furniture selection is intentionally eclectic, incorporating rich velvets, warm woods, supple leathers, and gleaming brass, ensuring that every corner of Muze possesses a unique character and thoughtful curation. Muze's design also incorporates subtle nods to Mumbai’s own Art Deco heritage, drawing inspiration from iconic facades and precincts in South Mumbai and Marine Drive. This local influence is evident in the symmetry, form, and decorative details throughout the restaurant. Furthermore, curated artifacts and Asian-inspired accents, including animal print wallpapers and handcrafted sculptures, introduce a layer of global sophistication, reflecting the cultural cross-pollination characteristic of the 1920s where Eastern and Western influences converged. Even the restrooms are designed to extend this narrative of indulgence and surprise, complete with a seating nook. Ultimately, Muze serves as a compelling example of how historical design languages can be integrated into a dynamic, modern hospitality setting, creating a unique experiential dining destination that bridges cultural memory with future trends. The establishment is located at Gabbana House Apartment, 1st floor, 15th Road, Opposite HDFC Bank, Khar West, Mumbai, and offers reservation services. #MuzeMumbai #ArtDecoDesign #Roaring20s #ExperientialDining #KharWest #RestaurantInterior #DesignWorx #MumbaiHospitality #GenZFounders

The article highlights the design of Fanny's, an all-day restaurant located within the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. Designed by Commune, an ELLE Decor A-List firm led by Steven Johanknecht and Roman Alonso, Fanny's aims to offer a communal space that blends comfort, luxury, and a nostalgic yet forward-looking aesthetic, suitable for its cinematic setting and clientele. The restaurant is situated in what was formerly the landmarked May Company department store, built in 1939. The museum itself underwent a respectful renovation by architects Renzo Piano and the late Osvaldo Maiozzi, transforming it into a raw, deconstructed campus. The design brief for Fanny's emphasized creating a throwback interior that also embraced an optimistic future, merging glamour with the industry's essence. Commune faced the challenge of adhering to a color palette previously established by Piano and Maiozzi for the museum's industrial viewing and gallery spaces. They creatively navigated this limitation through careful material selection, well-researched references, and a touch of humor, aiming to encompass various design ideas within a cohesive vision. Inspired by iconic Old Hollywood establishments like the Brown Derby and Perino's, Commune collaborated with designer Sean O'Connor to devise a lighting scheme. This scheme was specifically engineered to visually reduce the perception of the restaurant's impressive 30-foot ceilings. Atelier de Troupe was commissioned to craft curved, period-agnostic lamps that illuminate the booths, contributing to the desired ambiance. Additionally, sheer curtains designed by artist Adam Pogue were incorporated, referencing the scrims used in set design. These curtains serve to divide the expansive 10,000-square-foot space while still allowing natural light to permeate, creating a soft and elegant diffusion. Further design details include an exuberant zinc-topped bar, which draws inspiration from Art Deco movie marquees, adding a touch of vintage theatricality. The tabletops are covered in linoleum, a material choice that appears anachronistic but offers a pleasing tactile experience, described as feeling like leather. This deliberate choice of materials and design elements results in a space that is both cinematic in its scope and human in its scale. The overall execution of Fanny's is presented as a thoughtful blend of historical reverence and contemporary comfort, stimulating both the appetite and the imagination of its patrons. #RestaurantDesign #HollywoodGlamour #InteriorDesign #CommuneDesign #AcademyMuseum #LosAngeles #ArtDeco #OldHollywood #DiningExperience

The ambiance of a restaurant significantly contributes to the overall dining experience, extending beyond the food, service, and drinks. National chain restaurants meticulously plan their aesthetic, incorporating elements like furniture, paint schemes, glassware, and cutlery. This deliberate design often leverages psychological research to influence how food is perceived, affecting taste, quality, and value. For instance, soft, warm lighting can enhance dish presentation and foster intimacy, while bright lights might make a meal feel rushed. Similarly, color psychology plays a role, with earthy tones promoting relaxation and bold shades stimulating appetite. This analysis evaluates the decor of 16 chain restaurants, each with at least five locations across multiple cities, ranging from fast-food to upscale establishments. Emmy Squared, a Detroit-style pizza chain, presents an industrial-chic and bistro-like aesthetic with low lighting, simple wood and metal furniture, and a neutral color palette. While clean and generally appealing, its decor is noted as somewhat generic, lacking memorable inventiveness. Uno Pizzeria and Grill, famous for deep-dish pizza, utilizes a signature checkerboard floor tile and a black, green, and red color scheme with Art Deco influences. Its retro charm, featuring large chandeliers and cozy booths, evokes a nostalgic feeling. However, some locations may require modern updates to maintain their appeal. The Capital Grille, an upscale steakhouse, opts for traditional decor with mahogany panels, white tablecloths, and Art Deco chandeliers, projecting a grown-up yet somewhat dated 1980s elegance. Legal Sea Foods, a Northeast seafood chain, employs a tasteful nautical theme with dark blues and seafaring imagery. While some locations maximize water views, the decor can sometimes feel bland due to its broad appeal. Shake Shack, a fast-food chain, differentiates itself with understated yet sophisticated decor, including elegant wood paneling, patterned tiles, wooden tables, and gentle lighting. This thoughtful design elevates the fast-food experience, reflecting the quality of its offerings, though it often remains simple and risk-averse. The Cheesecake Factory is characterized by a grand and opulent, albeit kitschy, aesthetic, blending Egyptian columns with Victorian touches. Designed by Rick McCormack, this maximalist approach, coupled with extensive menus and large portions, creates a distinctive charm. Jack's Wife Freda features an exterior reminiscent of a Parisian bistro, often adorned with flowers. Its interior, with French bistro tables and elegant lighting, is cozy but can appear bland compared to its charming facade. Five Guys stands out with a bold, consistent red and white checkered color scheme, evoking 1950s Americana. The use of red is intentional, as it is known to stimulate appetite. Restaurants include retro-style soda machines and wooden accents. P.F. Chang's combines food with visual appeal, featuring horse statues at entrances and a red and gold color scheme, though recent updates have incorporated more neutral tones. The dark, moody elegance is maintained through dim lighting and dark woods, while exotic murals add to the atmosphere. Wagamama, a Japanese-by-way-of-UK chain, embraced open kitchens before they became widespread. Its industrial-chic decor includes exposed brick, high ceilings, and simple wooden and metal furnishings, creating an upscale ambiance. Fogo de Chao, an elegant steakhouse, invests in award-winning design, incorporating natural wood finishes, open dining plans, and statement chandeliers, often with elements referencing its Brazilian heritage and local aesthetics. Snooze, a breakfast and brunch spot, uses bright, energetic colors and retro-modern design elements, creating a vibrant and cheerful dining environment. Sugarfish, an omakase-style sushi chain, emphasizes natural elements with extensive wood paneling, smoked lighting, and polished concrete floors. This understated decor mimics high-end Japanese restaurants while maintaining affordability. Smith & Wollensky, known for its old-school aesthetic, features a signature green, black, and white color scheme. While some interiors might appear dated with beige walls and mahogany, other locations leverage natural views, maintaining an inviting, classic atmosphere. Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese chain, boasts an upscale New York venue designed by the Rockwell Group, featuring a glass cube entrance, dim lighting, and traditional Chinese garden elements like round wall entrances. Red and gold tones create opulence, and a tapestry-inspired ceiling adds drama. Other locations maintain a modern aesthetic with clean lines and touches like paper lanterns. Daily Provisions, also designed by the Rockwell Group, extensively uses a calming blue, balanced with white marble and brass accents. Its award-winning design focuses on functionality and beauty, adapting to different dining needs throughout the day. #RestaurantDecor #ChainRestaurants #InteriorDesign #DiningExperience #Ambiance #DecorRanking #RestaurantChains #DesignPsychology #CommercialDesign

The success of a restaurant often hinges on more than just the food; it's about the entire sensory experience, or "vibe." This article explores several Southwest Florida (SWFL) restaurants that meticulously craft their ambiance through interior design, music, and unique service elements, transforming dining into an immersive event. Blackbird Modern Asian in Naples exemplifies this approach with its illuminated red bar, overhead parasols, tufted banquettes, and stenciled walls, all saturated in a signature crimson. A floating cherry blossom tree in the dining room and smoke-filled cloches revealing dishes like Sichuan spare ribs contribute to an energetic atmosphere that evolves as the evening progresses. Scott Frielich, a partner at Blackbird, emphasizes that elements from napkins to lighting and art must heighten the senses to create a cohesive vibe. The first impression is crucial, as seen at The Continental in Naples, where a grand entrance featuring black gates draped with bougainvillea, fountains with koi, and a visible, bustling bar builds excitement before guests are even seated. The Bohemian in Bonita Springs offers a contrasting experience, with a modern, all-white exterior that gives way to a jewel-box interior drenched in rich teal paint. Designer Caitlin Schewe uses cheetah print carpeting, gold-framed mirrors, monkey sconces, and bold artwork, layering them to create a whimsical and unconventional space. Silver-dipped incandescent light bulbs, candles, and track lights contribute to the mood lighting, while a playlist that progresses to hip-hop and R&B enhances the evening's energy. Schewe intentionally designed the space for date nights, utilizing dimmers on every light source. Interiors often define a restaurant's entire concept. The Vine Room in Naples, with its green velvet banquettes, shimmering honeyed onyx bar, and art nouveau prints, transports diners to iconic cocktail bars in Paris and London. Next door, Le Colonial evokes a 1920s French Vietnamese lounge through mahogany paneling, patterned tiles, abundant live plants, original paintings, and slow-spinning ceiling fans, creating a languid Saigon aesthetic. Designer Darrah Ferrari Wahlstedt highlights how food, plants, and even uniforms contribute to this transportive design. Beyond the physical space, standout drinks also define the ambiance, with many establishments partnering with celebrity mixologists or presenting cocktails with theatrical flair. The Vine Room's bartenders hand-carve ice, top drinks with salted foam or smoke-filled bubbles, and light garnishes on fire, often presenting drinks in treasure chests billowing with dry ice, creating an immersive pre-dinner experience. Some venues focus on specific indulgences, such as Warren American Whiskey Kitchen's portfolio of over 600 whiskeys, including rare Pappy Van Winkle. In contrast, Nat Nat adopts a stripped-down, instinctual mood centered around its wine walls and shareable plates, attracting chefs and sommeliers with its unfussy, convivial natural wine culture. Chef and co-owner Ming Yee further amplifies this energy through frequent pop-ups featuring local talent. Music is another critical component, as demonstrated by Bicyclette Cookshop, where '90s rap sets a distinct tone. James Beard Award-nominated chef Kayla Pfeiffer's playful cuisine, such as haute caviar with Bugles or hamachi collar presented artistically, creates its own unique vibe, sparking conversation among diners. Whether meticulously designed or intentionally lo-fi, the successful integration of design, sound, food, and drinks creates a rare alchemy that generates a magical dining experience, as evidenced by The Continental's three-month-out reservations during peak season. #RestaurantAmbiance #InteriorDesign #DiningExperience #NaplesRestaurants #BonitaSprings #CocktailCulture #SouthwestFlorida #RestaurantVibe #CulinaryDesign

The author shares a personal experience of struggling to decorate a compact dining area, drawing parallels to a rare 1984 photo of Steve Martin's Los Angeles home. Martin's open-plan dining space, which also houses a mini-library and sofa, is notably small yet appears expertly styled despite a visible mess. The key to its aesthetic success, according to the author, lies in Martin's strategic and seemingly effortless artwork placement. This technique is highlighted as a solution for creating defined zones within an open-plan layout without overwhelming the space. The article emphasizes that this decorating tip is universally applicable, suitable for various home sizes, from small apartments to larger, dedicated dining rooms. It suggests that proper artwork placement can transform a dining area by providing a focal point and a sense of establishment. The author further supports this idea by citing Sam Clapp, co-founder of Beach House Art. Clapp concurs that art can significantly enhance the ambiance and visual appeal of a dining room, making it feel curated, welcoming, and complete. He explains that art adds depth and interest, acting as a crucial finishing touch that brings the entire room together. The article also provides product recommendations, including a Gideon Dining Table, Bethea Upholstered Dining Chairs, and a 'Bowl of Lemons' art piece, to help readers replicate a similar aesthetic. These recommendations focus on items that complement the vintage and established feel observed in Martin's home. Clapp advises selecting personal art pieces that evoke memories and spark conversation, contributing to a more engaging dining experience. The author concludes by noting the enduring relevance of Martin's design choices, proving that good design principles can remain inspiring across decades. The piece encourages readers to find art that resonates with their personal style and home, reinforcing the idea that thoughtful art selection can elevate any dining space. #SteveMartinHome #DiningAreaDecor #ArtworkPlacement #InteriorDesign #SmallSpaceSolutions #CelebrityHomes #HomeDecoration #VintageDesign #DecoratingTips

The article showcases 53, an Asian-fusion restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, designed by ICrave, led by founder and CEO Lionel Ohayon. Located at the base of Ateliers Jean Nouvel’s 53 West 53 residential tower, adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the restaurant aims to provide an immersive dining experience that transcends mere culinary satisfaction. Ohayon emphasizes the concept of a “yummy” room, where a harmonious blend of lighting, acoustics, materiality, layout, visual impact, and a sense of discovery compels diners to return. The restaurant was recognized as a 2022 Best of Year Winner for Fine Dining. The 11,000-square-foot space is divided into a street-level bistro and a subterranean main dining room. Jean Nouvel’s architectural design, characterized by angular beams, allows for expansive column-free areas and intimate dining zones. Given its proximity to a world-renowned contemporary art museum, ICrave approached the project not as traditional interior design but as a sculptural or painterly endeavor. This artistic philosophy is evident in the restaurant's most prominent feature: three dozen giant curving fins that span the entire width of the space. These fins emerge from the street-level ceiling, cascade down in front of the bistro, sweep underneath, and wrap around the ceiling of the main dining room. Each fin is edged with a bright stripe, featuring nine neon-like colors derived from the Nine-Dragon Wall reliefs found in Chinese imperial palaces. These hues also subtly reference the diverse Asian cultures represented in the menu and the modern art displayed at MoMA. The restaurant plans to host a rotating selection of fine art in collaboration with the Friedrich Petzel Gallery. The fin installation, glossy black on one side and sepia-toned on the other, creates a lenticular effect as guests move through the restaurant or view it from the sidewalk. Ohayon describes the installation as both a loom and a veil, with its vibrant colors attracting attention from passersby and directing their gaze to the aerial arrangement of tables, banquettes, and chairs set on an ink-wash carpet, which features subtle smokey grays echoing Nouvel’s steel construction. Ohayon highlights the importance of creating a unique piece of the city's landscape, fostering memories for visitors and a sense of place for residents. The sculptural architectural gesture draws inspiration from the Chinese artistic principle of xieyi, emphasizing broad, expressive strokes and representing the chi or energy flow within 53. In contrast, the principle of gongbi, which focuses on realism and fine detail, guided the selection of decor elements. For example, the colors from the fin edges are subtly echoed in the precious stones used as chopstick rests. Lighting, a critical component of the "yummy" atmosphere, was developed in collaboration with Licht, ICrave's in-house studio. The main dining room features cove lighting, slender cylindrical pendant fixtures that adjust with ceiling height variations, and circular sconces softly illuminating the ecru suede-like walls. An ethereal cluster of small LEDs forms a twinkling cloud above the bar. All lighting elements emit 2,600 Kelvins, complemented by rechargeable Japanese table lights, creating a warm, cinematic glow. The material palette emphasizes honesty and natural finishes, including stone bar counters, white oak paneling, leather banquette upholstery, and wool rugs. The deliberate juxtaposition of warm and cool tones reinforces the duality of hard and soft, grand and humble, evident throughout the design. Lionel Ohayon personally led the design of this project, finding it a creatively cathartic and rewarding opportunity to shape New York City's landscape. He aimed for an expression that aligns with its location next to MoMA, showcasing exuberance with mature restraint, moving away from what he perceived as a "Brooklyn-ification" of Manhattan's design aesthetic. ICrave's extensive experience in hospitality design, spanning over 20 years, allowed them to create a restaurant interior that honors its cuisine without resorting to pastiche, understands its contextual importance, and is as delightful as the food it serves. #RestaurantDesign #InteriorDesign #MidtownManhattan #ICrave #FineDining #ArchitecturalSculpture #LightingDesign #AsianFusion #LuxuryHospitality

Vincent Celano, the founder of New York-based Celano Design Studio Co., has established a reputation over three decades for creating transformative experiences in hospitality and architectural design. His work is characterized by lifestyle-driven concepts and a strong emphasis on authenticity and sustainability. Celano achieves this by integrating personalized approaches, thoughtful conceptualization, and collaboration with local artists and makers in his projects. His portfolio includes collaborations with major hospitality entities such as José Andrés Group, Hakkasan Group, and Marriott Hotels, as well as Resorts World Las Vegas. Recent notable projects highlight his diverse design capabilities. These include Catezza in Red Bank, NJ; La Concha Autograph Collection in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Meximodo in Metuchen, NJ. One featured project, The Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Florida, is an 88-room boutique hotel developed in partnership with 3H Group. This Hilton property, located along Clearwater Beach, boasts ocean and bayside water views, a lobby bar and lounge, a restaurant, and a rooftop pool bar. The hotel's design incorporates teak wood planking and warm, clay-colored wallcoverings, while the reception area features jewel-box-like sculptural white-washed wood desks with brass accents. A layered textured glass chandelier, inspired by local shells, hangs in the lobby, complemented by coral-colored gradient glass screens that evoke the property's sunset views. A significant artistic element is a large hand-painted mural by local artist Derek Donnelly, depicting a woman and floral motif, which has become a community landmark and an iconic beacon for the hotel. Celano describes The Hiatus as embodying a relaxing, modern coastal experience, allowing guests to pause and rejuvenate. The color palette, dominated by greens, symbolizes harmony with nature and draws inspiration from coastal foliage, promoting feelings of growth, renewal, and vitality. Another project, ¡VIVA! in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a Mexican restaurant by celebrity chef Ray Garcia. Celano Design Studio Co. infused the vibrant culture of Oaxaca, Mexico's mezcal bars with a Las Vegas twist, resulting in an approachable, lively, and sophisticated 8,000-square-foot space. It features an indoor promenade patio, a main dining area, a feature bar, a 1,000-square-foot outdoor patio, and a private dining room. An infinity mirror at the entrance creates an interactive art installation, while a mural from the patio extends into the bar, serving as a backdrop for a tequila bottle display. The bar's central design element is a large wood and rattan ceiling feature, with 'petals' inspired by the blue agave plant, casting dramatic shadows. The dining room includes a large driftwood sculpture surrounded by four round banquettes with channel tufting. The outdoor patio maintains an eclectic and residential feel with a wood trellis, overgrown greenery, colorful upholstery, graphic patterns, and area rugs, making it suitable for elegant dinners or casual drinks. The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails in Las Vegas, Nevada, offers an authentic old-school barbershop experience. The design, inspired by gilded barbers, emphasizes polished chrome, white porcelain, and crafted wood details. Dark hardwood floors, vintage tin ceilings, decorative chandeliers, and tufted furniture create a classic ambiance. An extensive wall of shelves and an 1885 vintage Brunswick bar are stocked with a vast collection of brown spirits. The lounge area features a custom-designed motorcycle lamp wall and a disappearing stage for live performances and karaoke, offering an unexpected twist to the traditional barbershop setting. Meximodo Cocina & Cocteles in Metuchen, NJ, is a modern Mexican restaurant that blends vibrant colors, rich textures, and crafted details with classic Mexican cooking. Large windows allow a full view of the lively interior, while colorful metal flowers and lush greenery define the patio dining area with residential-style seating and graphic patterns. The design incorporates colorful porcelain tiles, sculptural stepped wood banquettes, bright hues, and a rose tunnel featuring thousands of floating roses above the main dining room, along with a custom floral wallcovering and a hanging garden swing, to create a festive and unforgettable celebratory destination. #InteriorDesign #HospitalityDesign #RestaurantDesign #HotelDesign #LuxuryInteriors #EclecticStyle #TransformativeExperiences #AuthenticityInDesign #Sustainability

Carlo's, a new American-Italian restaurant in Manila, sets a new standard for experiential dining by blending the vibrant spirit of New York's Little Italy with old-world charm. Designed by JJ Acuna, the restaurant is situated on the ground floor of a modern commercial building, a location that prompted Acuna to imbue the space with vitality while incorporating unexpected touches of traditional elegance. The design features a dark raw walnut floor, green beadboard timber millwork, and sheer curtains adorned with woven green ribbon, all contributing to an atmosphere that harks back to the unique hospitality brought by Italian immigrants to New York. The interior design of Carlo's is characterized by a strong narrative, combining a retro Italian aesthetic with a polished, contemporary edge. The color palette is rich, featuring deep burgundies, profound pine green, and mustard accents, meticulously chosen to evoke the typical textures and colors found in Little Italy's eateries. Acuna collaborated with skilled local artisans to craft the diverse material finishes, signage, and furnishings, ensuring authenticity and a personalized touch. Custom-made ceiling lamps and sconces illuminate the dining areas, while original 'Akari' paper lamps serve as a subtle nod to the owner's Japanese heritage. All graphic elements were developed by the emerging studio Kix Suarez. The 190 sq m rectangular space is thoughtfully divided into four distinct zones, each with subtle variations in decor that define its character while maintaining a natural, cohesive flow throughout the restaurant. The main dining room embodies a classic Italian feel, complete with an oak coffee-to-cocktail bar, an antique brass-framed mirror, and hand-plastered walls. The central area, dubbed Nonna's Open Kitchen, evokes a sense of nostalgia with its terrazzo flooring, poured in the traditional manner, complemented by brass trims and whimsical green tartan counter seating. A striking white-tile pizza oven, imported from Anagni—a medieval hill town between Rome and Naples, and a birthplace of pizza—serves as a focal point in this section. Towards the rear of the restaurant, banquettes offer more intimate dining experiences. These are framed by a geometric motif rendered in three shades of burgundy, adding a sophisticated visual element. For the semi-private dining room, recycled PET fiber wallpaper from Omexco in Belgium introduces a playful texture. An American influence is woven into the design through vibrant art pieces by contemporary artists such as Mr Star City, Nicasio Fernandez, Brian Calvin, and Megan Whitmarsh, all chosen to reflect Carlo’s creative and eclectic character. The culmination of these design choices is a vibrant, inventive, and cohesive space that successfully captures the authentic spirit of Italy, infused with both New York and Manila influences. Carlo's functions as a relaxed, friendly, and design-led all-day destination. Its menu remains true to its Italian roots, offering a wide array of options from morning cappuccinos to classic antipasti, primi, secondi piatti, and cocktails. Notably, the 18-inch vodka pizza and Aperol spritz come highly recommended, completing the immersive dining experience at Carlo's, located at the Asian Century Center, Manila. #restaurantDesign #interiorDesign #manilaDining #americanItalianCuisine #jjAcunaDesign #newYorkInspired #italy #contemporaryArt #experientialDining

Contemporary design is explored through the perspectives of four prominent figures in the home industry, as presented by Andersen Windows & Doors. These individuals, characterized as "possibility makers," are recognized for setting trends rather than following them. Brandon Berg, Senior Vice President of Research, Development, and Innovation at Andersen Windows & Doors, highlights that contemporary design balances various styles while pushing creative boundaries, and Andersen aims to collaborate with those bold in design and performance. Justina Blakeney, a designer known for her lifestyle brand Jungalow, champions confidence, creativity, and joy. Her work is inspired by her childhood in Berkeley, California, where she spent time in nature and nurtured her artistic talents. Her parents, both developmental psychologists, encouraged her to follow her heart and explore her passions. After graduating from UCLA, Blakeney lived in Italy for seven years, where she admired the Italian approach to mixing old and new, and bright colors with neutrals. Returning to the West Coast in 2009, she infused her 1920s Los Angeles bungalow with greenery, bold colors, prismatic patterns, and earthy textures, sharing her journey on her blog, Jungalow. She defines contemporary design as an "osmosis of things coming together when we’re feeling our most creative and inspired." Blakeney emphasizes that even small changes can impact how we live, encouraging individuals to consider the activities their home should support and then experiment with colors, patterns, and textures. Her brand is committed to environmental sustainability, planting at least two trees with every order, and offers diverse product lines for home decor. Cavin Costello, an architect and co-founder of The Ranch Mine, moved to Phoenix after earning his master's degree, driven by a pioneering spirit. Alongside Claire Aton, he established a firm dedicated to honoring the past and inspiring the future through architectural design, drawing inspiration from the region's ranching and mining history. Their firm gained recognition for transforming homes with a focus on individual passions. Costello's background includes hands-on experience building his family home with his civil engineer father. He emphasizes that contemporary design should be "free of style" and responsive to people, place, culture, and climate. An example of his work includes a solar-powered home designed for a couple's passions for music, yoga, and sustainability, featuring compact windows that reveal desert vistas during yoga practice. The Ranch Mine also received an HGTV Designer of the Year Award for their Red Rocks project, which reconfigured a 1970s Spanish Colonial Revival to connect with the outdoors and Arizona's natural beauty. Jessica Davis, an interior designer and founder of Nest Studio and Atelier Davis, has been passionate about design since childhood, even sending landscape plans to *Southern Living* magazine at age 12. Her global upbringing in Sydney, Hong Kong, and Dallas, along with degrees from Princeton and the New England School of Art & Design, shaped her perspective. After working in hospitality design, she settled in Atlanta and became known for her creative contemporary vision, blending luxurious and accessible elements. Davis developed this dynamic approach while working on the TV show *Bob Vila’s Home Again*, sourcing furniture and decor. She launched Nest Studio, an award-winning hardware company, which quickly gained traction through her early adoption of blogging and Pinterest. Her collections feature mixed materials and layered dimensions. At Atelier Davis, her team injects personality into spaces that tell the stories of their inhabitants. Davis, a mother, operates both studios as women-owned businesses, supporting work-life balance for talented working mothers. She defines contemporary design as what is "happening now" and responsive to evolving needs, citing her own plans for a home addition with a stronger connection to the outdoors and an open floor plan, incorporating steel frame windows reminiscent of her childhood in Hong Kong. Jeff Sweenor, a builder, founded Sweenor Builders after a background in competitive rowing, which instilled in him a team-oriented mentality. His work ethic was also shaped by growing up in his family's fifth-generation candy business, where he learned carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and refrigeration skills by building and renovating their shop. This entrepreneurial spirit led him to build his first home, learning alongside local professionals. Over 30 years, Sweenor Builders has grown from building spec houses to creating legacy homes along the New England coastline. The company integrates various capabilities, including an in-house millwork and cabinetry shop, providing a seamless client experience. One notable project involved renovating a 1971 residence, transforming its congested floor plan and scattered windows to optimize riverfront views. The renovation maintained coastal character while incorporating sleek, modern materials like black vertical longboard and cypress cladding. The firm optimized overhead space with a low-pitch roof and clerestory windows, enhancing natural light. Sweenor’s dedication extends to community engagement, offering on-the-job opportunities to local students, a practice he sees as building the next generation of skilled professionals. #ContemporaryDesign #HomeIndustry #DesignTrends #Architecture #InteriorDesign #Building #Jungalow #TheRanchMine #AtelierDavis #SweenorBuilders

This blog post presents a curated tour of Hong Kong, highlighting its vibrant cultural, design, and culinary scenes, following the relaxation of its border controls. The city has maintained its cosmopolitan identity, offering a diverse array of experiences ranging from cutting-edge art exhibitions to innovative dining concepts and sustainable farming initiatives. The tour is guided by TF Chan, a Hong Kong-born editor, providing an insider's perspective on the city's latest attractions. The journey begins with a visit to Café Carlyle, located on the 56th floor of the Rosewood Hong Kong hotel. This establishment, designed with chic interiors by Studioilse and adorned with murals by Jean-Philippe Delhomme, pays homage to the iconic New York cabaret club. It serves as a sophisticated venue for dining and entertainment, featuring a diverse calendar of musical performances. Next, the M+ museum, a Herzog & de Meuron-designed cultural landmark, hosts a significant Yayoi Kusama exhibition, marking the artist's largest Asian retrospective outside Japan. The exhibition showcases her renowned Infinity Nets, kaleidoscopic chambers with mirrors and polka dots, and signature Pumpkin sculptures. Sustainability is explored through Common Farms, a pioneering vertical farming operation led by Jessica Naomi Fong. This initiative addresses Hong Kong's reliance on imported food by utilizing nutrient-rich soil and aquaponics to produce significantly more crops than traditional farming methods, with minimal water usage. Common Farms supplies local restaurants and operates a pop-up, Re:Farm, at K11 Musea. The tour also features The Magistracy, a former supreme court reimagined by designer Joyce Wang into a culinary destination. Its Dining Room evokes historic London restaurants with leather banquettes and golden lamps, offering a seafood-focused menu. The adjacent Botanical Garden provides a gin and tonic experience reminiscent of English manors. For an immersive art experience, ‘Eternal Nature’ at Arte M, created by Seoul-based digital design company D’strict, offers a sensory feast with visuals of camellias, aurora borealis, and bioluminescent rainforests, combined with surround sound and scent. Culinary delights continue at Hansik Goo, a Michelin-starred restaurant by South Korean chef Mingoo Kang. The restaurant offers a bold interpretation of Korean cuisine through a tasting menu featuring dishes like bean noodles with sea urchin and ginseng soup with duck and chicken roulade. The minimalist interior, designed by Area+, incorporates elements of a traditional Korean hearth and showcases artworks by Lee Bae and Chung Chang-sup. For those seeking a sophisticated evening, Uncle Ming’s whisky bar, situated on the 25th floor of the AKI Hong Kong-MGallery hotel, provides an extensive selection of whiskies with panoramic skyline views. The bar's design by A Work of Substance features backlit shelving and rippled glass panels. Finally, André Fu Living, the flagship store of local interior architect André Fu, located in the Heatherwick Studio-designed Pacific Place, offers exquisite furniture and accessories inspired by Chinese ink painting and 1960s modernist architecture, with a store design referencing a Kyoto temple. #HongKong #TravelGuide #Design #ArtAndCulture #DiningExperience #VerticalFarming #LuxuryInteriors #WhiskyBar #ImmersiveArt #MichelinStarCuisine

The cleanliness and design of a restaurant's washroom often reflect its overall quality and attention to detail. In some of the world's leading dining establishments, washrooms transcend mere functionality, becoming iconic spaces that are as celebrated as the cuisine itself. These facilities showcase innovative design, ranging from vibrant, shocking pink powder rooms to futuristic, egg-shaped restroom pods. This exploration highlights 24 examples of extraordinary washroom designs found in top restaurants across the globe. London's sketch restaurant is recognized for its unique, egg-shaped washroom pods illuminated by rainbow tiles. Beyond the restrooms, sketch offers modern European cuisine in distinctively decorated dining areas, such as the pink-themed Gallery and the magical forest-inspired Glade. In Nashville, the Capitol Grille's men's room, established in the 1930s, combines Art Deco design with a minty-fresh, space-age aesthetic, historically serving politicians and business elites with amenities like phone service, shoe shines, and financial newspapers. Tokyo's Robot Restaurant features a bold, gold-clad bathroom, mirroring the venue's neon-lit, high-energy atmosphere with bikini-clad warrior princesses and robotic battles. Portland's Departure restaurant offers a space-themed washroom with industrial stainless-steel fixtures and red lighting, complementing its pan-Asian cuisine and 1920s ocean liner-inspired decor. London's Sexy Fish boasts a monochrome marble washroom, distinct from its aquatic-themed dining room adorned with mosaic crocodiles and Damien Hirst-designed mermaids. Chicago's BLVD presents an Art Deco-inspired, all-black washroom with brassy gold accents and moody lighting, reflecting its Hollywood-after-hours vibe and modern American menu. Restaurant Ours in West London brings the outdoors in with a jungle aesthetic extending to its bathrooms, featuring palm-patterned wallpaper, pastel pink tiles, and gold fixtures. Park Chinois in London's Mayfair offers a luxurious washroom with intricate golden swan taps above marble units, aligning with its 1930s Shanghai-inspired Chinese restaurant and jazz club. Vancouver's Bauhaus restaurant, known for its fresh take on German cuisine, features industrial-themed bathrooms with a blend of graffiti art. Washington DC's Succotash provides a Southern belle-inspired powder room with opulent Rococo-style gilded mirrors against a soft pink and grey palette, complementing its high-end Southern cooking with Korean influences. London's Brasserie of Light, famous for its 24-foot crystal Pegasus artwork, houses a show-stopping washroom clad in slick pink marble with a huge fractured mirror. Vancouver's Anh and Chi, an award-winning Vietnamese restaurant, features a jungle-themed, gender-neutral washroom adorned with Martinique banana leaf wallpaper and gold faucets, which was a contender for Best Restroom in Canada. Australia's d’Arenberg Cube, a wine, dining, and art installation, showcases entertaining washroom pods, each an artistic interpretation of wine labels. London's Aqua Shard offers washrooms with panoramic views from the 31st floor, particularly from the men's room urinals positioned strategically before floor-to-ceiling windows. New York's Morimoto, a modern Japanese restaurant, brings the cherry blossom season indoors with mirrors reflecting a confetti of blooms in its washroom, reflecting the contemporary twists of its cuisine. London's Claridge’s epitomizes British elegance with a washroom that transports visitors back in time, featuring blue and gold macaws on palm tree wallpaper, Art Deco furniture, and peacock-tail-inspired flooring. Toronto's Cluny Bistro boasts a magazine-worthy washroom with warm woods, gold fixtures, frosted glass, and decorative tiled floors. Dublin's The Ivy, an outpost of the posh restaurant, features opulent washrooms with onyx vanity units, deep purple pouffes, and bespoke flowery gold wallpaper, mirroring its Art Deco dining room. London's Le Gavroche, a Michelin-starred French restaurant, maintains a chic washroom with white marble, gilt mirrors, vintage sconces, and antique hand mirrors. Los Angeles' La Boucherie, a French-inspired steakhouse, surprises visitors with a vivid cowboy depiction in the men's room and a light, airy space for women, despite being known for its sweeping city views. Manchester's The Ivy presents a maximalist bathroom with gold-papered cubicles, rosy blooms, tropical birds, and a central nude sculpture. London's Annabel’s, an exclusive members' club, features an undeniably pink washroom with oyster shell-shaped basins, silk roses, and blooming fuchsia wallpaper. The Ned in London, a hotel within a former bank, offers an Art Deco women's bathroom centered around a burnt-orange velvet kissing seat. Finally, London's NOPI, a Middle Eastern restaurant, features alluring and disorienting washrooms designed like a high-end hall of mirrors, with gold and white marble in a honeycomb pattern, making finding the exit a unique challenge. #RestaurantDesign #WashroomDesign #InteriorDecor #LuxuryBathrooms #ArchitecturalInnovation #HospitalityDesign #GlobalRestaurants #ArtDeco #ModernDesign

The 21c Museum Hotel in Kansas City, which opened in 2018, merges the concepts of a hotel and a contemporary art museum, creating a unique experience for its visitors. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a corridor illuminated with red and blue LEDs, a permanent art installation by Luftwerk, leading into a lobby that blends century-old tile work with 21st-century artworks. This unconventional entrance immediately signals that the establishment offers more than a typical hotel stay, appealing to both hotel and museum guests. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and free to the public, 21c breaks away from traditional museum hours, allowing for spontaneous visits at any time. The hotel is part of a larger chain, or "multi-venue museum," founded by art collectors Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown. They established the first 21c in Louisville in 2006, focusing on art from the 21st century. The concept expanded to combine a museum, hotel, and restaurant to support local tourism. Kansas City's location is one of eight, with more in development, primarily in mid-sized cities investing in their downtown areas. A consistent artistic element across all 21c locations is the presence of life-size, sky-blue penguins made from recycled plastic by the artist collective Cracking Art. These penguins, intended to raise environmental awareness, have evolved into a playful mascot for the brand. Guests are encouraged to interact with them, taking them to their dining tables or rooms, and they are even available for purchase, costing $5,000 each. The Kansas City 21c Museum Hotel is housed in the historic Savoy Hotel and Grill, which originally opened in 1888 and was the longest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi until its closure in 2016. Extensive remodeling was undertaken before its 2018 reopening, with care taken to preserve historical features such as the lobby's colorful tile and an art glass dome. Reupholstered chairs from the original barbershop and sealed-off wooden doors in the guest room halls maintain the building's historical footprint, juxtaposing its past with its contemporary art collection. A notable art installation is the chandelier titled "Crystal Palace: The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nuclear Nations (U.S.A.)," created by Ken and Julia Yonetani. Hanging from the historic art glass dome, this piece is made of uranium glass and represents the United States' nuclear power capacity, being the largest in a series of 31 chandeliers, each symbolizing a nuclear nation. The soft blue glow of the uranium glass adds to its visual impact. Many guests book accommodations unaware of the museum aspect, finding themselves pleasantly surprised by the immersive art environment. The hotel also features an "Elevate" exhibition series in elevator lobbies on guest floors, showcasing local artists. Jillian Youngbird's works, spanning various mediums, have been exclusively featured in this series for the past year. The main exhibition, "Off-Spring: New Generations," is dispersed across six galleries and hallways on the first and second floors, featuring approximately one hundred works in diverse mediums, all curated from Wilson and Brown's extensive private collection. This rotating exhibition stays for 10-12 months at each location, with new works continually acquired, mostly supporting living artists. The article also touches on the underlying themes of art accessibility and the privatization of cultural spaces. While 21c aims to make art accessible by integrating it into a hotel setting, the experience of entering a boutique hotel can still feel exclusive compared to public institutions like a library or a traditional museum. Despite this, the hotel offers powerful artistic statements, such as Brad Kahlhamer's "Super Catcher, Vast Array" dreamcatchers displayed in the historic Savoy Grill, which address and heal the negative historical connotations of the original murals depicting westward expansion. #HotelDesign #ArtMuseum #ContemporaryArt #KansasCity #HistoricPreservation #PublicArt #HotelExperience #ArtInstallation #CulturalSpaces

Abigail Plantier, chief experience curator at Maximalist – Experience Design, emphasizes the often-missed opportunity for bars and restaurants to make their restrooms stand out through bold design. She advocates for treating these small spaces as canvases for creativity, stating that "the crazier, the better," and notes her enjoyment in observing guests' reactions to unique bathroom designs. Plantier, an interior designer and brand strategist working with hospitality clients, finds designing restrooms to be one of her favorite aspects of her work. A memorable bathroom design can involve various elements, such as the vibrant flamingo and palm wallpaper at Brasserie Brixton, which encourages mirror selfies. Other establishments employ unexpected details to spark conversation, including Postino’s custom-stamped toilet paper, the mob-themed posters in Gaetano’s, or the Porta-Potty-mimicking exteriors of Bang up to the Elephant's bathrooms. These creative approaches transform utilitarian spaces into noteworthy attractions. Glo Noodle House offers two distinctive restrooms, reflecting a Tokyo alleyway theme. Co-owner Ariana Teigland designed one to resemble an arcade with a custom-built cabinet around the sink by her father. The second bathroom is a bodega replica, filled with Japanese snacks, a floral display, and cigarette boxes, all for visual appeal rather than sale, encouraging interaction and selfies. This creative approach extends the restaurant's atmosphere into an unexpected space. B&GC;, a Cherry Creek speakeasy, features a high-design restroom that complements its exclusive ambiance. The bathroom, designed to entice selfie-takers, includes a gold geometric mirror and artistic wallpaper depicting bare legs with a kaleidoscope effect, contributing to its sophisticated and alluring aesthetic. Sắp Sửa, a modern Vietnamese restaurant, contrasts its minimalist dining area with a celebratory bathroom design. General manager Heeji Kim adorned the ceilings with approximately 60 silver disco balls of various sizes, creating a shimmering effect under midnight blue lighting. The bathrooms also feature Kim's framed dog drawings, adding a personal and whimsical touch. The Family Jones Spirit House in LoHi incorporates its unique design elements into its bathroom. The tasting room, known for its 17-foot copper still and vertical planters, extends this attention to detail with custom-made black-and-white wallpaper in the bathroom. The wallpaper features vintage images, evoking the nostalgia and intrigue of old family film reels. FlyteCo Tower, an entertainment venue housed in the former Stapleton International Airport control tower, pays tribute to aviation history throughout its establishment, including the restrooms. The stalls are decorated with a collage of vintage flight maps, neon bag tags, and safety brochures from historical airlines like Pan Am. Additionally, live air traffic control broadcasts from DIA are piped into the sound system, enhancing the immersive experience. Room for Milly, a LoHi bar, maintains its Baroque-inspired aesthetic, characterized by velvet curtains, terrazzo floors, and hand-painted wallpaper, into its bathroom. The design features subtropical floral elements on the walls and a playful ceiling monkey lamp, which designer Phillip Hua-Pham of Mainspring highlights as a key attraction. The bathrooms also provide special hand soaps, lotions, and diffusers with notes of rose, tobacco, and jasmine. Hey Kiddo's kaleidoscopic bathrooms are considered highly selfie-ready due to their vibrant design. Designer Kevin Nguyen of Regular Architecture used multi-hued tiles to cover the walls, creating a playful and colorful backdrop. The small square mirrors are ideal for framing faces, leading to numerous social media posts by patrons. The Art, a Hotel, functions as a museum, and its fourth-floor bathrooms outside the Fire Restaurant offer an artistic extension of the hotel's theme. The men's restroom features a mosaic of a man that, when reflected in the mirror, completes his face, while the women's restroom showcases a similar mosaic of a woman. Both artworks are composed of individually arranged, single-colored tiles, demonstrating a clever visual trick. Bar Dough's re-design, executed within a seven-day deadline, reflects a cozy, Italian home aesthetic. The custom wallpaper in the restrooms, inspired by trinkets found in a curio cabinet such as butterflies, birds, and flowers with an Italian flair, contributes to this theme. Vintage Italian frames serve as signs for the restrooms, further enhancing the authentic atmosphere. Cabrón Carbón, a taqueria and tequila bar, features bathrooms that double as art galleries. Denver artist A. Michel Velázquez Rosas created glow-in-the-dark murals. One mural honors Mexican movie star Maria Felix with a quote about the complexity of women, while the other pays tribute to Mexican singer Vicente Fernandez. These murals transform the restrooms into culturally rich spaces. TrashHawk Tavern, a Broadway dive bar, decorates its bathrooms with thrifted finds, including vintage magazine ads for products like Schmidt beer and Marlboro cigarettes, creating a unique and nostalgic environment. This theme extends to the bar's holiday decorations, where empty beer cans adorn the Christmas tree, consistent with its eclectic aesthetic. #DenverBars #RestaurantDesign #BathroomDesign #InteriorDesign #HospitalityDesign #UniqueRestrooms #DenverRestaurants #MaximalistDesign #CreativeSpaces

Portland, Oregon, a city celebrated for its vibrant food scene and artistic, relaxed atmosphere, offers a diverse range of cafes, bars, and restaurants with exceptional design. This article highlights ten establishments across the city that showcase creativity in both their culinary offerings and their interior aesthetics. First, Tusk, a Middle Eastern restaurant, embodies an "aggressively seasonal" and vegetable-forward menu. Its interior, designed by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design, aims to evoke a "sitting-outside-under-a-shady-arbor feeling" through an elaborate framework of bleached wood dowels on the ceiling and custom shelving. The design contributes to a mini-vacation ambiance. Next, Virtuous Pie, a 100-percent plant-based pizza and ice cream shop, stands out with its chic interior by Bright Designlab. Inspired by a "modern picnic" concept, the space features gingham wallpaper, a custom-designed communal table, elegant brass lighting, a reclaimed wood counter, and dark green Muuto Nerd stools. Tea Bar, owned by Erica Indira Swanson, provides high-quality tea in a modern, soothing, and minimalist environment. The design incorporates classic Hans Wegner wishbone chairs, white walls, maple counters, and concrete floors, reflecting Swanson's Scandinavian heritage and focusing on quality. Bistro Agnes, a French comfort food restaurant by Greg and Gabrielle Denton, sought to create an elegant yet un-clichéd French bistro interior. The design started with Spanish floor tiles from Design and Direct Source, featuring mismatched patterns that balance coziness, approachability, and fun. This tile informed the rest of the bistro's palette, including camel leather banquettes and an aquamarine accent wall. Shizuku, led by Chef Naoko, offers authentic Japanese cuisine. The interior was designed by internationally renowned architect Kengo Kuma, known for his work on the Portland Japanese Garden. Kuma's team used suspended bamboo screens, oriented vertically, to create an ancient yet modern aesthetic. A dry garden by Sadafumi Uchiyama is a focal point, complemented by furniture crafted by Graham Bell. Driftwood Room, located in the Hotel DeLuxe, is a long-standing craft cocktail bar. Its cozy, dimly lit interior, characterized by exposed brick walls, a curved bar, a yellow serpentine booth, and low lighting, creates an intimate setting. Dame, an intimate neighborhood restaurant, focuses on Pacific Northwest cuisine and natural wine. Designer Jasmine Vaughan of Maxwell Gray Interiors created a simple yet sophisticated palette. The space features lush Eskayel wallpaper, custom rift-cut white oak tabletops, a marble bar, restored original oak floors, white oak shelving by Jewell Hardwoods, and custom pendant lights by Nash Martinez of Current Collection. Han Oak, a non-traditional Korean-American family restaurant designed by Brett Schulz Architects, has an unconventional, welcoming space. Its interior features a patch of lawn, a rolling garage door, communal tables, open shelves, and a visible kitchen, reflecting the spontaneity of its menu. Dapper & Wise Coffee Roasters offers a modern and welcoming coffee bar experience. Its design elements include a timeworn chevron floor, brass lighting, handmade live-edge tables, Heath Ceramics tile, dark-hued Rifle Paper wallpaper, and brass sconces from Schoolhouse Electric, aiming for an approachable yet sophisticated atmosphere. Finally, Q, a reinvented restaurant by the former head chef and staff of Veritable Quandary, honors its original menu while featuring a new interior by Andee Hess of Osmose Design. Hess transformed a retail space using various wood species, black granite, Art Deco-inspired millwork, a rosewood coffered ceiling, a black banquette, and a black granite bar to create a sophisticated ambiance. #PortlandOregon #RestaurantDesign #InteriorDesign #FoodScene #ModernDesign #CafeInteriors #BarDesign #ArchitecturalDesign #PacificNorthwestCuisine

In the spring, patrons and neighbors of the Elite Cafe were concerned about the sale of the 35-year-old restaurant, fearing that its historic interior would be gutted. However, reassurance came with the news that San Francisco restaurateur Andy Chun, known for his sensitive 2014 remodel of Schroeder’s, was leading the buying group. Chun stated his intention to preserve much of the Art Deco interior, while offering a contemporary interpretation of the 1920s and 1930s decorative style. The Elite Cafe, located at 2049 Fillmore Street since 1981, resides in an Art Deco building originally commissioned for the Lincoln Grill in 1932. Building permits from September 1932 indicate an estimated cost of $5,000 for the structure, designed by Irvine & Ebbets in the “modernistic” style. The firm was noted for its Art Deco apartment buildings in San Francisco. For the Lincoln Grill, Irvine & Ebbets incorporated colorful tiles, with black and yellow zigzag patterns above transom windows and as wainscoting along the facade. A raised zigzag cornice and a large, repeated diamond pattern etched in cement adorned the building's top. Stepped designs framed the Philippine mahogany front doors and main plate glass window. These exterior details, along with a reconfigured neon sign from the 1980s, largely remained intact until the recent remodel, which saw the zigzag and diamond patterns obscured by black paint. Inside, the remodel, designed by BCV Architects, involved painting nearly all the wooden surfaces in shades of gray, including dark bluish slate (Benjamin Moore’s Polo Blue) for booths, the bar, and woodwork, and a charcoal color (Englewood Cliffs) for the walls. Chris von Eckartsberg, principal architect at BCV, explained that the booths had been previously painted and required refinishing. The design team aimed to maintain the cafe's essence while updating the color palette to a more luxurious collection of hues. The moldings on the high ceiling were highlighted in white, complementing a new retro-inspired white and black hexagon tile floor, which mirrored the original magnesite floor. However, most Art Deco light fixtures, whether original or added through previous renovations, were removed. Curved Art Deco glass sconces in the booths were replaced by small brass lampshades, which were described as more suitable for bedside reading. While the previous sconces were not original to the 1930s, the replacements were seen as less appropriate for the cafe's style. The non-working bells to summon waiters were kept, but the rails for privacy curtains were over-polished. A press release announcing the reopening mentioned the use of marble and brass for working surfaces to acquire a graceful patina over time. Many existing fixtures with their own patina were discarded for new "faux" old elements. The previous ceiling lights, white milk glass in a skyscraper shape with era-appropriate fans, were replaced by cheaper-looking fixtures that unsuccessfully attempted a Deco style. A mahogany workstation separating the kitchen from the dining room was replaced by an out-of-place mesh-like charcoal drape. The most significant change was the repainting of the back bar, which previously showcased the warmth of polished mahogany reflecting bottles and glasses. The new bar, along with the booth tabletops, was covered in white, veined Carrera marble, providing a more utilitarian but less comforting surface. The Elite Cafe, along with other historic San Francisco restaurants like Tadich Grill, Sam’s Grill, and the Far East Cafe, are among the few that retain elements of their original interiors. While Chun and his team preserved the restaurant's basic structure, largely by painting over existing elements, this approach is criticized as an easy solution for interior designers, leading to a space that has lost decades of warmth and character. #ArtDeco #HistoricPreservation #RestaurantDesign #InteriorRemodel #SanFrancisco #ArchitecturalHistory #EliteCafe #DesignCritique #UrbanLandmarks