Palmer & Co

Name: Palmer & Co
Location: Sydney, Australia

Palmer & Co is an underground bar in Sydney that easily transports you to another era. Dimly lit and spilling over with warmth, the space beckons of eras gone by. 

With the exposed brick interior as a great raw base, period tiles were used on the floors and charcuterie areas adding another period appropriate material. 

Walking through the space you can easily see the nod to the 20's & 30's and era of prohibition. 

The hand painted mural on the wall uses typography to add to the story while the period sconces and old photos take you back to a roaring period of time. 

Image 1,3,5-6© Mecho

Image 2 © Boudist 

Image 4  © Concrete Playground

Kolonihagen

Name: Kolonihagen
Location: Oslo, Norway

There is something so rustic and unfinished about Kolonihagen that creates a warm and welcoming space.

With rich, dark wood floors and exposed brick walls, The mismatched furniture allows the space to feel unpretentious and familiar.



By using found items, and keeping the furniture in the same light, earth-toned color family, the space still feels pulls together and cohesive.

A wood plank wall was crafted to separate spaces and hanging bulbs provide just enough light while adding a romantic glow throughout the space.

All photos © Kolonihager Facebook & Kolonihager Web

Drink

Name: Drink
Location: Boston, MA

What might be the best part of Sportello, is the complete contrast that awaits you just below. Drink, the sister restaurant, features the same great bar layout but contrasts the upstairs modern interior with a rich, warm experience.

With exposed brick, warm edison bulbs, and wood bar the downstairs feels hidden away and removed. The large rectangular and continuos bar allow for large groups and individuals while also giving the bartenders a great deal of work space. 

Dedicated to the craft cocktail experience, Drink is a relatively raw space that allows the presentation and drinks to contract and shine within.

Image 1,4 © Starchefs

Image 2 @ veggiewala

Image 3 @ Drink

Local Favorite: BellyQ

Name: BellyQ
Location: Chicago, IL

BellyQ, chef Bill Kim's newest restaurant has brought yet another interesting spot to the bustling West Loop food scene.

With a focus on the materials, the interior is relatively sparse and features a clean palate of grays, browns and copper. The main dining space features grill table along with four-tops and while cohesive in idea, seam to do little to delineate the space and account for sound absorption. 

The wingback chairs were custom upholstered with rich leather and feature the BellyQ logo stitched on the arm. 

While the space didn't succeed on all aspects, we are excited to see the continued emphasis on restaurant design on the Randolph St corridor. 

Image 1-3 © Behance

Image 4,5 © Eater Chi

Our Work; The Savoy (Odyssey)

Name: The Savoy
Location: Chicago, IL

A project we had the pleasure of working on this past spring recently opened it's doors in the Wicker Park neighborhood, right here in Chicago. For this project, we were involved in the schematic & design development phases and helped the client layout the space, design the initial concept, as well as specify the initial FF&E items for within the space. 

The concept behind the space began with the original name for the space; Odyssey. Taking Homer's Epic and applying it to the space allowed us to play with a dark nautical concept. Using this as our starting base, we refined our concept down into natural and classic materials (woods, ropes, subway tile, mirrors) with warm earth tones for colors. To keep the space from going too nautical in feeling, we specified & envisioned industrial lighting, worn antiques and warm brass shelving mixed with pieces already owned. The space was ultimately renamed before opening but the initial concept remained.

The shotgun space was fragmented into multiple seating areas which were reworked in order to accommodate a raw bar, main dining space, bar seating, and a private room. The design throughout the space was created to darken as you continue through the space. The entry and raw bar were designed to be light & airy while the private room, the farthest room in the space, was designed to be dark, moody, & intimate. The dining and bar space in-between tie the spaces together and create a seamless transition for the guest. 

Conceptual FF&E specifications and ideas for The Savoy (Odyssey)

Below are interior and exterior 3D views that were created to show the progression throughout the space. They also show multiple ideas that we worked with while refining the layout and seating options. 

Below are some finished shots of the now open space. While some ideas evolved slightly, the overall concept, idea, and FF&E selections were carried through. 

Photos 2-7 © Kaper Design

Photos 1, 8-9 © Eater Chicago

Tandem Coffee Roasters

Name: Tandem Coffee Roasters
Location: Portland, ME

Everyone knows that my love for Portland (The original, East Coast version.) runs deep. To see Portland's restaurant and coffee culture expanding as quickly as it is couldn't make me any happier. Tandem, Portlands newest third wave coffee roaster just set up shop in the unlikely East Bayside neighborhood and created a tranquil and bright space to match.

Using a bright color and material palate of whites, grays, and light wood allows the space to feel open and welcoming. Allowing portions of the brick wall to remain exposed helps the space feel authentic and raw and hints at the buildings past.

The space is kept sparsely furnished with simple shop stools and industrial pendants which allows the central focus to be on the roasting and brewing process. 

All Photos © The blue ferry

Craftsman & Wolves

Name: Craftsman & Wolves

Location: San Francisco, CA

Craftsman & Wolves is a speciality bakery located in San Francisco. What I love about this concept is simply how much they managed to elevate the experience of a typical bakery. Clean lines, simple materials, and a bit of rustic/ industrialall contrast the jewel-like qualities of the pastry displays.

The horizontal, varying height tiles help keep your eye moving in the linear space while the library ladder system allows the menu to change as needed throughout the day. 

The minimalist seating area, outfitted with exposed brick, white walls, and filled with natural light  allow the pastries to shine.

All photos © Aubrie Pick

Virtue Feed & Grain

Name: Virtue Feed and Grain

Location: Alexandria, VA
Design: Cathal & Meshelle Armstrong

With the restaurant's name taken from the buildings original use; a feed house, Virtue converted the warehouse like space into a casual & welcoming neighborhood spot.

With large timber framing, metal fixtures and support beams, and brick and wood used throughout the interior, the large space has taken on a more approachable and warm feel.

The mix of seating groups and styles assures all guests will be comfortable within the space while also allowing for multiple group types and activities to function simultaneously. 

All photos © Virtue Feed and Grain

Parts & Labour

Name: Parts & Labour
Location: Toronto
Design: Castor Design

Located in an old hardware store, Parts & Labor serves to be an alternative to the typical watering hole offering in Toronto. harvesting ingredients from their rooftop garden and offering art installations and music in the basement, the space is part hipster, part punk-rock.

The powder-coated steel & leather spring stools line the bar while custom pendant fixtures and community tables flank the wall. 

Dinners get a view into the kitchen through the glass partition.

The entry of the space features custom limestone stools and a steel host stand.

All photos © Remodelista

Coppa

Name: Coppa
Location: Boston

While walking through Boston's South End, we happened by Coppa, an enoteca focusing on nose-to-tail cooking and charcuterie. Set amongst rich, exposed brick walls with a wood slat bench running along the length of the space, the space feels lively and comfortable. Metal tolix-esq cafe chairs and metal/wood bar stools add a touch of industrial into the mix, a perfect environment for the up and coming neighborhood and chef.

Image 2 © boston.com

Image 3 © Moebiwan flickr

Image 4 © entrepreneur