Portfolio » Restaurant Renovation
Design Goal
Having played a vital role designing and furnishing the client’s personal home interior, Gracious Living Interior Design was commissioned to re-envision the Star Bar restaurant that the client had recently purchased. The goal: transform the popular breakfast and lunch bar into an upscale restaurant and lounge. Open up and update the space to create a warm, welcoming formal dining area plus a flexible lounge area with intimate seating that also could accommodate larger groups.
Challenges
Create a sense of warmth and intimacy throughout the high-ceiling rooms of the early 1900s building. Integrate an easy-flow dining area in front with a former open dance studio in the rear, which would serve as the new lounge. In the lounge, carve out both intimate seating and flexible space for evening relaxation, live entertainment, and gatherings of up to 99 people. Take advantage of the room’s high ceiling to add balcony-level dining and a small conference room/private dining room. And, oh, yes, give it an aged, upscale, always-been-here look.
Designer’s Role
Gracious Living worked with the project’s architect, builder, and owner on all remodeling decisions related to space utilization, seating, and lounge space planning. The firm also chose colors, hard surface materials, fabrics, draperies, upholstery, and custom lighting.
The Result
A fully utilized and flexible two-level space. The popular restaurant now hosts upscale dining with “world market” cuisine, an active lounge scene, and live music, as well as private parties, meetings, and events.
