Raw and natural – this is how restaurants are inclined today. That goes not just for the dishes on the menu but also for the furnishings – simple furniture and materials such as exposed concrete, solid wood or natural stone make an ambience as authentic as possible.
Design with corners and edges
Materials with a rough-and-ready aura are in demand in contemporary restaurant interior design. Unrendered brick walls, natural stone floors and steel or copper cladding are the defining elements of the rough aesthetic. Diners dine on furniture made from solid wood and metal under industry-look lighting. Pure tones such as white or black provide a fitting backdrop to this style. Reducing design to the essentials is its manifesto. Corners and edges, signs of use and patinas are expressly desired.
An awareness for quality workmanship
This interest in “honest” materials and reduced forms goes hand in hand with a new awareness for skilled craftsmanship. A high standard of workmanship is appreciated just as much in the kitchen as it is in the furnishings. Simple tables and chairs by craft furniture makers or handmade lights underscore the claim to purity and simplicity. No overly processed ingredients should be used in the interior, just as the chef avoids them in the kitchen.
The new naturalness
The preference is now for design that consciously exposes and emphasises the material’s original characteristics. Exposed concrete, steel and solid wood stand for both architectural clarity and for urbane coolness coupled with a new naturalness. Benches, tables and other furniture made from robust materials are not just stable – they make an aesthetic statement.
The desire for authentic design
The “less is more” in contemporary restaurant design seems to hit a current nerve. It reflects the growing desire for authentic food, where you can see what is on your plate. In this digital and increasingly hectic age, reduced furnishings convey tranquillity and originality. Instead of smooth surfaces and artificial decoration, the rough and untreated have become the style element.
