Smoky’s Interior Design
1.1 Interior Design Concept and Inspiration
The Interior Design concept is a European style restaurant which is fast developing from a small coffee shop. It is located at the Westfield mall in Lavington, Nairobi.
My aim was to create a comfortable environment where people can come to eat, meet, chat and relax. I intend the ambience to be friendly and the colour schemes warm using shades and hopefully a textured look at times, and not forgetting a little bit of quirkiness to reflect my personality which has been reflected in the cafe’s design.
The layout will remain changeable with the intention of incorporating various different seating arrangements, from bench to a small amount of alfresco dining. The introduction of my moss wall to the design will reflect and maintain a presence of the coffee culture and not just a ‘drinking hole’. Taking into consideration that the building that I will be leasing is not new, or to be honest too pretty, I intend to cover many of the existing features that date the site (i.e. brick bar, fake exposed beams) and also some unsightly newer features with a fresh layer of paint and some expertly placed decoration to completely change the look of the site.
The use of the burnt wood with matching burnt wood furniture for the interior design sets the mood for an upscale attitude by appearance. It is said to be dark and heavy, yet hollow. This gives the sense that the furniture can be easily moved and rearranged, also giving an inviting and cozy feel. Customers should feel warm and snug when sitting at their table, making them not want to leave. The burnt wood is not too dark, nor is it black. The texture of it is rough, yet comfortable. This is the whole experience we want to give the customers while dining at Smoky’s. The feel of the texture on their tongues, yet the comfortable blend of modern and antique times. It is not a fancy place, but it is not a cheap place. This gives the customers a neutral aura, comfortable that they are getting their money’s worth, a proper meal at an inviting ambiance. The color of natural wood is also present in all areas, matching up with the green which reinforces sustainability and harmony of the environment through the warmth of its hue.
Smoky’s Restaurant theme colors were chosen to leave the customer with a warm, muddy, earthy feel: brown, green, and orange. Various tints and shades of these colors were chosen, giving off an inviting, cozy, yet calm feeling. Green is a calming, restful color, and in color psychology, the meaning of the color green is a soothing, earthy, natural color. It is often used to represent the environment, being restful and relaxing. These are all key elements Smoky’s wants their customers to feel. Orange in interior design is used to stir up the feeling of happiness and is said to be the strongest color, psychologically. Too much bright orange can easily cause anxiety, but a nice subtle shade of orange gives off cheerful and happy energy. Too much of something can also leave customers with the feeling of being overwhelmed, anxiety, and off-putting. To contrast all these colors, Smoky’s will also have a black splash tile giving a sophisticated touch, which can be seen as an upscale vibe for the interior design.
Interior Design
1.2 Smoky’s Theme olors
Each decision about the ideal color palette for Smoky’s is rooted in the job of creating a space that is cozy and relaxed yet stylish and clean, a venue with an energy that can shift gears between the two main target groups (mothers and children during 11am-4pm and adults 18-40 from 5pm onwards). The lighter colors are beige, light green, and orange. These are used on the large walls and on the ceiling. This matches the desired relaxed ambiance, makes the space feel open and clean, and is very child-friendly. There is a slight modern feel with the use of the darker hues which incorporate a slight olive green, dark brown and black. This adds style, creating a mature atmosphere suggestive of a quality establishment.
The color selection for the interior design ties in well with the theme and the aimed target group of families, young adults, and early-middle-aged shoppers. However, if Smoky’s broadens its target to include upper-class demographics, the darker hues may become outdated and unrepresentative of the new desired clientele. At this point, the darker hues would only serve to provide a mature atmosphere. This effect can be achieved through other means, and more universal colors would allow for both energy and elegance in one space.
1.3 Use of Burnt Wood and Artificial Plants in Interior Design
The use of burnt wood also goes hand in hand with the theme colors and also brings out the smoky effect. The ceiling of the restaurant is decorated in a modern way with wood beams running across each other. This gave it a good finishing. The DJ booth has been designed using real wood. The chairs were custom made by one of the factories in Nairobi; they used the concept idea and made composing with the dark sturdy wood and black leather finish.
The dark wood bar stools were also custom made by the same factory. All the tables are a dark wood finish. The use of artificial plants helps to bring in a fresh feeling to the restaurant. They are long lasting and low maintenance to care for. A variety of artificial plants have been placed in different areas of the restaurant alongside the theme colored flowers.
