Interior remodeling of a restaurant in Toulon
- Project Objective: To expand the central counter and create a gourmet grocery area.
- Materials: Pietra Compattata, terracotta, and recycled plastic.
- Style: Colorful palette and playful design inspired by Tangrams.
Expanding and Redesigning the Central Counter
The owners wanted to enlarge the central counter to integrate new refrigerators and improve circulation behind the bar, which was made more challenging by the presence of a structural column.
This commercial architecture project also included the creation of a gourmet grocery area near the checkout, encouraging customers to take a piece of Santa Rosalia home with them and extend the experience beyond the restaurant.
A Pietra Compattata Finish
The centerpiece of the project was the choice of material for the counter cladding. Pietra Compattata quickly emerged as the obvious solution: these still relatively uncommon tiles are made from crushed stone offcuts that are mixed and pigmented. Produced without firing, their manufacturing process follows an environmentally conscious approach through recycling and energy savings, perfectly aligned with the restaurant’s Mexican-inspired cuisine, rooted in local and organic values.
Their Tangram-inspired graphic pattern introduces a playful dimension, while the color palette was selected to harmonize with existing elements. An old mural discovered during the renovation and the colors of the cast-iron columns served as inspiration for the entire project palette.
A Cohesive Color Scheme from Floor to Ceiling
To bring vibrancy to the space within a limited budget, the ceiling was painted in multiple colors, extending the hues found in the mural, columns, and tiles. This design choice naturally draws the eye upward and shifts attention away from the grey floor tiles.
The Flat pendant lights by Aromas del Campo, with their contrasting colors, highlight and rhythmically animate the space above the bar.
The front face of the counter, painted white and decorated with a wave motif inspired by the screen partition near the kitchen, creates a visual break that softens the colorful graphics of the bar while enhancing their impact.
Natural and Local Materials Down to the Finest Details
The gourmet grocery display unit was designed using terracotta screens, following the same philosophy as the counter itself: raw, irregular, and authentic materials.
The bar shelving, redesigned to optimize storage and service efficiency, is made from recycled plastic and mounted using the bracket system developed by the French company Tip Toe.
