HOSPITALITY

DESIGN CHAT: FABRICA PIZZA

It's been a few months since we finished Fabrica Woodfired Pizza, and I have to be honest, I still love it just as much as the day we started! There is something fantastic about the clean open environment, combined with the fresh ingredients, I just can't get enough!

So I decided to talk about a few of my favorite Fabrica things:

  • Recycled materials. The table tops are derived from old churches around the United States, no trees suffered while creating a spot for you to eat!

Ohio is where these table tops once called home. 

  • This glorious woodfired pizza oven. All 7,000lbs of it. No, that wasn't a typo. At one point, we considered covering the facade in small gold tiles (you know, I love to put gold on anything.) However, honestly, I do believe leaving it in it's natural state was the best choice. The stark white looks so lovely and clean. This oven stands very proud. (And, us too!)
  • Open environment. This space is seriously wonderful. It's open, airy and not over stuffed with too many tables. You don't feel on top of your neighbor, which is really great. I hate it when restaurants shove you next to the bathrooms or the kitchen door. There is plenty of breathing room here.
  • Amazing Italian photography. So, the owners of Fabrica Woodfired Pizza are pretty great. The goal was for Fabrica to have an authentic Italian vibe, so they purchased original photography from a very talented Italian photographer. We got to have fun with it and turn it into wallpaper, creating a beautiful focal wall in the space. I love this image so much.
  • One word, tufting. I mean, really, can there ever be too much tufting in the world? Well, yeah, there can. However, in this case, it's the perfect amount of tufting and it looks fabulous on the camel faux leather. 
  • Pizza. Pizza. Pizza. Amazing, delicious, mouth-watering, pizza.

So there you have it, a few of our favorite Fabrica things! Have you been yet? If so, tell us your favorites below!

General Contractor: Boyd Construction Co.

All photography: Native House Photography

 

INSPIRATION :: A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THE IRISH PUB

Saint Patrick’s Day is around the corner and the holiday immediately brings a few images to mind, the color green and Irish pubs being some of them. Our glam inclination, however, has us dreaming not of the rustic, busy corners of dive bars but the way that other places have taken the charm and character from Irish drinking joints and translated them into more modern, sleek and clean designs.

Like this emerald hued space that makes you want to order a drink by the bar stat…

Or the award winning design for The Lost & Found bar that took the coziness of an Irish pub and made it way more elegant with modern lighting and seats.

How in this home, a vintage industrial bar cart in a basement man cave is just the right amount of unpolished along with an exposed brick wall leading up to it.

And how these super modern restaurants took the classic leather Irish pub booths and green velour fabric and made them so chic with variations. 

Very different from the classic St. Patty’s spots but just as inviting. Cheers!

INSPIRATION: Restaurant Design // Industrial

We absolutely love designing restaurants here at Lisa Gilmore Design! One thing that we are noticing that is really trending in the restaurant industry is industrial design. Restaurant owners (and patrons) are loving the laid back vibe that industrial design creates. -- However, don't be confused, a laid back industrial vibe does not mean thoughtfully planned interior design is tossed to the wayside. A combination of brick, moody colors, railroad ties and interesting lighting make all of these spaces unique in their own way.

Here are some of our favorite images from this popular aesthetic...

Image via Pinterest

Image via Donny's Bar

Image via Pinterest

We are currently working on a design for a new restaurant in Channelside. Here are some images from our instagram of layouts and materials selections.

So what do you think about the chill vibe of industrial design? Do you enjoy dining in this atmosphere or do you prefer a more tailored look? What are some of your favorite industrial designed spaces? Don't keep them a secret, do tell!

INSPIRATION: The Drinkingbird Chicago

One of my favorite things about traveling is trying out new restaurants and experiencing great design. On the last full day of our trip to Chicago, we went to The Drinkingbird.

From the outside it looks like just a simple Chicago bar...

The exterior of The Drinkingbird image via The Business Insider

We originally wanted to go because we heard it was a haunted bar and we were curious to check it out. Here is a link to the story of the building about about the haunted story (story here) they refer to the building as Flounder's Bar & Grill, that was the previous tenant.

 

Then to my surprise, I was very impressed with the aesthetics of the space! It had such a cool vibe. I felt like I was transported into a 60's lounge. 

The main lounge, image via The Drinkingbird

The main lounge, image via The Drinkingbird

There are so many details that I loved about this space. It was simple but well planned. Everything from the gold tufted barstools, to the modern lighting paired with the graphic wallpaper, and last but not least the beautiful antiqued beveled glass mirrored subway tile on the back of the bar. We all know that I am a fan of that! (I also used it on this beautiful master bathroom renovation: here)

Here are a few shots of the space that I took while we were there...

So next time you are in Chicago you must check out The Drinkingbird! Ambiance was great, service was fabulous and their menu was lovely too! They are located in Lincoln Park at 2201 N Clyborn, right on the corner of Webster. Also, just two doors down is our favorite pizza place Pequod's Pizza, you must go there and try their deep dish pizza! (Thank me later!)

Source: http://drinkingbirdchicago.com/