Good atmosphere is noteworthy in restaurants these days. Most restaurants eagerly embrace a minimal decor aesthetic because it seems simple and budget friendly. But hey, if I’m patronizing your restaurant, I’m there for the atmosphere and experience as much as the food. Otherwise, I might as well order take out.
This week I was in Calgary for a few days to help my nephew arrange his apartment. He moved exactly one year ago to a much smaller place and since I am the decorating fairy for my entire family, I arrived to help sort him out. Better late than never! Here’s what his last place looked like.
While I was there, I had a meet-up with a few of my fabulous followers! Right before that we stopped into this the Calcutta Cricket Club for a snack and I was completely blown away by how gorgeous it was!
Since every new restaurant right now seems to only be decorated in shades of black, white and cognac it felt like walking into a different world. One of abundance and joy!
My outfit for the meet-up (Dress, necklace and coat all ZARA)
The designer is an artist and co-owner of the restaurant. You can see her Instagram account here.
I loved the black and white checkerboard floors, perfect with all the colour!
This was the bar, so fabulous!
The lattice wall with the coral walls!
These chairs were so comfortable!
Gorgeous mural with the backlit pointed arch motif.
The random pink vinyl bench seat! When you decorate with colour this skillfully, adding a colour like this that doesn’t relate to anything else just looks interesting.
The multitude of colours, shapes and details makes just one more perfectly welcome. This is why if you make a colour mistake, it’s best to just keep decorating. When you create a look and a feel, the “mistakes” will be much less obvious. Some designers deliberately add a “disruptor colour” to a space. An intentionally unrelated colour so that the entire scheme doesn’t feel too pat. But this is ninja level stuff! I go into this in much greater detail in my virtual and live workshops.
This would be a fabulous restaurant to hang out in the evening with the beautiful lighting. I love how this wall with the picture moulding and gorgeous sconces was brown instead of predictable black (below).
And here’s the wallpaper in the bathrooms!
This is my sister’s good friend Meagan and her daughter. We were here last year in July and that’s when I did a few makeovers for Meagan’s home, you can watch them here.
If you’d like to learn how to decorate with colour, sign up for my Create your Dream Home event here.
And if you’re a designer or a homeowner wanting to start a side hustle or career in colour consulting and decorating, become a True Colour Expert in Dallas here.
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I love it! This is a fantastic vibe! You are so right about atmosphere being half of what we expect/pay for when we eat out. I have dietary restrictions such that I basically have to order the same chicken or steak and vegetables/salad at any restaurant I go to. I can cook way more interesting things at home. Believe me, if there is not a good atmosphere at the restaurant then why bother.
The restaurant is beautiful, but it’s you and your outfit that are truly fabulous!
OMG, YES!!!
This restaurant is fantastic, I love the lamps sitting on the bar. What a great idea!
And at night they also have more small lamps on all the tables! We were there in the afternoon! Maria
I love the eclectic yet curated feel of the place.
Definitely a work of art. Thanks for sharing!
I had to show my husband this (and her Instagram page) as he is an artist. He and I were fascinated by this artists work and could see why she used colour so brilliantly in this restaurant. He says that her use of perspective speaks to all the senses and as I relooked at the restaurant I thought that is it…she brings joy in the colour choices that bring perspective from one area to the next in the right proportions that keep you looking and admiring! Reminds me of your consistent advice about window curtains…what height to put the rod, how much to cover on each side of window and size of rod! I can see myself not wanting to leave this wonderful dining space. Thank you Maria for sharing all these photos of it. It will be on my to-visit list next visit to family there!
Yes so good thanks for that interpretation Sharon! Maria
The space is gorgeous! Both my kids live in Calgary and love Indian food so I will send them the link. Looks like a luxury vacation spot !
Yes it does!!
Wow! A visual feast for the eyes! The food would almost just come in as “dessert”!
Thanks for sharing!
Maria, thanks for the wonderful article! I’m so glad you liked the space! I would love to have you back sometime soon. 😊