Willow Room (2023)

When a particularly brutal cold snap froze the pipes in this Victorian-era building, the restaurant and lower-level lounge inside it (which we happened to have designed originally in 2016) suffered a bit of damage. The owners decided to turn lemons into lemonade, and took the opportunity to bring us back again to give the space a pretty little refresh. Willow Room was already beloved by the neighborhood, so we wanted to maintain its casual elegance, while also delighting guests with some bolder design elements.

In the upstairs dining room, the paneled rear wall - and backdrop for the see-and-be-seen round velvet booth - was lacquered in a glossy olive green, while the f.loors were refinished with a rich dark stains and the barstools were reupholstered in sophisticated florals. The lower level bar and lounge were enrobed in wallcoverings and upholstery from House of Hackney, and new lighting made the space even sexier. Lest the powder rooms feel left out, they each got fresh wallcoverings in wickedly playful patterns.

Photos by Marisa Klug-Morataya