As part of my London Design festival collaboration with Treniq, I visited The Restaurant & Bar Design Show, although the show is highly trade specific, with a huge portion geared towards restaurant and hotel tech, there was an interiors section as well.

Walking through, it got me thinking about how much we take our décor inspiration from the many stunningly designed restaurants, hotels and bars out there, and try to bring some of those elements into our own homes. In fact, I occasionally write about restaurant design on my Supper & Styling Series – it is such a treat to dine in gorgeous, well thought-out surroundings that we can take inspiration from for our own homes.

Spring Restaurant in London designed by architecture practise Stuart Forbes Associates in collaboration with Briony Fitzgerald

Restaurants and bars are great places to steal ideas from, they often have high-profile interior designers working on the projects, and huge budgets. So what better way to get ideas without having to pay the big bucks? Having these beautifully designed places open to the public, makes great design more accessible to us all.

I think there is a design cycle that has appeared over the last two decades or so; designers are aiming to create an experience of more homely and intimate atmospheres in public spaces to make us feel welcome, relaxed and at ease – and doing it in a sublimely stylish way – we then in turn try to bring their take on ‘stylish and homely’ back into our own homes.

Septime Restaurant, Paris, voted one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants

IIlse Crawford is one of my design heroes, and you could even say that she came up with the idea of making a hotel or restaurant feel more like home with her Babington House project, which her practise Studio Illse, designed for Nick Jones (of Soho House) in 1998. One of my favourite Studio Ilse projects is definitely Ett Hem (At Home) in Stockholm, a place that allows guests to become part of it and feel at home. Her focus is always on well-being and putting the human experience at the beginning of the design process, she strives to make people feel gently and subconsciously comfortable in one of her spaces.

“Making an environment that make people feel better after they’ve been there than when they arrived, it’s all about well-being, that means that when people walk into it, they don’t know why they feel the way they feel, but it’s actually all been orchestrated.” IIlse Crawford

The more we see, the more we were inspired, whether it’s trying to re-create that boutique bedroom feel from our last city break, or frantically googling to try and hunt down that awesome pendant light seen in the last lovely restaurant we visited (or is that just me!)

Here are my TOP FIVE ideas to steal from the Restaurant & Bar Design Show

ONE. Concrete + Brass

A great combination, used by Living Concrete on many of their pendant lights, the contrast of the rough and the smooth textures sit together so well.

Concrete and brass lighting by Living Concrete

TWO. Lush Velvet + Dark Wood

I've seen velvets of all colours paired with brass or gold at many of the shows this year, but I really liked it next to dark, curved wood as shown here by Revelogora.

Plush velvet and dark wood by Revelagora

THREE. Pink + Black Graphic Pattern

Those of you that read my blog regularly probably know that I am not a huge fan of pink, and it is absolutely everywhere this year!
Although I have to admit that this 'Crayola' design (by Sara Ord) at the Robin Sprong stand caught my eye. The bold black brush strokes definitely give it an edge!

FOUR. Bespoke Neon

Neon has been working it's way into our interiors for a while now, and I think it adds fun and personality to a space. Why not go bespoke and have one made in a design or saying that is special to you. Technical Signs create a wide variety of bespoke signage, from neon to circus lettering.

FIVE. The Statement Sink

A great way to add personality to a kitchen or bathroom is by installing a sink that is a bit different to the norm. These colourful fireclay sinks are by brand new company The Whitebirk Sink Co. They come in pink, green, blue, yellow and light grey, but my favourite is this beautiful mottled finish below.

Image Credits:
1. Spring Restaurant
2. F. Flohic
3. Ett Hem Hotel
4. Soho House Berlin
5-8. tashsouth.com
9. The Whitebirk Sink Co.

This post is a collaboration with Treniq.

About Treniq
Treniq is an international interiors network where you can discover design professionals, connect and build relationships, and trade using easy and efficient tools. We enable professional buyers like interior designers, stylists, architects, and property developers to source luxury interior products from furniture, lighting, décor & lifestyle to rugs, art, surfaces, fireplaces and much more. Create your free trade account today or contact us for more information at customercare@treniq.com.

A Cycle Of Inspiration: How Stylish Restaurants And Hotels Influence Our Homes