Hello there.

Happy new month. We hope you enjoyed the short break, and even if you didn’t, another weekend is just by the corner to look forward to. So far, 2022 has been eventful for the team and promises to be even more. From designing Chapter Lagos to beginning our own journey into a new chapter, we are excited to share more of our projects with you. To kickstart, we invite you to take a peep into the ideation and development that went into the creation of this stunning space, as well as some hacks you will find absolutely useful.  

We were tasked with a brief to redesign an existing space in Lagos. The chef and owner of Chapter sought to redefine the experience of modern Indian cuisine, an idea that was to be reflected in the design of the space. The objective was to create an inviting and comfortable environment, infused with brightness and airiness. This influenced the design direction, which included balanced lighting that illuminated the space from day to night and lush greenery for a lingering freshness and simplicity, ushering in the food as it takes centre stage. 

 

Things To Consider When Setting Up a Restaurant

Around the world, restaurant concepts are evolving beyond great food and good ambience. Several elements should be considered, and in light of that, here are a few tips to note. 

  • Budget

The first question people ask when embarking on such projects is how much will it cost. This
includes the total design cost as well as the marketing resources to launch the project into
operation. When budgeting, it is important to map out the full picture of the restaurant, from the
development to the post-launch stage.

  • Lighting Design

Good lighting should lead the way in creating the ambience you require. Lighting is a subtle way
to enhance customers’ interests, making them stay and spend some more. Candles are
romantic. Red lights make us stop (and hungry, incidentally). Low lighting can make us
relaxed. Staff need task lighting. Lighting is a highly specialized area of design, and it is
essential to put some thought into its conceptualization.

  • Acoustical Design

A restaurant engages all of the senses. Usually, factors like sight, smell, taste and touch are
considered in restaurant design projects, but what about sound? Is your restaurant best suited
for quietness or would you rather have a bar that is bursting with music? The acoustical design
of your restaurant is one of the things that make or break a customer’s reception of the place.

  • Aroma Design

Sure, the kitchen emits an aroma which should be pleasant and appealing. This doesn’t
happen by accident though. Without proper considerations, you may fill your restaurant with
wafts of smoke or unpleasant odours. You can also have an aroma pollution where there are
too many scents floating about. Beyond the aroma of the cuisine however, there are other
considerations. You must put structures in place to ensure that this space is clean and
sweet-smelling at all times.

  • Branding

Brands, like people, have personalities. Is your brand cool and hip? minimalist? Old-fashioned?
flamboyant? Your brand should be defined, programmed and incorporated into the restaurant
design scheme from the beginning.

  • Bathrooms & Brand Immersion

The bathroom presents an opportunity to make an impression and set a restaurant apart. . A
great bathroom is distinctive and should be communicative of the brand. Starbucks is a good
example of this concept. Even without seeing the logo, you know you’re in a Starbucks
bathroom.

  • Storage Needs

Do you plan on receiving lots of small deliveries in the week and having a high turnover of
inventory, or do you plan to purchase in bulk to store on-site?

Will your distributor let you buy in bulk and store it in their warehouse without an additional fee?
Do you have a lot of high-value inventory that needs special security measures (you don’t store
Remy Martin Louis VIII the same as you store bar napkins)? This is an example of operational
and functional design considerations, which need to be considered carefully.

 

The above list of considerations is by no means a complete set, but a cherry-picked list to
provide you with some insight into how to achieve an excellent restaurant design, and how
doing it right can be expensive. As you can see, restaurant design is not just about picking
colours and fabrics. It involves a lot of technical knowledge of how restaurants work and the
important factors that should not be overlooked. In the end, the results are always worth it.