October 6, 2014 By Diane Chiasson Space is such a commodity, especially if you operate a restaurant or foodservice operation in a city centre. While every chef has their own version of a dream kitchen, the majority has to deal with the reality of their small space.
But having a small kitchen can have its benefits as well. You take ... Read more about this post
August 28, 2014 Tone-on-tone, texture and a shot of bold colour is in style, and busy patterns with multiple colours are out. The trend is to layer tone-on-tone coloured fabrics and a variety of textures to create less visual chaos and a more luxurious feel. This idea even applies to a sports bar in today’s design market. Add ... Read more about this post
May 5, 2014 By Chris Hannah
As designers and owners in hospitality, we might be inclined to use the word ‘space’ rather than place, when describing the ambience of a restaurant. The difference between these two words provides an interesting take on what makes a design good or great. Nice space can certainly support a hospitality business, but creating ... Read more about this post
January 3, 2014 In a recent interview with Jason Kaiman, owner of Picnic, one of Toronto’s newest grab-and-go sandwich concepts, he explained that his decision to hire an interior design firm came from a desire to improve the strength of his brand.
“I hired both the ad agency and Burdifilek early in the process, so everything was done collaboratively,” ... Read more about this post
November 21, 2013 November 21, 2013 Investing in the right tableware can be one of the most important decisions a restaurant operator can make. Here are some useful tips from Nick Mowat of Churchill Canada for choosing new tableware for your establishment: Continuity of design – No one wants to invest in a new tableware product line to find out ... Read more about this post
November 7, 2013 By Sean Moon
November 7, 2013 For most chefs, the process of creating a culinary masterpiece does not end when the food comes out of the oven or off the grill. There are many who believe that how a dish is presented to the guest can be just as important as the techniques or ingredients used to ... Read more about this post
June 14, 2013 Chris Hannah
June 14, 2013 When developing a concept for a restaurant, we often speak of touch points – the things that define that concept and create a memory of the experience. Often these are large gestures in planning or detail and can be a big part of the budget. When we think about touch points, we ... Read more about this post
May 16, 2013 By Diane Chiasson The warm weather has finally arrived, and with that comes patio season fever. A welcoming patio is a great way to attract customers as it acts as a giant billboard for your restaurant operation. A patio also increases the number of tables your restaurant can serve, thereby potentially increasing your sales.
Patio furnishings have ... Read more about this post
April 30, 2013 By Diane Chiasson Restaurant trends come and go, especially when it comes to design and décor. Your restaurant operation obviously cannot afford to jump on every trend’s bandwagon, but renovations, whether small or large, are a necessity in order to remain competitive and relevant in today’s society.
Depending on the state of your operation, a small refresh ... Read more about this post
January 4, 2013 By Steve Forler
January 4, 2013 Even though your customers are more knowledgeable and sophisticated about our industry than ever before, it is important to remember that you have the advantage of staying one step ahead of them – because you are the proprietor of the establishment they are about to eat in. Nobody knows their business ... Read more about this post
October 22, 2012 Marketing by design
By Chris Hannah
October 22, 2012 Is your restaurant design sending the right message? Do your customers understand you? In my view, Marketing 101 would suggest that sending a clear message is Job No. 1. Nowhere is this more apparent and more critical than in foodservice. And, nowhere have I seen this rule broken more often ... Read more about this post
August 30, 2012 Easy and effective ways to liven up your look
By Barbara MacDonald
August 30, 2012 Since a change is as good as a rest, it is likely time to liven up your look – perhaps a little, maybe even a lot! We become so used to the establishment we own, operate or work in each day, we don’t ... Read more about this post
June 20, 2012 By Diane Chiasson Look around at all the new restaurant and foodservice operations opening lately, and you will see a distinct trend in the interior design – modern, streamlined, white-on-white looks combined with rustic themes, a mixture of the past and contemporary.
Today, the goal of restaurant owners is to create a space that is comfortable and ... Read more about this post
February 23, 2012 By Diane Chiasson Many restaurant and foodservice operators often overlook some of the less obvious points that might help to make their operations more successful – like lighting.
Restaurant lighting must enhance the mood of the establishment and is dictated by the type of food you serve, as well as your restaurant’s design. But it must also ... Read more about this post
May 18, 2011 By Diane Chiasson While great food and service are paramount to your restaurant or foodservice operation’s success, the third link is having a restaurant design that works. Not only does your operation have to be pleasing to the eye for your customers, but it also must be functional for your employees to be able to offer ... Read more about this post
