1. The Project & the Clients

The owners of La Romaine restaurant contacted me after eight years of continuous operation — open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Their concept offered accessible, generous cuisine tailored to two types of clienteles:

• Weekday lunches for busy professionals looking for quick, quality meals;
• Evenings and weekends for customers seeking warm, shared moments with family and friends.

This dual approach also reflected the couple’s teamwork in running the business. The renovation project aimed to embody this duality in the space’s design, while optimizing and modernizing the restaurant layout.

2. The Challenge

The main challenge was to create a cohesive ambiance that would appeal both to an urban, daytime crowd and to a more relaxed, family-oriented evening clientele.
Their brief also included several technical and functional requirements:

• Optimizing the open ground floor dining room (48 seats);
• Refreshing the upstairs dining area and the restrooms;
• Rethinking storage and circulation;
• Integrating a visible wine cellar and redesigning the bar;
• Providing for the installation of air conditioning.

3. The Solution

The concept was built around a blend of styles, tailored to the dual nature of the clientele:

• An industrial style — dynamic and urban — for the lunchtime guests, using elements like brick, metal, and deep green tones;
• A Scandinavian style — warm and authentic — for the evening atmosphere, with soft colors, natural materials, and clean-lined furniture.

This combination creates a timeless, welcoming, and flexible interior.
Several concrete layout solutions were implemented:

• Moving the bar forward into the dining space, freeing up space behind it for a new dedicated dessert prep area (previously in the dining room);
• Eliminating the old dessert zone to make room for additional seating;
• Integrating smart storage into custom-designed furniture to keep everything in its place.
• Designing a showcase wine cellar as part of the new bar layout.
• Preparing for a discreet air conditioning system to ensure year-round comfort.

4. The Transformation

The final result is a restaurant that is both more functional and more harmonious, with every square meter optimized. The decor seamlessly merges authenticity and modernity, creating a warm and vibrant space that works at any time of day.
The owners now enjoy a smoother service flow, increased seating capacity, and an improved workspace.
Today, La Romaine is thriving with a fresh identity — fully aligned with the needs of its loyal guests and new customers alike.