This renovation involved transforming a greasy diner into a fresh salad bar, and while we do not have opinions on the food before or after, we definitely had some ideas for freshening up the space from a design perspective! With this small building already being such an iconic structure in the North Shore, we knew we had to do it justice and leaned heavily into a retro color and material palette for the inside and outside
It would be such a missed opportunity for fun if we went neutral with our designs for a building with a butterfly roof. It was a pretty drawn out renovation process, but the first choices we made were adding the sputnik inspired lights in the eaves of the roof, painting the exterior in a cool mint and bright white, and adding gray and white striped awnings over the windows. The retro exterior really set the mood for the interior too.
The layout itself really couldn’t change except for stealing a little space to make the bathroom more usable, but everything else changed. We started with a colorful terrazzo floor for the main area and a complementary teal tile for the bar. Then we added a solid wall of white tile behind the bar, large globe pendants over the bar and the dining tables, and blocks of color in the funky shaped panels above the windows.
Click for a similar look.
Click for a similar look.
We chose two unapologetically bold patterns for this restaurant bathroom, and the payoff is instant delight. The graphic wallpaper sets a playful tone the moment you open the door, while the sculptural floor tile adds movement and energy underfoot. Balanced by soft, glazed wall tile and clean-lined fixtures, the space feels intentional rather than overwhelming—proof that even highly functional rooms can carry personality. It’s a small moment in the restaurant, but one that guests remember long after they leave the table.
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The cumulative result of the entire renovation is both fresh, like you would want from a salad bar, and funky, like you would want from a building with a butterfly roof. What this building lacks in size, it makes up for in personality and we are so excited for everyone to finally see inside! It was an honor to get to be a part of this one!
