1. USE FLUTED WOOD TO CREATE A TEXTURED WALL
We discovered the fluted wooden walls after stripping out the venue. When we saw them, they reminded us of the traditional lath and plaster panels you would find in Victorian houses and immediately decided to keep them. Recreating a similar effect is straightforward; the horizontal planks are pinned to vertical timber battens or directly to the walls for a more subtle shadow gap.
2. LET THE SUN GUIDE YOUR COLOR PALETTE
Cocotte has a windowed shop front that fills the space with natural light. Here, we thought of playing with neutral tones in different textures that will organically change throughout the day depending on the external light.
3. BE PLAYFUL WITH YOUR TABLETOPS
Marble and marble agglomerates are often found on our material boards. They make countertops and bring a natural element and pattern to a space. For all the marble and terrazzo elements, we collaborated with an Italian family business in Verona. The tabletops are all bespoke with various sizes and edge details.
4. TIME TRAVEL WITH RETRO CHAIRS
We liked the idea of bringing another natural material and a patterned accent to the space, so we started researching cane webbing chairs. We found some original Italian 1970s chairs that we loved and purchased them straight away. It was only a small set, so we sourced some more chairs from John Lewis for the rest of the space. Cane webbing and rattan are great to add both a retro and natural feel to the space.
There are some great vintage pieces in the market – from the traditional Thonet models to more obscure 70's and 80's pieces, which will suit any home.
5. GO BOLD WITH METALLIC ACCENTS
The metallic bar front was made from raw brass foil strips hand folded and pinned together to create an artisanal finish with a unique wavy texture. We wanted to create a contrast between the flat earthiness of the concrete walls and oak flooring with a reflective yet imperfect finish. The brass has been left unlacquered to slowly age with time and blend in with the space. Metallic accents also look great in a domestic setting. For larger surfaces, we would suggest a natural finish that is more subtle than a highly polished one.
You can visit Cocotte South Kensington at 11 Harrington Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 3ES. And, in the meantime, you can recreate their ornate interior design ideas across your dining room.