Commercial Construction & Renovation

JAN-FEB 2014

Commercial Construction & Renovation helps our subscribers design, build and maintain better commercial facilities by delivering content to meet the information needs of today's high-level executives.

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84 CommerCial ConstruCtion & renovation — January : February 2014 olD Meets New CommerCial kitChens bricks white while leaving much of the tex- ture exposed. New white tiling on the walls features graining, giving interiors even more depth. Dwight paid equal attention to the ceilings. In the historic part of the restaurant, exposed piping painted in white creates a shadow of play and texture. Meanwhile, the new space boasts a sophisticated white acoustic ceiling tile in 2 x 4 planks. "Flat white ceilings would read as hard and cold," Dwight says. On the back wall of the exposed kitchen, brightly colored concrete tiles from Vietnam introduce pattern and contrast to the surroundings, including the white Corian countertop. Made from fallen trees, an oak slab serves as the bar sur- face and enhances the other woods that already were part of the existing building. Back in the dining area, custom-designed handcrafted wooden benches add richness to the white backdrop. Clean, contemporary chairs at both the kitchen and bar complement white tables paired with light, thin, yet comfortable bent plywood chair "chosen to balance with the design and food." Lighting plays an important role in the restaurant's design from both a functional and aesthetic perspective. "We tried to wash everything with lights to bring out the textures in the materials that we used," Dwight says. A variety of fxtures dots the restaurant. "Mark [our client] and I spent hours, if not days, discussing different light fxtures and how they were related to each other," Dwight recalls. "It is important to have a little bit of sparkle and glow, to have varying levels of light and bring warmth to the restaurant." Among the selections that accomplished their goals: polished stainless steel lights with tiny bulbs that cast a ficker, fxtures made with white pleated glass, and glowing globes that hang over semi-private booths. Additionally, artwork and antiquities lend authenticity to the restaurant and its take on Southeast Asian cuisine. Before opening the restaurant, Kuller and his executive chef spent a few weeks eating their way across Vietnam to establish how the menu would play out at Doi Moi. Along the way, the pair purchased eclectic art and other curiosities from flea markets and local shops. The objects add pops of color and a playful element to the interiors. The restaurant's modern yet welcom- ing approach extends downstairs to 2 Birds, 1 Stone, which Dwight describes as "not quite a dive bar, and not quite a speakeasy, but this warm basement hole in the wall where the cocktails are incredible and the space is inviting." For this subterranean space that sits directly under the historic section of the restaurant, Dwight used stained concrete foors and kitchen cabinets. A mural on the back wall created by one of the restaurant's servers colorfully illustrates a unique take on killing two birds with one stone. With all of the varying elements coming together in a cohesive, original form, Doi Moi makes its mark thanks to its location as an emerging hotspot, as well as its distinction from other eateries. "A lot of restaurants these days have dipped into this rustic, historic, nostalgic trend," Dwight says. "That's not what we wanted for Doi Moi. It really needed to be clean and fresh, and it stands out quite a bit because of that." CK Holly O'Dell is a writer, editor and consultant specializing in interior and hospitality design. Over the last decade, she has written about menu design, color strategy and restaurant interiors. The second dining room features a chef's counter with a full view of the kitchen. Tumbled marble mosaic fooring and white brickwork add subtle texture to the clean lines of the space. Along the walls, the design team created custom wooden shelving that showcases an eclectic mix of decorative pieces from Asia, including Vietnamese water puppets. With all of the varying elements coming together in a cohesive, original form, Doi Moi makes its mark thanks to its location as an emerging hotspot, as well as its distinction from other eateries. CCR-JanFeb.14_48-.indd 84 2/7/14 2:26 PM

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