SUSSEX RESTAURANT

When I was asked to design this restaurant within a listed building in a small Suffolk market town, the brief was to create something inviting and stylish that reflected the restaurant’s modern take on classic English cooking—all while working within a tight budget.

One of the biggest challenges was working around the listed ceiling. I designed a lighting scheme with minimal impact, using cut glass pendants suspended from coloured flex, all radiating from a central point. It creates a striking focal feature, while individual drops above each table keep the lighting soft and intimate.

I kept the tables simple—solid oak for a natural, timeless feel that sits comfortably within the building’s history. The walls were painted in a calm blue-green, creating a relaxed backdrop that allows the other elements to stand out while making the space feel warm and inviting.

To bring in contrast and richness, I introduced teal velvet chairs alongside yellow-gold velvet banquette seating. The mix of colour and texture adds depth and comfort, giving the space a vibrant yet cohesive feel.

The result is a careful balance between heritage and modernity—respecting the building’s history while creating a fresh, contemporary dining experience. A space that feels considered, comfortable, and perfectly in tune with the food it serves.

Elegant restaurant dining room with pastel walls, multiple tables set with glasses and utensils, teal and mustard-colored chairs, large windows with dark curtains, and hanging lights.
A dining table with two turquoise chairs in the foreground and a brown tufted sofa with yellow cushions in the background, set with glasses, napkins, and menus.
A reflection of a dining room in a large, ornate gold-framed mirror showing a wooden dining table set with glasses and napkins, a velvet sofa against a green wall, a window with dark curtains, and pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.
Close-up of three ornate glass pendant lights hanging from the ceiling, glowing warmly indoors.
Empty dining table with glasses and utensils in a cozy restaurant with chairs and curtains.
A cozy dining area with two green velvet chairs in the foreground, a light wooden table set with menus, glasses, and cutlery, a tan tufted booth with yellow pillows, and a blue wall with two hanging pendant lights.