Let’s Talk - Quick Flip Remodels
The start of a new restaurant remodel for any restaurant owner can be somewhat daunting. The endless thoughts and ideas running through the mind on what to keep structurally, can we recycle anything from the previous owners, does the kitchen layout work for our menu, how many different dining experiences can we gain in the restaurant, what is the maximum seating?
These are all questions we hear when we have walk throughs on a new project. No worries, this is the area where we shine! You hire designers to help solve these problems for you. WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS WITH STYLE! What more could you ask for?!
Whether it comes to layout, branding, lighting, cost effective materials & finishes, we are here for you & your future guests! Keep reading to find out how we did just that at the KOJO remodel in Sarasota, Florida.
1289 N Palm Ave, Previously the Lemon Tree Restaurant, was full of lime green accents and a stark white backdrop. We knew the new owners were working on a Pan Asian style menu ( BTW, best food we have ever eaten! ) going into this walk through and that meant setting a much warmer mood and elevating the design to match the level of food being served.
This existing restaurant had everything a designer & restaurateur could ask for. Great bones, wonderful curb appeal, a great kitchen layout for the menu, and an ideal bar location. Now, how could we turn this 2000 sqft space into an atmosphere that speaks to KOJO?
We looked into the flooring, walls, ceilings, booths and knew what we had to do to get this restaurant open within 12 weeks.
The floors were in great shape and so was the ceiling, but a black ceiling would add some drama. We painted the existing acoustical ceiling, and soffit ceilings Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams and it definitely enhanced the central dining area.
We loved the shape of the semi-circle booths and knew reupholstering would save our customer time and money. Seriously… they turned out great!
The louver panels could easily stay, and a touch of the Iron Ore paint truly transformed the look!
The open kitchen around the sushi bar had an undesirable bright light bouncing off the white subway tile. This may have been okay for Lemon Tree, but for the KOJO atmosphere we needed to set the mood to reflect the brand, and highlight the sushi bar experience. This is where custom white oak decorative slats would do the job. Bringing the guests sight line down to the Sushi Chefs helps enhance the experience, and wouldn’t make that section of the restaurant feel so bare.
We demolished the existing bar top & replaced it with natural white oak. To accent the wood, we sourced a ceramic tile from Bedrosian Tile, Makoto 2.5” x 10” in Midori Green, and stacked them vertically to keep with the vertical lines in this view.
We were grateful that the existing bar had very little demoing needs. We added a few painted side panels to replace the existing white ones and kept the wood planks in the front of the bar.
The Lemon Tree restaurant had a fun focal wall and we knew that same spot was where we wanted to highlight the KOJO brand. Nothing showcases your brand better than a 4’ high logo with moss and cherry blossom inlays! This wall is truly a showstopper and sets the tone for the bar & lounge.
We kept most of the existing electrical locations for the lighting fixtures and it worked out wonderfully, and best of all it didn’t add unnecessary costs. Some GORGEOUS pendants and a few touches of LED strip lighting did the trick to accent some of the restaurants new features.
Each dining area in this restaurant offers a unique experience. It means so much to us to see the owners, their team, and their guests enjoying the atmosphere of KOJO.
