Commercial Project
Gees Restaurant & Bar, Oxford
The Brief
Commissioned to design, make and install the specialist soft furnishings for the refurbishment of Gees Restaurant in Oxford.
The brief was to create a restaurant that felt warm, informal and welcoming rather than corporate. Fabrics were sourced and proposed, with the soft-furnishing scheme developed through carefully considered fabric choices, design expertise and technical knowledge, while working within the wider vision for the restaurant.
Finished Project
Fabric Selection and Design
Fabrics were sourced from a number of different suppliers, bringing together pattern, texture and colour to create a relaxed, layered feel. The mood boards show part of this process, exploring different combinations and considering how they would work alongside the planting, architecture and other finishes within the restaurant.
The fabrics were not selected purely for their appearance. Each choice also had to be appropriate for its particular use in a busy commercial restaurant, taking into account durability, cleaning, fire-retardancy requirements, construction and how the fabric would behave when made up.
Creating a Welcoming Entrance
The experience begins at the entrance. Gathered fabric screening and soft furnishings for the entrance seating were designed to introduce softness and warmth immediately, making the arrival feel more welcoming and offering a preview of the restaurant beyond.
Bespoke Curved Banquette Seating
The curved banquettes were one of the most technically demanding elements of the project. Construction and detailing were carefully developed so that the seat cushions and upholstered backs followed the curves of the restaurant accurately, while remaining comfortable, practical and robust enough for commercial use.
Different patterns, textures, coloured piping and cushions were used to create a more individual, informal character rather than a uniform contract-upholstery look.
Using Fabric to Soften the Acoustics
Acoustics were also an important part of the brief. Gees is a Victorian glasshouse with a large amount of glass and other hard surfaces, so the soft furnishings played an important practical role in helping to soften the sound within the restaurant.
Fabric baffles suspended from rods at high level, together with the upholstered banquettes, cushions, tablecloths and other fabric elements, introduced further soft surfaces throughout the space.
It was a particularly rewarding project, offering plenty of opportunity for creativity while always keeping the original brief in mind: warm, informal and welcoming. Being part of the reimagining of such an iconic Oxford restaurant made it all the more special.
