FINE DINING, FLORIST & WINE BAR

We love a bold new concept so were immediately excited about Diana and Ed’s Floristry AND restaurant/wine bar.

The concept for the scheme is Modern Gothic, paying homage to the stunning St Mary Aldermary interiors, our neighbour on Bow Lane. Christopher Wren’s offices were commissioned to recreate the Gothic interior after the great fire of London as it was so beloved by the local community. Half round dowels and curved mirrors suggest the stone structure, banquette bases pick up details from the wooden pews and interior finishes were carefully selected to provide a similar calming atmosphere that provides a perfect backdrop for all those blooms and dishes.

The first challenge was a relatively small floor plan in which to accommodate both businesses without compromising customer flow. We wanted to use the entrance area and full height glass doors to maximise retail display sightlines for passers by, encouraging them to pop in and shop. This lobby like effect also served to provide distinct areas for each side of the business - one accentuating the other. A full height bespoke retail unit acts as a semi partition that allows the restaurant to gradually reveal itself which adds anticipation to the customer experience.

The 3 metre long Florists' bench is perfect for 2 Florists to work at for weddings and events, but can also double as a holding space in the evenings with the addition of some more bar stools.

Multi height plinths and overhead cable trays give Dee and team more surfaces to dress, culminating in an enticing, multi sensory experience that showcases the best of British produce, with an emphasis on sustainability at the heart of everything.

With the same ethos in mind, we salvaged the majority of the bar structure and overclad the front with fluted tiles and a practical stainless steel service counter. The dining ledge was surface mounted and is made from a beautiful, tactile marble set at the perfect dining height for our chosen stools.

Comfort was important for dwell time so upholstered backs and seats were specified for loose furniture. Banquette seat pads are also upholstered, plus removable, to utilise the storage space available in the bases.

As we wanted quite a serene, neutral scheme to suit our concept, texture was particularly important. Visible timber grain through semi opaque stains, loose cushion fabrics, marble, antique mirrors and cork wall cladding all harmonising to create warmth and interest.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM LUSZNIAK