ICRAVE has been tapped to design the newest Istanbul, locations of sister restaurants, Serafina, a classic Italian pizzeria, and Brasserie Cognac, a traditional French bistro. The new restaurants, owned by Serafina Restaurant Group and franchised by Istanbul-based Dinesty, are slated to open in October 2014.
Serafina's 1,668-square-foot space will feature engaging art treatments and modern design elements that elevate the overall brand palette. Yellow is subtly woven into the design concept, giving the brand's signature color a modern edge. The entry features yellow and blue Tuscan-patterned concrete tile that line the floor, complemented by walls of distressed grey wood and chipped yellow paint that create a warm space with a cool edge. Terracotta bricks wrap the open, charcoal-burning oven, coaxing guests through the glass entryway with smells of Serafina's signature pizzas.
Further into the main dining room, oversized, glowing pendants with a high gloss yellow metal interior trim delineate the wooden-floored seating areas. Modern winged oak and white leather chairs line the distressed white oak tabletops. Perched in the back, a dimly lit bar wrapped in two-tone cork tile feeds the dining room with a constant energy.
Feature walls throughout the main dining room are activated with creative art programming by IMURI. The distressed brick wall behind leather banquette seating boasts a vibrant plaster mural featuring the faces of well-known Italian actresses. On the opposite wall, Italian newspapers are overlaid with yellow Ferrari and Lamborghini graphics.
Just next door, Brasserie Cognac's 1,452 square foot space features rich, dark finishes and brass accents that create an equally warm and sophisticated dining experience. Reminiscent of a traditional French tabac, guests enter the bar area sectioned by marble mosaic flooring and a ceiling canvassed in vintage postcards. Opposite the bar, an intimate banquette sits adjacent to Cognac's wine room, visible through a metal mesh and tempered seeded glass wall.
In the main dining area, glowing pendant lights hang from an ornate white tin ceiling. Caramel colored leather chairs sit opposite the crimson leather banquettes with carrara marble tabletops in between. Large-scale artwork by IMURI brings a modern edge to the space. White subway tiles feature custom printed graphics, while smoked mirrors are painted with French poems, offering playful accents to the traditional French brasserie.