Rainforest Restaurant
Rainforest restaurant project concept on a busy high street in an attempt to bring to current design.
This project represents an earlier stage in my design journey, one that may not fully reflect my current style, but I believe it's important to share as part of my evolving story in interior design. My style continues to grow as I develop new skills, gain experience, and refine my creative voice.
The brief for this project was to refresh the look of a Thai restaurant that had recently come under new ownership. The original interior featured red tones and warm wood finishes, which felt dated and slightly heavy for a modern dining experience. The clients wanted a dramatic shift, moving away from the red and embracing a fresh, green palette inspired by the rainforest. The food was already incredible (I made sure to sample it myself!), so the aim was to bring the interior up to the same standard and make the restaurant truly stand out from competitors.
Key elements of the design include the addition of greenery throughout the space, which not only brought life to the room but also created softer, more private dining pockets. I particularly liked how the booth seating by the window was enhanced with mesh-style dividers, which added a sense of separation without closing off the space entirely. If I were to revisit this design, I would incorporate a mesh pattern that reflected authentic Thailand beautiful pattens and design style to deepen the cultural connection.
Mirrors were introduced to give the illusion of a larger space, bouncing light and expanding the visual dimensions of the restaurant. I also originally envisioned a water feature at the front of the bar—a detail that would have further immersed guests in the rainforest concept. Looking back, I can see how pushing the concept even further with elements like a statement tree installation or deeper exploration into traditional Thai textures and materials would have added more richness and authenticity to the space.
As a self-proclaimed “baby designer” at the time, this project was a valuable learning experience. Every reflection helps shape where I am today—someone who is still learning and improving, one project at a time.