An ageing Surat residence gets transformed into a chic Italian eatery

Studio-M Design take rooted design and nostalgia as the route to creating a welcoming space.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Noaidwin Studio; courtesy Studio-M Design

The site

Standing on one of Surat’s busy roads, Trezoro is a spacious 4,500-sq-ft Italian restaurant whose three floors stand testimony to the power of rooted design and celebration of memories.

The design intent

This was an old residence, which Studio-M Design have transformed into a delightful hospitality space that entwines nostalgia and modernity. “The aim was to preserve the soul of the space while echoing the vintage, industrial and raw elements which, when encased together, sing in opus and narrate tales of art and craftsmanship in each corner,” say Moiz Faizulla and Samad Shaikh, principal designers of the studio.

The visual expression

Unfolding as a canvas of fine savoured design through culinary context, restaurant pulses with a fine blend of tailored textures and tapestry of tales. The spatial layout, sprawled yet connected, dovetails inviting settings, basking in natural light. The interiors seamlessly strikes an immersive experience, a true reflection of the owner’s vision of recollecting, reliving and reconnecting to an emotion through skilled elemental design integration.

The material and colour directions

Seamlessly integrating the richness of biophilic design style, palette of green, synonymous with growth and freshness, elegantly mingles with the comforting textures of wood. Indoor plants breathe life into the space, extending a refreshing invite. Earthy tones and a spectrum of brown hues are manifested through muted furnishings. These, paired with serene whites, craft an ambience cloaked in serenity. Each corner becomes a canvas for storytelling, catering to a spectrum of emotions and establishing the essence of a warm abode.

Reclaimed wood emerges as the hero of materiality, weaving a narrative of timeless elegance and boldly adorning surfaces, furniture and storage cabinets. It creates a graceful staircase that lies at the heart of this culinary haven. As guests ascend it, mirrors framed in reclaimed wood accompany their upward journey.

The walls, resplendent with a POP texture finish, exude an organic and elemental rustic charm, preserving the unrefined essence of the space. In a bold move, the design incorporates organic brick patterns as well as artistic carpets on the walls. These unconventional choices breathe life into the venue, infusing it with depth and character. The floor, graced by rustic chequered tiles and kadappa stone, pays homage to vintage patterns cleverly interwoven with the surrounding décor.

The furniture is a celebration of local craftsmanship, paying homage to the skills of revered furniture artisans. The restaurant’s industrial ceilings, uncluttered and pristine are graced by classic glass-ornamented lighting fixtures, inducing the vintage charm of yesteryears and casting a soft, inviting glow.

The strategic use of mosaic tiles integrated as table tops, acts as a unifying thread, artfully stitching the space together. Trezoro’s magic lies in its ability to skilfully weave conventional materials with unconventional elemental ways, allowing the space’s unique language to sing in unison.

“This space is more than a dining establishment,” says the designer duo. “It is a portal to the past, a place where vintage memories come to life, where every design element speaks of cherished recollections.”

Fact file

Project: Trezoro
Location: Surat
Area: 4,500 sq ft
Principal designers: Moiz Faizulla and Samad Shaikh
Design team: Janvi Nanavati, Namrata Dada, Mousmi Doshi and Roshni Mehat
Stylist: Trend and Tone