The French Connection

A beautiful medley of traditional and modern elements, and the classic French bistro environment — the Restro Qualia experience, designed by P&D Associates in Bharuch, is unique.

Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Photographix India, courtesy P&D Associates

Right at the entrance, a colourful and striking hand-painted wallart engages the visitor.

The brief

Amar Shahdadpuri and his friends who wanted to kick-start their food business approached interior designers Devang Patel and Pratik Siddhpura, principals of Baruch-based P&D Associates to design Restro Qualia. “The clients knew exactly what environment they wanted for this space. Their brief was to give their customers an experience of uptown cafe culture, with a fresh and young outlook,” informs Devang.

The brickwork work wall at the entrance feature colourful hats.

The design intent

Restro Qualia embodies the quintessential French bistro experience in a warm and cosy environment. With a modern design approach, the designers transformed this space into an engaging visual feast with an overseas identity. Hints were taken from the old French bistro culture and was revamped into something which is quite refreshing yet traditional. “In designing cafes accommodating maximum sitting space without cramping the space and making it airy is always a thing which benefits the restaurateur. Creating the right layout which benefits both restaurateur and the customers was a fun exercise for us,” say the designers.

A view of the main dining area. The use of mortar washed brickwork can be seen on the floor (in a herringbone pattern) and on the walls as well.

The design highlights

With an interior footprint spanning 1,015 sq ft, Restro Qualia features an on-site cafe and mocktail bar with a dining space for almost 50 people. The interior space is P&D Associates’ interpretation of traditional design, which is offset with modern elements. Inspired by the ornate cafes of Paris, the design blends authentic bistro style with rustic finishes. The space features natural tones and intricate detailing including modern bespoke furnishings, an open counter mocktail bar and an extensive wrought iron entry gateway. While giving the cafe an overseas feel, the design team curated an identity for it by creating a hand-painted wall piece designed by a local artist.

The cafe features smooth and rounded edges and lovely arches.

The material palette

The basic starting point for this project was the use of mortar washed brickwork which has been used on the floor (in a herringbone pattern) and walls as well. Everything else was made to enhance and follow the simple earthy tones of space. Another key feature of this cafe is the hand-painted wall covering the exposed brick work, which is decorated with a vintage wall mirrors overlooking the dining space. The cafe features smooth and rounded edges, arches overhanging chandelier, and decorative wrought iron entrance. Corian slabs used on the table, brightens the reception area.