“Letting what's already there speak”

About the project

Chef Kuba invited me to come by Soixante to look together at the atmosphere of the second room of the restaurant. Soixante is composed of two distinct spaces: the first room opens generously to the street, connected to the bar, defined by dark wooden wall elements, deep tones, and curated art pieces.

The second room, although charming in its own way, felt slightly uneven when experienced next to the first.

The intention was not to redesign the restaurant, but to bring more coherence between both rooms allowing the second space to feel just as intentional, layered, and grounded, while preserving its own character.

From the first walk-through, it was clear that the room already had a lot to offer: authentic floors, a unique spatial shape, and a full mirror wall reflecting both the first room and the open kitchen  the beating heart of the restaurant. The question was not what to add, but what to emphazise.

The scope

Reading the existing space

Rather than introducing new materials, the starting point was to carefully read what was already present. The mirror wall runs along the entire length of the room, reflecting the rhythm of the restaurant: guests arriving, movement from the bar, and the choreography of the kitchen. The open kitchen added life and energy, but also introduced moments that felt too raw when reflected directly into the dining space.

The goal was to give this space more depth, without turning it into a smaller version of the first room.

The second room had its own calmness and lightness, but next to the darker, more enveloping first room, it lacked visual weight. 

Color as a connector

The second room was noticeably lighter, almost too white in comparison. Rather than repeating the dark wood and navy tones of the first space, I proposed introducing a color that would relate to those deeper tones without copying the same materials.

A warm, burgundy shade was chosen for the wall facing the mirror. This wall becomes the anchor of the room: the color immediately fills the space through reflection, without overwhelming it. The mirror doubles the gesture, spreading warmth and depth across the room in a subtle, almost immaterial way.

Mirror, reflection, and the open kitchen

The open kitchen was non-negotiable - "it is part of Soixante’s identity" said chef Kuba. Depending on where you sit, the mirror sometimes offers beautiful glimpses of what’s happening in the kitchen; the choreography, the precision, the quiet magic behind the scenes. Other times, however, the reflection brought more mundane, functional moments into focus, such as the washing station.

Rather than closing off the kitchen, the intervention was minimal: one additional panel was added to the kitchen rack, gently shielding the washing area while keeping the shelves open to display ceramics. This small shift keeps the kitchen alive and visible, but edits what is brought into the reflection  allowing the mirror to reflect the poetry of the place, rather than its backstage mechanics.

A room that finds its weight

With just a few precise moves: color, reflection, and gentle editing,  the second room gained depth and presence. It now holds its own next to the first space, not by imitation, but by dialogue. The room feels warmer, more grounded, and more intentional, while still keeping its lightness and unique spatial character.

This project is a reminder that atmosphere is often already present, it only needs to be revealed, framed, and allowed to resonate.

Adding art to this colored wall softened the intensity of the hue and introduced new rhythm. Through reflection, the artworks appear in multiple places at once, creating a layered presence rather than a single focal point.

A word from the client

"We reached out for guidance on how to redecorate and rethink the second room, and your clear, thoughtful approach immediately helped us see the space differently. The idea of painting the wall turned out to be the perfect solution - it visually connects both rooms while preserving their distinct character. The color you guided us towards brought a lot of warmth into the space and made it feel even more like home."

The first reactions on Soixante's instagram followed shortly after :)