Adding a splash of colour
The challenge
We very much relish getting our teeth into a creative project with a passionate brand, and the Oxford Nando’s refit we took on last year was one of our 2016 highlights.
Nando’s were not just looking for a boost to the restaurant’s interior, they wanted to ensure the refit delivered that elusive ‘wow’ factor to their customers with a warm, inclusive environment that made a bold, colourful impression. Additionally, as a popular family-friendly eatery, we had to bear in mind that the furniture needed to stand up to wear and tear; Nando’s had experienced issues in the past with furniture failing, so longevity without compromising on quality was an absolute must.
Special feature highlights
Staying true to the South African influences that now form an integral part of Nando’s branding, we based our design around vibrant colours, traditional patterns and unique artwork that pays homage to the restaurant’s roots.
Blending splashes of modernity with a rustic touch, we brought new life to the simple, timber-backed Hula chair with an eye-catching green base and delivered further pops of colour with bright yellow Ronda chairs and comfortable Bai chairs in a distinctive saffron hue. Texture was added with red, woven-backed Yard chairs and a touch of class came from inlaid brass detailing on oak table-tops.
We pride ourselves on achieving excellent results whilst working to a client’s budget, and employed some creative thinking to ensure the furniture spend didn’t eat up too much of the total refit budget. Consequently, we chose to revamp the existing solid oak tables with a bright, yellow stain; providing an instant face-lift without severely denting the budget.
Additionally, the required emphasis on natural materials to avoid any artificiality could easily have raised costs, but tactics such as employing a matt lacquer finish to table-tops gave the furniture an elegant, rustic feel whilst sticking to the financial constraints.
Result
Our relationship with Nando’s is based on a mutual passion for the brand and the vision they set out before us – an approach we take with all our clients. The final result was a resounding success with designer, Paul Thrush, Co-Founder and Director of STAC architecture, agreeing that “the end result was simply fantastic”.