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In To The Blue... DesignLSM and Into Lighting turn a previously disjointed, uninspired building into a subaquatic styled intimate dining space. Images: Courtesy of DesignLSM
Felix Warley in Brentwood, Essex, is the latest seafood grill restaurant from chef Stephen Li. Having worked with the DesignLSM team on the first Felix location in Billericay, Essex, in 2015, Li was keen to work with the design studio once more for this next venture. With an ambition to be the best in Essex, the client put his complete trust in them. The site, formerly known as ‘Headley Spice’, was a tired, disjointed, uninspired building full of frustrating quirks and inadequate services. The brief given to the Design LSM team was to turn this ‘sows ear’ into the proverbial illusive silk purse! Sally Williams, DesignLSM’s Associate Director and Lead Designer on Felix Warley, talks darc through the lighting scheme employed at the
project: “Decorative lighting always brings life to any project. We worked closely with Into Lighting to find a family of fittings for each of the three main areas, which includes the entrance atrium, the ground floor restaurant and the first floor lounge. Each area needed its own identity but to flow seamlessly into the next.” The entrance to the restaurant has been relocated into a new, double height, glazed atrium and the building’s exterior has been enveloped in traditional black shiplap cladding. Dining is experienced on the ground floor amongst a gentle palette of marine green, blues and stunning textures, the dark ceiling is clad with playful waved fins that alter the customers’ perception as their journey
unfolds. Brass nets drop through the waves to enclose three round booth seats. A sculptural helical staircase crowned with a beautiful chandelier, takes the customer to the first floor where breakfast and brunch is served in the daytime. Light from the windows floods through, illuminating the enormous copper clad oval bar and gantry. In the evening this space is transformed with moody lighting into a sumptuous relaxed bar offering speciality spirits, Sake and cocktails; these coupled with the ‘dusk sky’ ceiling, rich materials and beautiful art installations make for an intoxicating experience. The biggest challenge of the project was the site itself, as Williams explains: “As the layers of the building peeled back, more and