The London based practice of Alexander Waterworth Interiors recently completed The Musket Room, a restaurant located in the popular Nolita neighbourhood of Manhattan. When creating a concept for an interior, Alexander Evangelou and James Waterworth, the innovative duo who make up the practice, enter into close collaboration with the client. And this is no exception to the rule, New Zealand born owner/chef considers the humble musket as an object with defined the colonization of his country and represents the unassuming, down to earth identity of his personality, his restaurant and cuisine.
The element of simplicity is experienced within space through the harmonious balance of materials and textures. The rough brick walls are tempered by a coat of lime, adopting a ‘dirty chic’ identity, perfect in spite of their imperfections. Elegant walnut tables and chairs and the amazing 20ft long bar, its natural curving edge adding a tactile quality, contrast with the reclaimed barn boards which cover the walls. Rich deep indigo leather sofas sit beside the booths, adding a hint of the mid-century New York diner.
The exquisite attention to detail abounds, bespoke brass wall lamps and chandeliers, the scalloped edging around the concrete base of the bar, unusual door handles and foliage at every turn from the welcoming fronds of the ferns at the entrance to the fresh greenery make this a warm, fun, yet cosmopolitan environment with a hint of 19th century romanticism. One final surprise of The Musket Room is the unique feature of a herb garden visible from the back room. A magical fairy lit oasis, it adds a whimsical footnote to the design and creates a rural element to the dining experience but also has a practical purpose, it provides produce for the restaurant kitchen.
