John Whelan adorns Paris' Nolinski restaurant with art-deco details
Gold-leaf "sunbursts" and mirrored panelling feature in this art deco-style Parisian restaurant, which British designer John Whelan has stirred with 1970s-inspired details. The restaurant is set within the five-star Nolinski hotel in Paris' first arrondissement, just a short stroll from the Musée du Louvre, and Jardin des Tuileries. It had previously featured a mixture of blue and grey surfaces, as well as a dropped ceiling, resulting in what John Whelan described as an overall "cold" interior.
"There was also what I thought was a problem of 'contre-jour' where there are two competing natural light sources," the London-based designer told Dezeen.
Keen to bring a sense of warmth back to the restaurant, Whelan decided to base his design scheme on the rich material palette of the art deco movement. "I was inspired particularly by the restrained Parisian art deco of the 1930s – think Jean-Michel Frank, Pierre Legrain or Sue et Mare," said Whelan.
"They tended to use a minimal colour palette but accented their work with beautiful metals and woods."
"The building that houses the restaurant was also built in the 30s and has some art deco moments. I always try to respect the heritage where possible," he continued.
The focal point of the restaurant is now a central column that has been clad with strips of shiny mirror.
Mirrored panels have been set into the walls of the main dining space, which are otherwise washed with a gold-hued paint to create a slightly weathered patina.
The upper part of the column is made from gold-leafed plaster, which splays towards the ceiling to form a "sunburst" shape – a popular motif of art deco design.