TUTTI'S I RESTAURANTS

Project Overview
Tutti’s I was the first of two trattorias I designed in the Miami area. The restaurant was built within an existing Italian market, creating the opportunity to transform a simple dining area into an experience inseparable from the grocery area itself. Rather than introducing a separate space, I wanted to extend the market’s small town warmth, and add an eclectic spirit while giving guests an intimate place to gather and have a bowl of pasta.

Design Story
One of the design challenges was the storefront’s large windows overlooking the parking lot. Instead of allowing the outside view to dominate the space, I created a softer transition by spanning the windows with shelving filled with rows of canned Italian tomatoes and packages of pasta. Let the grocery store exist visually, from the outside and the inside. 

Many of the furnishings and architectural details were created from reclaimed materials. Curtains were sewn from the same found fabrics used to make aprons sold in the market, reinforcing the connection between the two uses of the space. The bar incorporated old window frames, produce crates and Victorian porch spindles on the face of the bar. We used recycled chandeliers refitted with colorful crystals. Hand-printed tabletops and country chairs were stained in a variety of jewel tones to compliment the fabrics.

What Made This Project Unique
Rather than decorating an Italian restaurant with a predictable theme, I chose the personality of the existing market. Italian branded grocery items, reclaimed architectural materials and hand painted details created a sense of history without relying on expensive materials. The result was a restaurant that felt less like a commercial space and more like a country farmhouse kitchen, with a colorful spirit.