WHITNEY'S RESTAURANTS

Project Overview
Whitney’s Diner in Juno Beach, Florida, began with a challenge. When I asked the owner what he envisioned for the restaurant, his answer was always the same: “You decide, Carolyn.” Rather than inventing a design plan, I wanted to understand who he was first. Since he planned to run the restaurant himself and was well liked by his employees, I believed the environment should reflect his robust, fun personality, as much as the classic diner food he served.

Design Story
After several conversations, I asked the owner about his hobbies. He mentioned collecting automotive memorabilia and invited me to his warehouse. Inside were vintage gasoline pumps, oil signs, antique oil cans and countless fun automobile parts. At that moment, the design revealed itself.

The restaurant became a celebration of his collection. Dark green walls created a rich backdrop for the memorabilia, while rows of vintage oil cans, reclaimed garage lights and painted sections of old brick transformed the diner into a welcoming automotive museum. Pin-spot lighting highlighted the displays, adding drama and warmth to a space with very little natural light.

To stay within a modest budget, we up-cycled existing tables and chairs and incorporated many of the items already stored in the owner’s warehouse. By building the design around what he already owned, we created a distinctive restaurant without relying on expensive new materials.

What Made This Project Unique
This project taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes the best design concept is already present—you simply have to discover it. Instead of inventing a theme, I uncovered the owner’s genuine interests and allowed his personality to become part of the guest experience.

From that project forward, I learned to ask a different question: Who will be at the front door? Whether through conversations with the owner or by reading between the lines of a business plan, I began looking for the person behind the business. Often the greatest design inspiration wasn’t something that needed to be created. It was already there, waiting to be recognized.