1 12
The most in-demand restaurant designers in Dallas are also restaurant operators themselves. The duo of John Paul Valverde and Miguel Vicens, creative directors of Coevál Studio, decided to diversify in 2008 when the real estate market crashed and demand for high-end commercial design slowed to a crawl. While the restaurant industry wasn’t faring that much better, Valverde and Vicens made a go of it, collaborating with other partners for concepts such as Pakpao and El Bolero.
For their newest collaboration, Quill, Vicens and Valverde along with their partners, restaurant operator Joseph Palladino (Nick & Sam’s) and Richard Ellman (Apheleia Restaurant Group), knew they had to create something that would wow even its Dallas Design District neighbors. Aiming for classic and iconic, and inspired by contemporary European restaurants set in spaces that date back hundreds of years, the result is a swanky and lavish lounge that has quickly become one of the city’s see-and-be-seen spots. What's more, the designers found ways to keep Quill on budget; here they share some cost-saving tips.
Check out the glamorous Quill.
The prints flanking the walls of the entryway were made from ink-and-water drawings made by Coevál Studio artists. The idea? In keeping with the pen and ink theme, the portraits portray people, such as Albert Einstein and Abraham Lincoln, who have “left their mark.”
Inspired by repurposed European spaces, Vicens and Valverde created Quill's barrel ceilings from sheetrock. Lighting coves are built into the charcoal-colored pilasters to draw the eye through the room and accentuate the unique ceiling.
"This was a thin, long warehouse, so the idea of the barrel ceiling worked well. We didn't want people to feel they were in a long box, so adding curves in the ceiling, as well as in the bar and the walls, added flow," says Vicens.
"The design direction was based on the undergrounds in places like London. This plaster finish gives it a high-end feel," Valverde adds.
The emerald green custom settees and chairs were created from sketches made by the Coevál team. The low, brass-trimmed tables and bottle service carts are also custom pieces. The low tables are suitable for Quill's menu of small plates and charcuterie.
At the bar, glossy, emerald green marble is set in a geometric pattern defined by narrow brass dividers. LED-lit brass shelves frame an antique mirror behind the bar. Although there are Art Deco and Renaissance elements in the space, Vicens and Valverde say Quill's style is distinctly modern European.
Coevál designed these glam barstools with brass details. The commercial-grade vinyl mimics leather.
Over the bar, brass and frosted glass pendants from Egypt were a splurge, but serve as a focal point. “We had to cut some other things from the budget to be able to afford them,” says Valverde.
These hexagonal Italian tile floor tiles have a custom look thanks to the pattern mapped out by the designers. Valverde says, “We like to use existing materials when we can. Things don’t have be be expensive to look expensive. Using off-the-shelf products let us [spend] on custom furnishings.”
Set into mullioned windows, glass partitions open the indoor lounge to an outdoor patio. The covered space has its own bar, a fireplace and furnishings that match those found indoors.
Quill's restrooms are characterized by "a sense of movement and classic details," says Valverde. Emerald doors reflect the lounge's furnishings. "It's dramatic because restrooms shouldn't be forgotten, especially in a nightlife setting. The mood, the feel of the elements and the lighting tones are the same throughout the property." Vicens adds, "It's disappointing when [restaurants] drop the ball on the restroom. They should be impactful and memorable."
These Renaissance-style restroom door handles were another off-the-shelf find, but, the designers note, serve as a good example of a cost-effective way to add style and rich detail to a space.
