Warm, unexpected atmospheres

When the “Roba da matti” (literally “Crazy stuff”) restaurant and pizzeria in the northern Italian town of Scandiano (province of Reggio Emilia) needed a makeover, the owners decided to live up to its unconventional name and hired the creative and image production consultancy firm Terzo Piano to bring a touch of eccentricity to the interior design project. “The idea behind the project was to create spaces with strong visual appeal and a unique, sophisticated mood while maintaining a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere,” explains Nicola Barutto, interior stylist and set designer at the creative agency. The restaurant had an uninviting colour palette, gloomy spaces and tired furnishings, while the entrance area and bar counter were badly in need of refurbishment. While leaving the layout almost unchanged, the decision was taken to give a strong identity to the three main areas of the restaurant: the entrance area with the bar counter, the main dining room and the second room. The bar area was redesigned as the heart of the restaurant ideal for performing different functions during the course of the day, from hosting an informal aperitif to a waiting area or a table for eight. With this in mind, the functional space was optimised to create more fluid pathways. “We designed a large table made from resin-effect ceramic slabs for area in front of the bar, as well as the partition wall made from painted cardboard tubes that partially encloses the area,” says Barutto. In keeping with the effervescent atmosphere of the restaurant and its young clientele, the main dining room makes the most of special effects: from the dusty, soft blue coloured undulating walls that cast soft shadows and create three-dimensional effects when struck by light to the large frame enclosing a humorous animal-themed wallpaper. Round-cornered mirrors with brushed copper frames and velvet curtains express the very essence of elegance in the sophisticated yet welcoming setting. In the second dining room, lighter and more neutral colours were used to enhance the brightness and sense of space. The contrasting brown painted ceiling stands out for its height and the humorous suspended monkey lamps which seem to invade the room. The unifying element of the entire space is the 120 square metre floor covering consisting of light grey Frammenta collection tiles from Ceramica Fioranese, which reproduce the irregular look of Ceppo di Gré pebbles. “We chose this highly fashionable stone for the way it combines powerful graphic qualities with the functionality and technology of ceramics,” explains Barutto. Consistency was key to the project, as evidenced by the meticulous attention to all furnishing aspects, from the atmospheric lighting solutions down to the smallest design detail.