Trend Report: Arches
We’ve noticed a trend in restaurant design recently: arches. Archways are everywhere, whether used as a decorative feature to add dimension to a wall, a way to envelop a banquette, or as a space divider. Our favorites, of course, involve wallcovering to create an even bigger design impact. By framing the wallcovering with an arch and some specialty lighting, interior designers can create a dramatic feature wall, perfect for inspiring delight and creating insta-worthy moments. Check out some of our favorites!
Noche Woodfired Grill & Agave Bar
Interior: Maximalist Experience Design
At Noche, guests can enjoy modern Mexican fare inspired by Mexico City's energy and vibrance. On this wall, a custom collage mural inspired by Mexico City’s street art was designed by the Maximalist team and printed by Astek. This bright mural adds a splash of zesty color amid the color-drenched blue ceiling, walls, and seating. Strip lighting in the archway illuminates the wallcovering beautifully. This feature wall adds even more fun color to an already playful space!
Star Bar & Bistro
Interior: RSP Architects
Inside the Hotel Minneapolis Downtown, the Star Bar & Bistro offers casual, fresh American fare, often with locally sourced ingredients, amongst an eclectic atmosphere. In this seating area, the arched ceiling offers a more cozy, intimate feeling than the rest of the sky-high ceilings in the restaurant. On the back wall of the nook, our Kitten Coven pattern (designed in collaboration with Andrew Alford) adds a cheeky twist. At first glance, this chinoiserie-inspired pattern seems classic, but upon closer inspection reveals kittens getting up to all sorts of no good– perfectly balanced with the varied surrounding finishes for an easygoing vibe.
The Understudy
Interior: Siren Betty Design
The Understudy is a dreamy, queer-owned theater bookshop and cafe, perfect for those who are a bit romantic and dramatic at heart. The cozy interior features rich, warm colors and textures, not to mention plenty of natural lighting from floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of seating for sparking conversations. The archway separating the bookstore from the coffeeshop is cleverly illuminated with a custom wallcovering pattern by Astek’s design team, which features mythological creatures in a deep, earthy palette. It’s easy to get lost here– in conversation, in a book, in the details of the wallcovering pattern.
Peachy Keen NYC
Interior: Wid Chapman
Peachy Keen NYC may be closed, but her funky, over-the-top retro vibes will live on. This groovy brunch spot relies on a punchy color palette of mango, grapefruit, and aqua and a staunch resistance to sharp corners. Rounded shapes are everywhere: furniture, lighting, ceiling coffers, and –you guessed it– wall arches. Here, the floor-to-ceiling arches break up what could have been a boring tiled wall (although the hexagonal tiles here are anything but basic) and provide the perfect backdrop for Instagram photos. Additional lighting in each arch highlights our Fleurdy pattern by Society of Wonderland, full of funky rounded shapes to match the rest of the restaurant.
Como’s Pizza
Interior: Parini Design
Como’s Pizza, a pop-up branch of Como’s created to meet the demand of carryout pizza during the pandemic, embraced an interior design that was anything but temporary. The clean geometry, combined with a striking color palette (beige, black, and hints of orange and red), made for a modern and fresh space with nods to the past. Over the bar, an archway creates a focal point, showing off our Drunk Monkeys pattern (designed in collaboration with Andrew Alford) and signage declaring the longevity of the Como’s brand. The curves in the arch mirror the curves in lighting and other wall fixtures throughout, helping it fit in seamlessly with the rest of the interior design.
Katsuya NYC
Interior: Rockwell Group
Katsuya NYC’s interior blends traditional Japanese design with a contemporary Western feel. The nearly 7,000 square foot space is divided into more intimate sections, thanks to arched dividing walls inspired by Japanese architecture. Custom graphics designed by the Rockwell team and printed by Astek feature geishas and Japanese umbrellas. Printed on a silver substrate, these maximalist wallcoverings have a bit of extra sparkle. The overall effect is an interior full of layers and details waiting to be discovered.