RESTAURANT DESIGN
Every restaurant has a story to tell. We design spaces that immerse guests in that story—creating moments of comfort, care, and connection that linger long after the meal.
Bar and Restaurant Interior Design Approach
The Kuchar team consists of experienced restaurant and bar interior designers who are adept at enhancing the natural qualities of a space through bespoke designs, quality materials, and inviting color schemes. Below, we detail some of the projects our restaurant interior design team have completed for businesses in Chicago and around the world.
Fresh Perspective
We use a mixture of our combined expertise and personal passions to make every modern restaurant interior design project an exceptional creation that connects with diners.
Purposeful Design
Our restaurant interior design services have the power to create an ambience that turns a meal into a rich experience, truly enhancing your business.
Creative Edge
We excel at creating unique designs that help our clients stand out against their competition… yet also understand the importance of business goals, schedule, and budget.
Whether it’s finding the perfect light fixture for a space, designing a custom restaurant sign, or creating a harmonious environment for patrons through bespoke designs, we excel at custom restaurant designs and cater to every detail.
Warm wood tones, gracefully curved shelving, and bold green marble define the striking interior of Sushi | Bar’s Chicago location. The design pays homage to classic midcentury Chicago style through stacked tiles and terrazzo flooring, while carefully chosen upholstered panels and brass fixtures introduce warmth and intimacy to the 375-square-foot space. Every detail completed by our bar and restaurant designers has been crafted to create a memorable dining experience, where style and comfort meet in perfect harmony.
For this Chicago-area project, our bar and lounge interior designers took inspiration from the restaurant’s name and incorporated numerous light pendants to simulate the movement of fireflies during a summer evening. We wanted this lighting to be the focal point, so the rest of the palette remained quiet on purpose, using wooden seating to augment the connection to nature paired with a muted and calming blue at the central bar.
Inspired by the warmth of French bistros that have anchored their neighborhoods for generations, Kuchar's restaurant interior design gives this Milwaukee bistro the sense of having always been there. Imperfect tile, found objects, and vintage details all add to a buzzing atmosphere.
Our restaurant designers took a completely different approach to this project than we did with its Chicago counterpart, delivering a unique design that would make it stand out. As visitors travel through the bright, tropical stucco corridor they are transported to a space unlike anywhere else in Espanola Way. The dining room’s dark, moody, and sophisticated interior is a stark change from Miami Beach’s famous sunny pastels, providing a transformative experience to diners, and setting the stage for an unforgettable evening.
In the Words of Our Restaurant Design Clients
Kuchar and company provided exceptional service and expertise. Top to bottom, it was a one-stop shop working with Kuchar, as we looked to open our cafe. The elements they pulled from ideas we wanted featured in our cafe were effortless. Even providing cost-effective options to stay within budget. Yes, a designer that is skilled without breaking your bank exists. We are in year 5 of our busy cafe, and no signs of wear or tear in sight.
Eugene Wilson
Meet The Gang
Chicago-based
Award-winning firm
Skillful and unique designs
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Our Creative Philosophy
Vision & Research
At Kuchar, we believe that the experience of dining goes beyond the plate, extending to the essence of the space that guests occupy.
Brand Experience
From textures to lighting, every detail is artfully composed to immerse guests in your brand’s story and evoke a sense of effortless escape.
Business Success
Our team of restaurant interior designers in Chicago is committed to developing atmospheres that will make your business unique.
Ready to Stand Out?
Let's create a restaurant space that attracts diners from the street and keeps them coming back.
Uncover the Art Behind Every Dining Experience
Discovery & Vision
We create a concept for the restaurant - what is the story behind the food, brand, and design? Those should all be connected for one cohesive dining experience.
Space Planning
We want to understand the seat count goals with the client. A high-end restaurant will be more spacious than a casual restaurant, which may want to pack in more seats. Either way, our space planning will be focused on that goal.
Design Development
We create an experience using architectural elements, lighting, finishes, and furniture to build the best ambiance. Then, we use procurement services to make the design come to life.
Enhanced Experience
Thoughtfully crafted environments that elevate every moment of the dining experience, leaving guests feeling connected, inspired, and eager to return.
Better Brand Connection
Design memorable dining moments that make every guest feel welcome—and eager to return.
Increased Sales
Purposeful spatial design that balances ambiance, efficiency, and revenue, ensuring every square foot works as beautifully as it feels.
Competitive Edge
Define your restaurant’s identity with immersive, design-driven spaces that engage the senses and resonate with every guest.
Connect with Your Customers
Our Interior Design Features
Lighting Is Key
We want the ambiance to be accented by the right amount of lighting (bright to very dark) and for the lighting to make the food look good.
Proper Acoustics
Loud interiors can completely ruin a diner’s experience. We work to incorporate acoustics into the design in a thoughtful way that isn’t too obvious.
Durable Furniture
Between the turnover of diners and constant cleaning, furniture needs to hold up to a lot of wear and tear.
In Chicago, diners have a LOT of options to choose from. It’s important to stand out and create a memorable experience that they will come back to and tell others about. The team at Kuchar loves to frequent the restaurant scene in Chicago, and we know what level of design the locals and tourists expect.
We've created
10+
interior designs for small businesses
Our team carries
90+
years of combined industry experience
Chicago Restaurant Design Services
Common Restaurant Design Questions
What is the right density of tables?
We will work with you on the right number of tables for your dining price point. Generally, a higher price point menu will see a more spacious design and therefore less tables. This makes a diner’s experience feel more elevated. A casual restaurant will generally be more packed, which adds to a lively environment.
What type of lighting should we include?
This depends on the type of restaurant. Regardless, we like a mix of lighting types (wall, ceiling, ambient) and for everything to be controlled on dimmers. A more serious, dinner only restaurant might want moody lighting. A lunchtime cafe with a healthy menu would benefit from brighter lighting.
How do we control acoustics?
Acoustic solutions should be incorporated into as many surfaces as possible. Some areas to consider are well-designed ceiling panels, fabric panels on walls, and full height drapery and rugs.
Do you design bars as well as restaurants?
Yes. Kuchar works as interior designers for bars and restaurants alike, designing standalone cocktail bars and lounges as well as bar programs built into larger dining concepts. Each one is planned around how the space will operate day to day and the atmosphere the owner wants to create.
How do you make a bar the focal point of a space?
The bar is often the first thing guests notice, so it should reward a second look. We treat the back-bar as a display, layering materials and lighting to make it the visual anchor of the room. Comfortable seating and an easy flow from the entry to the bar keep guests settled and lingering.