With a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, Konsolos’ design has been commended by both jet-setting tourists and the local Istanbul community. Described as a “sophisticated dining experience”, guests have complimented both the interior design and overall dining facility. The must-see restaurant serves up traditional Turkish dishes all wrapped up with impeccable customer service.
Konsolos offers a cool richness amplified by an elegant interior design concept and design realised by GeoID. Notably, a set of diverse artworks – sourced from France and created on a bespoke basis for the restaurant – imbue the sumptuous interior. This eclectic coexistence of custom-made paintings that adorn the walls creates a noble harmony presented within the context of the restaurant’s design, which is heavily based on exquisite wood and marble, with mirrors strategically placed on the walls to add more depth and balance.
Tugce Rizeli, Director and Co-founder of GeoID, explained: “The client wanted Konsolos to look sophisticated and modern with hints of an Art Deco mansion and, personally, I’m truly satisfied with the result.”
Adorned with artwork
The quirky custom-made paintings that are featured on the walls throughout Konsolos were selected to add a combination of both history and art to the dining space. “We found a company called Hibrid in France and collaborated with them for the paintings,” comments Tugce. The walls are adorned with these quirky, eclectic paintings, which depict a variety of wildlife – including monkeys, rams, hares, geese and domestic sphynx cats – dressed in formal clothing; similar to the work of Artist, Thierry Poncelet.
Art Deco touches
GeoID was heavily inspired by the glamorous dining rooms and history of the opulent Art Deco era; geometric and angular shapes, chrome, glass and shiny fabrics and theatrical contrasts (highly polished woods and glossy black lacquer). The material choice that features throughout the alluring restaurant exemplifies those found within establishments of the Art Deco period. The marble specified refers to the glamour and sophistication of the roaring twenties. Whereas the wood represents history and cosiness.
When designing Konsolos, GeoID had to pay particular attention to the end-user to meet the client’s needs. As Konsolos is a fine-dining restaurant, the guests that the clients were mainly trying to attract had to be the type of people that enjoy the finer things in life and appreciate luxury dining. Therefore, when specifying the colour palette for Konsolos, the hues had to reflect that of a high-end eatery.
Colour considerations
Complementing the Art Deco theme, maroon, gold and black have been used extensively throughout the fine-dining restaurant. These colours are the epitome of coolness and richness when it comes to interior design and are known to be used in interior concepts that have been inspired by the sumptuous Art Deco age. Again promoting the Art Deco look, GeoID also opted to use a mass of mirrors to expand the space, alongside pink-lighted chandeliers to lighten the mood within.
The result
The finished result is a glamorous but cosy establishment fit for the fine-diners of Istanbul. Guests feel as if they have attended a dinner party at a friend’s mansion, enjoying Konsolos’ delicious dishes.
Commenting on the finished concept, Tugce said: “When designing, we mainly focus on the mood and how everything is going to have an influence on the people who will be using the space.
“I think selecting different types of projects is challenging yet, simultaneously, fun. Konsolos was one of those projects where we created a story and started the designing process.
“Interiors have to be creative and innovative but, at the same time, functional and comfortable. After all, you are working on something that requires approval. So we always think about the clients and how we can make everything happen with a great design.”