The Alpino restaurant in Cambridge is the original restaurant of a group of local family-owned bars and eateries. It was really important to get the interior absolutely right – on brand with the other establishments, whilst setting the benchmark as the primary. Located in a beautiful historic building which dates back to 1908, the style is rich and opulent; the design tells the cultural story of the Italian family owner/operators and sets the expectations of the diners. Working with lush colours and textures, it was key to avoid aesthetic overload. The saturated immersive experience of the lustrous velvet curtains, vibrant wallpaper, dark wooden flooring and art deco style feature light fittings is offset with minimalist furnishings. The clean lines of the furniture are juxtaposed with the lavish fittings, whilst ensuring there was ample natural light keeps the restaurant bright and welcoming. The practicalities of a working space were a key consideration, lots of movement of staff has been factored in, as well as providing areas for guests to relax. The first thing diners see as they walk in is a stunning free standing front desk with brass detailing and Emaraude marble, exquisite, and unique – setting the tone for the experience.