How Instagram Has Changed the Way We Design Vancouver Restaurants

Social Media’s Influence on Restaurant Interior Design

OEB Brentwood // Designed by JDG // Photo by Twist&Shutter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the rise of social media, in particular, the photo-sharing app Instagram, interior design has never been more important for the restaurant industry in Vancouver. Roughly 1 billion people actively use Instagram and it has become an incredible marketing tool for many businesses, including interior designers.

Delicious food may attract your customers, but instagrammable restaurant interior design features could bring in a whole new demographic of visitors. Social media has a great influence on people’s perceptions and attraction to restaurants, and if they know you are photo-friendly, they will definitely want to book a reservation.

Whether that’s a mural that your guests can stand beside, a cozy nook filled with plants, or an eye-catching neon sign hanging overhead, our team at Janks Design Group is going to explain how exactly social media has changed the way we address restaurant interior design.

The professional interior designers at Janks Design Group have extensive knowledge about the changing interior design trends in the restaurant industry and know how to create a unique and instagrammable space.

 

You Can’t Get a Good Photo without the Right Lighting

Yugo Restaurant // Designed by JDG // Photo by: Fyfe Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How exactly has Instagram changed the way we, interior designers, think about a restaurant space? Well, because we know that most of your customers are likely going to have an Instagram account or simply enjoy taking pictures, we work to create an environment that has plenty of photo opportunities.

Lighting can play a big role in the aesthetics of your restaurant’s interior design. There are many types of lighting styles, from ambient to task lighting, but it all depends on the kind of mood you want for your restaurant.

One of the first things that will ruin a photo is bad lighting. People can be too shy to use the flash on their cameras, so they will miss out on an instagrammable moment, and therefore your business will miss out on free social media marketing.

People love taking photos of their food as soon as it gets placed on their table, perfectly untouched. Putting spotlights over each table is a small detail, but will make a big difference. Our team of experienced interior designers did this at Yugo, a Japanese and French fusion Vancouver restaurant.

Restaurant Yugo // Designed by JDG // Photo by Fyfe Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While many restaurants want to set the mood with dim, romantic lighting, it is not helpful for taking photos.

As professional interior designers, we can ensure good quality lighting for photos, as well as maintain your brand throughout the space. We will establish a balance, incorporating plenty of natural light throughout while providing warm tones with artificial lighting.

Decorative lighting can also be used to make your space more instagrammable. A popular lighting fixture is the neon sign. They look great in photos and can be a signature for your restaurant, a symbol that people will recognize on social media and will want to come experience in person.

You can be bold with a neon sign by incorporating humour or something that speaks to the current generation. This will evoke a reaction from your customers and just might encourage them to take a picture. This has been a proven tactic in the city of Vancouver which boasts a young nightlife culture.

 

Get Creative with your Restaurant Interior Design

Bar Botanique in Amsterdam // Designed by Studio Modijefsky // Photo Source: retaildesignblog.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your restaurant’s design can increase business as it attracts more visitors because it stands out from other restaurants. Our professional interior designers at JDG can create instagrammable features that will make people want to wait in line, just so they can grab a photo with their meal.

Fun and creative interior design elements are great for restaurants because they add colour and texture, and when combined with the right lighting and decor, pull everything together. Here are just a few:

 

Murals

Dandy’s Icecream // Designed by JDG // Photo by Fyfe Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once our interior designers have finished creating an instagrammable interior space, you can reflect your brand’s creativity and design on the outside.

The team of professional interior designers at JDG helped create the mural for Dandy’s Ice Cream in Regina, Saskatchewan. It reflects their brand colours and stands out in the space, making it a perfect backdrop for photo opportunities.

Murals are a great addition to the exterior of your restaurant. It will attract people walking by and give customers something to do while waiting for a table. These colourful artworks make for the perfect backdrop and are specifically designed to incorporate a person’s body in the photo, such as angel wings for example.

 

Tile

#ihavethisthingwithfloors // Photo Source: @ihavethisthingwithfloors @comeonayleen Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A trend that we have been continually seeing is beautiful and intricate tile in restaurant interior design. Tiles can be a colourful accent that adds to the overall aesthetic of your space.

If you own a modern-style restaurant that utilizes bright colours, florals, and patterns, then tile can add the flare you are looking for, while looking great in photos.

 

Plants

People typically love nature and incorporating plants into your restaurant’s interior design is a good idea. We added plants to the Earnest Ice Cream North Vancouver location because it paired perfectly with the other elements of biophilic design such as the wooden accents.

You can read more about how to incorporate organic and natural design in our article on biophilia.

Earnest Icecream // Designed by JDG // Photo by Fyfe Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are an interior design firm located in Vancouver, British Columbia, specializing in the design of residential and commercial spaces.

If you are looking to create a memorable dining experience for your guests and utilize the power of social media marketing, the team at Janks Design Group can make your Vancouver restaurant interior, an instagrammable space.

Reflecting Back on 2019 – Interior Design

Ah…. 2019! What a wonderful year for Janks Design Group and our incredible clients. We began innovative interior design projects, worked on the development of current projects, and celebrated as our completed projects came to life! We had the honour of providing design services for Hospitality, Restaurant, Retail, Medical, and Corporate projects. As we dive into 2020, we reflect on some of our commercial design highlights.

Field & Social

18 East 5th Avenue, Mount Pleasant, Vancouver

This commercial design project was Janks Design Group’s 3rd time working with the incredible Field & Social team on a new Vancouver location. After the successful outcome of the Dunsmuir Street and Royal Centre locations, the JDG team once again used their experienced knowledge to create an interior space that combined functionality and natural beauty.  The new Mount Pleasant interior design provides a new twist on the existing concepts, and serves as the perfect neutral backdrop to the deliciousness offered. This retail design introduced more natural textures to increase the raw aesthetic within the space. We worked with Field & Social and our incredible friends at Harmony Pacific Inc. to bring this alluring space to life. This new Mount Pleasant location celebrated their opening on Monday, December 16th 2019.

Photos by Christine Pienaar

Dandy’s Artisan Ice-Cream

4570 Albert Street, Regina Saskatchewan

This artisan ice-cream shop wanted the interior design of their first location to reflect the passion behind their process, their dedication to local ingredients, and their overall sense of pride that stems from each batch of ice-cream. The Janks Design team was able to clearly communicate our interior design vision to the Saskatchewan client all the way from Vancouver, BC. With the Dandy’s process, product, and pride as our main source of inspiration, JDG designed a bright and inviting space that showcased the delicious ice-cream and overall brand of Dandy’s. Unique interior design elements were integrated through lighting, materials, and layout. To compliment the chilly ice-cream, warmth was introduced through wood seating and a feature fireplace amongst the retail and seating area. The black accents are an elegant contrast to the neutral colour palette, and create a sense of depth and visual interest throughout the retail space. Overall, the interior design of this new commercial space successfully portrayed the goals of the company, and provides a functional environment for both customers and employees.

Photos by Andrew Fyfe

CQ Express

9855 Austin Road, Lougheed Town Centre, Burnaby

This family-friendly space is located within Burnaby’s Lougheed Mall, in the developing hub of Lougheed Town Center. This new Dim Sum restaurant concept was inspired by the fun, fresh, fast, and healthy dishes that have been cultivated by the master chefs at CQ Express. With quick service being a priority for this commercial design project, the JDG team put our problem-solving skills to work, and created a layout that was extremely functional and productive for both staff and customers. The interior design followed in these footsteps, and provided a captivating and vibrant space for guests to enjoy the tastes, aromas, and sense of connection. By integrating branded colours, large custom graphics, and strategic lighting solutions into the restaurant design, the experience of this new quick-service restaurant exceeds expectations. This location is opening in January of 2020, so go check them out!

Conceptual Renderings by JDG

123 Dentist – North Vancouver Dentistry & Implant Centre

144 East 13th Street, North Vancouver

Located in the heart of North Vancouver, this newly constructed dentistry and implant centre is one of JDG’s most recent dental design projects. As you enter the doors, you are greeted with a custom reception desk that effortlessly combines warm wood tones and bright, durable quartz. The impactful wall beyond the desk is finished with an organic porcelain tile. The concept continues into the waiting area, where a modern pendant enlightens the seating area, and provides an essence of street appeal through the large window storefront. Various creative interior design elements were implemented into the rest of the design, such as the variety of planters, a massive geometric wood slat wall, and unique art pieces throughout the dental space. The high ceilings combined with natural light and the custom design create a refreshing environment that makes this dental space feel comfortable instead of institutional. A big shoutout to Lions Head Construction for working with us to bring this space to life!

Vancouver Soup Company

292 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver

This local Vancouver company desired a retail space that showcased their food for comfort product, and provided their guests with a comfortable environment to enjoy their delicious soups, stews, chilis, and entrees. The JDG team worked with the Vancouver Soup Company to bring this vision to life. We developed an interior design concept that was carried throughout the entire project, and reflects the company brand and visual directive. The charming storefront was an expansion on the existing production and warehouse area. As a result of technical, detailed, and creative interior design, Janks Design Group was able to successfully create a space that allowed customers to experience a meaningful face-to-face interaction with the company itself. This commercial design project gave JDG a wonderful opportunity to support local companies led by outstanding people. If you get the chance to try one of their delicious fresh products, don’t pass it up! They are exceptional!

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2017 Interior Design Trends

Colour

Powdery pink, terracotta, sand, cinnamon, and rust are earth colours that are becoming increasingly popular. They are warming, calming and very versatile. Introduce them into a muted colour scheme in a minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired interior spaces.

The second trend is confident jewel tones like vibrant greens, dusky blues and plum. These colours add a mixture of romance and bohemian feel to any space and work well with the pastels that were big in 2016. Influencing this rich moody trend is Benjamin Moore’s colour of the year Shadow. These tones can be used in commercial and residential interiors but most popular in the hospitality and food and beverage projects.

In supporting the well-being movement, people are leading towards fun fresh atmospheres. Interiors clad in white with inflections of colour and lighter wood lends to a laid-back California Baha vibe. This popular trend is moving away from the rustic furnishings and heavy finishes we’ve seen for years.

We all know that BC has been in love with grey but this year it’s moving away from the cold shades of concrete to a warmer tone. The new popular neutral is now “Greige” (yes grey and beige or some would call it taupe), especially in residential interiors. Rooms from top to bottom with wood flooring, tiles, furnishings, paint……a Greige affair!

Materials

This year will continue to display raw unprocessed materials, up-cycled resources and artisan goods. Cement, wood and exposed brick are more commonly used as main interior features and growing in popularity are cork, plaster and clay. These natural textures are counterbalanced by the smooth luster of metal and marble. 2016 was dominated by copper but this year brass and gold will triumph bringing back the retro bling. Eclectic combinations dominate commercial interiors but more and more designers are integrating this approach into residential spaces as well.

Fabric and Pattern

In fall of 2016 the fashion world brought velvet back from the 90’s and is now inundating the interior design industry in 2017. It’s showing up mostly in residential seating, cushions, curtains, or wallpaper in a variety of different colours. This lush fabric matches perfectly with the other trending raw materials, burnished metals and large-scaled greenery.

The subway pattern is slowly fazing out but geometric shapes are still going h4. Minimalist structures and furniture are complemented by these random arrangements and conduct vintage colours and feel. These patterns can be displayed with tile, wallpaper, paint etc. and add the right amount of interest and complexity to any space.

Nature

Pantone’s colour of the year coincides with our yearning to reconnect with the outdoors and studies prove that our health benefits from exposure to mother nature. Expect to see a diversity of green through paint, living plants and botanic wallpapers.

Sustainability

Consumers are pressing for sustainability and Eco-friendly interiors. A more conscientious approach and quality solutions are encouraged and celebrated. Blending organic design with natural materials creates modern, original and personal spaces. This brings a profound drive for supporting smaller independent designers with a bespoke story behind each of their products.

LED (light-emitting diode)

By most municipalities, LED lighting is now required when designing a space. It is energy-efficient, has a long-life span and easily adaptable to any environment. The technology allows lighting designers to create minimal pieces that require less space and produce less heat. The LED lamps vary in colour rendering making them suitable for almost any commercial interior or residential application. Definitive lighting placement can give an architectural space a new identity or energize interior environments without impending sight lines.