Islamorada Pizza Co.
Islamorada, Fla.
Islamorada Pizza Co. was designed to attract both locals and guests at Three Waters Resort & Marina, where it’s located.
“They wanted to embrace this beachy, casual boho vibe of the Keys and make it super family-friendly, approachable, and colorful,” says Kristin Cullen, design director, Saguez & Dash, New York City. “They wanted it to feel comfortable for people in flipflops.”
The color in Islamorada Pizza Co. captures a fun, energetic spirit to make guests feel comfortable.
The restaurant is full of natural light but also features primary colors in the chairs, stools and mural. Two columns are covered in what looks like randomly placed colorful tiles but which were in fact carefully placed and carefully chosen to pull colors from the mural to tie the restaurant together. “We used them to add some funky colors and patterns into the space,” says Cullen. And, she adds, “the imperfection of the columns plays into the casualness. It’s not supposed to be precious and is supposed to be ad hoc.”
The floor is covered with tiles with terracotta-colored circles. “They’re not perfect and reminded us of little pizzas, so we tried to repeat some of that even in the simple lights in the ceiling. These round elements emulate the shape of the pizza being artisanal," says Cullen.
Images courtesy of Julie Soefer
The floor has a retro feel to it, as does the custom mural, Cullen points out. The mural features vibrant color, waves, palm trees and a skateboarder. “The skateboard is a throwback and there are retro lines running all the way in the background. We just wanted to be playfully reminiscent — have a bit of nostalgia but not too much.”
With all this color, Cullen adds, “it works for a fast-casual restaurant because you’re in and out; it would have been too visually stimulating for a long dinner. It captures a fun, energetic spirit for a short amount of time.”
