Eileen’s Interior Design By Pip Johnson Studio
In designing the interiors for Eileen’s Charcoal Grill, Pip Johnson has embraced a moody, multi-textured and sophisticated aesthetic that sets the scene for intimate dining.
The elegant steakhouse is located in a newly constructed narrow building adjoining Newtown’s historic Sawyers Arms Tavern. With a rich blue palette, tartan carpet and marble bar, the space embodies the simple, polished flair of classic European bistro dining.
The walls are peppered with intriguing photos and Geelong memorabilia courtesy of local philanthropist Bob Gartland. These gallery pieces are emphasised by skylights during the daylight hours and at night by soft feature lighting. We sat down for a chat with Pip to learn about her design inspiration for Eileen’s.
Tell us about yourself and your practice.
Pip Johnson Studio is a boutique interior design studio based in Melbourne and the Surf Coast. We specialise in transformative hospitality and bespoke residential design. We love the collaboration process, working with great clients and offer a tailored and very personalised design approach with the aim to unlock the potential of each space, venue or brand and captivate all intended to enjoy it.
You’re behind some beautiful venues in this region.
Previous project collaborations with the Sawyers Arms Tavern hoteliers were the design of Two Noble, Coda Lorne and MoVida Lorne at the Lorne Hotel.
Other hospitality projects include the Torquay Hotel, Barwon Heads Hotel and other established venues along the Bellarine Peninsula. We have delivered various residential projects throughout inner Melbourne, Bellarine Peninsula, regional Victoria and Sydney, NSW.
What was the brief for Eileen's?
Eileen's Charcoal Grill is located on the ground floor of the Sawyers Arms Tavern, and gives the Newtown venue yet another specialised offering, while embracing the venue's history, values, and clientele.
The extension expands to the site boundary, and has been created with the intention to provide a sophisticated and intimate dining space that echos the aesthetics of a European style grill interior.
What influenced your design for Eileen's Charcoal Grill?
The design was influenced by the style of cuisine, with the intent to embody the mood of a European style grill, creating a warm and relaxed yet refined dining experience.
Tell us about the colour and material choices.
The palette of rich blues, muted toned tartan carpet, hints of brass and dark timbers throughout the furniture and joinery is anchored by the bold marble and illuminated fluted glass, creating a masculine, yet warm feel.
The bold use of colour applied to the custom wainscoting/wall paneling and wrapping up onto the ceiling really enhances the intimacy and mood in the space.
What is your favourite thing about the design of Eileen’s?
This space was quite challenging in its size and shape, so in order to maximise seating capacity and also create visual impact and a sense of volume/length, we used textural material applications, strong colour and finishes selections.
We had a lot of fun with the wall colour - many sample pots were splashed on the walls to select the perfect richness to ground the interior palette.
The illuminated kitchen creates a strong focal point within the space, and although compact in layout/size, the fluted glass facade illuminated from within is intended to create a sense of theatre while maximizing storage and functionality.
The curation and selection of framed memorabilia is seriously worth a look, there are some amazing pieces to view - a celebration of the venue's history, its proximity to Kardinia park and the town's passion for the AFL and the Geelong Cats.
Acknowledgements
Materials
Marble: CDK Stone
Lighting: The Fat Shack / The Lighting Collective
Cabinetry: Polytec
Flooring: Brintons Carpets
Custom wall paneling: Intrim Mouldings
Contractors
Builder: Spence Construction
Cabinetry: Spence Construction / Limitless Joinery
Electricals: Ardour Electrical