Blogs On Interior Designs

When it comes to creating a memorable dining experience, every detail counts.

And one often overlooked detail is the restaurant ceiling. The ceiling can set the tone for the entire space, creating a sense of ambiance and adding to the overall aesthetic. From intricate designs to unique materials, restaurant ceilings have the power to elevate the dining experience and leave a lasting impression on customers.

So, let’s checkout some unique ceiling designs from around the world and take your restaurant fitout project to the next level!

Create a Dramatic Effect with a Statement Ceiling.

If you want to make a bold statement with your restaurant fitout design, consider creating a dramatic effect with a statement ceiling. A statement ceiling can instantly elevate the ambiance of your restaurant and leave a lasting impression on your customers. There are many ways to achieve a dramatic effect with your ceiling design. Check out The Ikibana Restaurant in Barcelona, with a wooden interlaced statement ceiling.

Ikibana Restaurant

Another example of a statement ceiling is Liteco Project’s restaurant fitout for Steam King. Here, fabric hangs from the ceiling, creating intimacy and interest,

Incorporate Unique Lighting Fixtures.

One way to enhance your restaurant fitout design is to incorporate unique lighting fixtures into your ceiling design. Lighting can greatly impact the ambiance of a space and can create a memorable dining experience for your customers. Consider using statement pendant lights, chandeliers, or even custom-designed fixtures to add a touch of elegance and uniqueness to your restaurant’s ceiling. Whether you want to create a romantic and intimate atmosphere or a vibrant and energetic vibe, the right lighting fixtures can help you achieve your desired ambiance.

Check out Liteco Projects use of lights in their fitout for Toastie in Sydney – adding a touch of fun to the ceiling.

Add Greenery to your Ceiling.

Adding a touch of green has become a huge trend in interior design and adding greenery to your ceiling takes this one step further. Check out Liteco Projects use of greenery in the ceiling in the Sambandha restaurant in Auburn, Sydney.

Make the most of a false ceiling.

A false ceiling is an essential element in any interior design. It is helpful for soundproofing, hiding wires and pipes and is safety against fire and for thermal insulation. But it can also be used a design feature.

Check out the ceiling of Costa Navarino in Greece, The Barbouni beach bar restaurant’s canopy ceiling has become ubiquitous on Instagram, largely due to their ceiling. When the wind blows the the roof whistles and moves in the breeze, a feature designed to reflect the surroundings.

Design by K-Studio | Photograph by Yiorgos Kordakis

Incorporating Cultural Elements in Restaurant Ceilings.

You can use bold colours or patterns, install unique lighting fixtures, or incorporate architectural elements such as exposed beams or vaulted ceilings. The key is to choose a design that complements the overall theme and style of your restaurant while also creating a visually stunning focal point.

A good example of incorporating cultural elements into a restaurant ceiling is seen in The Noodle Rack, a noodle venue in Changsha, a major city in south-central China. This is the first restaurant of a chain to be expanded across China and the design team wanted to create a strong identity by recreating an oversized noodle rack for the The Noodle Rack’s centrepiece.

Image credit

The design studio integrated the tradition of noodle making in its design, by ingeniously recreating an oversized noodle rack for the The Noodle Rack’s centrepiece.

Another example of cultural elements is the ceiling in The Pakta restaurant in Barcelona. The restaurant offers a fusion of Japanese-Peruvian cuisine – and this theme is extended with references to traditional wooden Peruvian looms in the ceiling and walls.

Project by El Equipo Creativo.

Whether you’re going for a modern, industrial look or a more traditional, elegant atmosphere, a statement ceiling can add that wow factor to your restaurant fitout design.

Contact Liteco Projects

If you are planning on reworking your space, contact Liteco Projects Sydney. We can offer inspiration and advice for your restaurant fitout, whatever direction you are considering.

Talk to Liteco Projects about your next fitout.
Contact us on 02 8068 1755

As we zoom through 2023, there are many interior design trends that are coming to the fore. Whether you are thinking of a cafe fitout, an office refurbishment or a restaurant make-over, Liteco Projects Sydney, can help you incorporate these new elements into your space or inspire you to explore new directions.

Trend One: Maximalism

Minimalism has been a popular trend for many years now. We are all familiar with simple, uncluttered spaces, interiors with clean lines, bare essentials, pared back colours and monochromatic palettes.

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However, in recent years there has been a shift towards the opposite of minimalism – maximalism. Maximalism is rich, eclectic and above all, confident.

It is defined by bold colours and patterns, mixing up a range of colours, textures and objects and firmly rooted in a “more-is-more” philosophy.

This style works well in restaurant and cafe fitouts allowing a venue to be individual and ooze personality. The space created can be playful and fun, with bold pops of colour and a quirky sense of humour.

As Penny Craswell writes in The Design Writer:

“Maximalist interiors and designs offer the designer to get really creative – to explore play and to indulge in an orgy of extremes”.

Trend Two: Retro-Inspired Design

Retro is certainly IN in interior design and fitouts in 2023, with nostalgia making a huge comeback.

When you talk of retro interior design, it is often the influence of trends followed in the 1950s to the 1970s with a focus on bold colors, geometric patterns and retro-inspired furniture.

Bright coloured walls, pendant lights, wall paneling, large paintings chequered b & w patterns on carpets and cushions, and hints of yellow are all elements to consider.

If these elements are incorporated into a cafe fit out or a restaurant refurbishment, they can add a sense of nostalgic playfulness to your space.

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Trend Three: Botantical-Inspired interiors

Bringing the outside in with nature inspired interiors this trend was seen in 2022 and continues strongly in 2023. The fundamental belief is that incorporating nature into your interiors promotes harmony.

Nature inspired interiors take their cue from “biophilic design” – a concept that encourages a closer connection between humans and nature when creating interior spaces.

Integrating natural elements in your cafe, restaurant or office fitout, will bring a sense of calm to your space, creating a connection to the outdoors and improve the quality of life. Think organic textures, earthy tones, and natural materials such as wood, stone, and rattan.

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Trend Four: Statement Ceilings

We have all heard of statement walls and floors, but statement ceilings are not so common. Think of it as a fifth wall, a blank canvas, offers a wealth of design opportunities – whether it be bold colours, intricate patterns, or unique textures.

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In 2023, ceilings are definitely taking center stage and reaching new heights!.

This new trend can add a sense of drama to your cafe fitout or restaurant refurbishment – creating a conversation piece or buzz in your space.

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Statement ceiling in restaurant 53 by ICrave.

Trend Five: Artisanal Details

Another major trend seen in 2023 is handcrafted and artisanal details.

This can be anything from including woven textiles and handmade pottery in your space or adding unique sculptures or individual art pieces. These details not only allow your business to support small businesses and local artisans but they also add character and personality to your space.

Contact Liteco Projects

If you are planning on reworking your space, contact Liteco Projects Sydney. We can offer inspiration and advice for your business fitout, whatever direction you are considering.

Talk to Liteco Projects about your next commercial fitout.
Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Every December, the world’s leading colour authority, Pantone, announces a colour that they feel best encapsulates the mood of the coming year.

The Colour of the Year for 2023 is Viva Magenta a hot pink. Pantone describes this as a powerful and empowering colour, “an unconventional red for an unconventional time”.

“Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration …”

Viva Magenta 18-1750 is a colour that is rooted in nature – and comes from the red family.

Leatrice Eiseman, CEO of Pantone, says that in this age of technology, we look more to nature to keep a handle on what is real.

“Inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family, as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has ever known.”

It is not surprising that after several years focused on neutral palettes, interior designers are gravitating towards colour-drenched walls and cabinetry – and Viva Magenta could be an indication of bold colours that are on their way.

So how will this bold, bright colour be used in commercial fitouts??

Here are 5 suggestions on how this Pantone Colour of the Year could be used in in commercial interior fitouts, whether it be an office fitout, a cafe fitout or a restaurant fitout.

1. Use Viva Magenta as a pop of colour

One of the easiest ways to incorporate Viva Magenta into your space is to use it as an accent colour or a pop of colour.

Image source: Dezeen

Viva Magenta is a bold colour but it can be incorporated into interior commercial fitouts in multiple ways.

For a bold statement you can go for a magenta feature wall, but it can also be added as a pop of colour through smaller details, for example, curtains or rugs, or even just magenta flowers. This will add a warm, yet dramatic touch to any interior.

If it is used sparingly, in small doses, Viva Magenta will add a pop of energy to an otherwise neutral space. These splashes of this colour will definitely lift any space.

2. Use Viva Magenta with earthy tones or neutrals

Viva Magenta is a strong colour so you can soften it by pairing it with muted earthy hues like sandy beige and cinnamon brown.

Bold, vibrant colours aren’t for everyone and a lot of people gravitate towards the calming properties of a neutral palette.

However, if you want to make a foray into using bolder colours, you will be delighted to know that Viva Magenta pairs beautifully with these natural, paler shades.

If you put it against crisp white, it really comes to life, and if paired with grey it creates a great, contemporary feel. With the right tone of pale pink it becomes soft and romantic, and earthy sands really bring out the red.

So you do not need to ditch the neutral or earthy colours, just pair them with Viva Magenta.

3. Spice up a restaurant fitout with a dash of Viva Magenta

Restaurants are the perfect place to experiment with Viva Magenta.

Do not be afraid to use Viva Magenta in your restaurant designs. Add warm tones of lively green plants, add magenta-coloured seats and table décor and amp up the whole restaurant theme.

To add design depth, indulge in soft rugs made of wool and silk. Add touches of Viva Magenta with such things as salt and pepper shakers on the table. Minute details in this colour will enhance the restaurant’s design theme.

4. Experiment with textures

Viva Magenta is a shade that also lends itself beautifully to textures.

Using different textures to add depth and interest to a space has been a rising practice over the past few years.

Use Viva Magenta in velvet to create the feeling of ultimate indulgence, in wool for vibrant cosiness, or even in coloured glass for a beautiful rosy glow.

5. Use it to highlight key areas

Think outside the box

Another way to incorporate Viva Magenta into your office or shop fitout is to use it to highlight key areas or features.

For example, you could use Viva Magenta signage or lighting to draw attention to your company logo or product displays. This will help create a sense of energy and excitement in your space, and make it more memorable for customers.

Talk to Liteco Projects about your next commercial fitout.
Contact us on 02 8068 1755

6. Timelines

Plan, plan and plan again:

Keeping on track, sticking to your timeline, can be one of the hardest things – that is why it is important to make sure the deadlines you set are realistic.

As a starting point, refer to your business plan and ascertain when your business needs to be operational to maximise your revenue streams.

A good fitout company will help you manage your timescales and especially when to purchase your key items, such as furniture and equipment.

7. Marketing

Shout about it

You need to let the world know your plans – you are about to open the doors to your dream business so you need to start creating hype as soon as possible.

Create a website and start gaining a database of interested customers, get them excited with updates and countdowns. Use social media platforms (Facebook, instagram) – there is no reason why you can’t build an online following and loyal customer base before you’ve even opened.

If online isn’t your thing (or even if it is!), bring the focus to your restaurant or cafe shop with window graphics promoting the business – even create a gorilla marketing campaign in the area.

There are many options to build intrigue ready for the big reveal.

8. Staff

Recruit well

Customer service is invaluable, so recruit early and recruit well.

With your staff, you will need to find the perfect balance between emotional skill and technical skill (51% personality against 49% technical ability).

Make sure you leave yourself enough time to do recruit properly as a quick fix can sometimes bring with it long-term issues – so plan, hold onto your nerve and know the right people are out there!

8. Open

Soft launch

Before your grand opening to the public – have a trial run.

Invite a restricted audience and to test how your business operates.

As well as family and friends, you need to invite those who will be more critical – so invite a cross section of people you don’t know.

You need honest feedback (not a party!) – you need to know what’s working and what needs improving.

10. Repeat

Eat, sleep, repeat

You did it.

The doors to your business are finally open.

Now, the hard work begins!

Once open it is critical that you maintain consistency and quality.

By all means listen to customers and employees via comment cards but keep it simple with a couple of questions such as “What did you enjoy?” and “What could we do better?”.

Talk to Liteco Projects about your next fitout
Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Starting a restaurant, café or take-away business can be exciting and rewarding but also daunting.

You may have the dream but there are many challenges that you will encounter along the way from equipment to research, rents to staff and that’s before you’ve even opened your doors.

To help you along the way, we have compiled a definitive guide with our top tips to help you achieve a successful restaurant business fit-out.

Like anything, it’s all about getting started.

1. Your Business Plan:

Create a business plan & stick to it

Your Business Plan is arguably THE most important step when it comes to fitting out your hospitality venture, whether it be a fancy restaurant, corner coffee shop or takeaway.

If you have chosen a fit-out company, it is a good idea to work closely with them and use their expertise to develop a realistic budget. That way your business plan will fit your budget.

Whilst is is important to try and stick to your business plan and budget (and it is important!), it is also necessary to make sure that you allow yourself some leeway.

However good your intentions, it is very likely you will end up spending much more than you planned for, so it is a good idea to make sure your budget is realistic, and that you have the extra funds to cover unexpected expenses.

Always stick to your business plan. It should be a living (breathing!) document that you should continually refer back to.

These are two rules that are good to have in your head:

Whatever your set up cost is; double it.
Whatever your predicted turnover is; half it.

With these rules in mind, look at your figures and ask yourself – if this was true, could your business survive?!

2. Your Budget:

Set a budget but don’t go cheap when it comes to the kitchen

If you have chosen a fit-out company, work closely with them to develop a budget that fits within your business plan as closely as possible.

Of course negotiate, but remember it is often false economy to buy too cheap. The last thing you want to be doing, is having to buy things twice.

A good fit-out company will always listen to your requests and try to work with your budget.

A golden rule however, is, don’t buy cheap when it comes to kitchens!

Don’t cut costs on equipment – rather, this is an area where high-quality materials, furniture and equipment is imperative.

Invest, invest, invest!

These need to be long-lasting, so go for stainless steel work-benches, professional ovens and high quality utensils.

3. Location

Choose a perfect location

When looking for the perfect location, you need to be armed with a comprehensive understanding of who your ideal customer is and also a good grasp of the local area where you are looking.

If you need help finding a premises, talk to your fit-out company – as they will know what to look for.

You can however do a lot of the research yourself.

Look at an area or property from the perspective of restaurant manager, (which might be you!), as well as a customer.

Check out other restaurants in the area, experience your competitors and what they are offering, talk to their customers, their staff, get a feel for what works and what could be improved. How do they welcome you when you arrive? What do you think of their menu? How comfortable do you feel? Focus on details as well as the big picture.

Consider how many potential customers there are – on weekdays, on weekends, in the mornings and afternoons and even seasonally or at different points of the month.

4. Fit-out Company

Hiring the best

You might want to do this step up front, as, depending on who you choose, your fit-out contractor can be involved in every part of your fit-out journey.

Do your research, get recommendations and choose your fit-out company carefully (read: wisely!). This is going to be a long-term relationship so you need to make sure it is the right fit.

The right fit-out partner will hold the project together and guide you through the technicalities, legalities and help inspire you creatively.

Work with a contractor that finds solutions, not problems, has plenty of experience and above all – listens to you.

Consider a one stop shop company, such as Liteco Projects, who are able to work with you at every stage from choosing the right location, to design, joinery and even kitchen appliances.

5. Design

Your unique story, plus the practicalities

As British chef Heston Blumenthal once said “food is as much about the moment, the occasion, the location and the company as it is about the taste”.

Consider this – people can get a meal, a take-away, a coffee anywhere – BUT a positive, unique experience is hard to find.

If you can achieve this then you will have left your mark and a lot of this comes through DESIGN.

Design allows you to stand out and be different and for many, this starts with a STORY.

Every business needs a story and with the commercial world being so competitive, the strongest stories will be the most compelling.

Incorporate and convey your story in your design – in this way your customer’s experience will overtake price and product as the key brand differentiator.

Of course, it’s not just in the design.

But design that is intentional, considerate and sensitive to lighting, colour and space make it much easier to ensure a positive experience.

Here are some practicalities you may want to consider in your design phase:

• Space parameters – customers and staff need ample space to move around, so make sure you don’t put tables too close together.
• Optimise your lighting – you, your staff and your customers can see everything properly but you also want to create the right ambience.
• Make the most of storage space – storage is essential and you never know what you might need it for.

That is all for PART ONE, stay tuned for PART TWO.

Talk to Liteco Projects about your next fitout
Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Colours for a Post Pandemic World

We are fast approaching the end of the year – which means – Dulux Colour Forecast for 2023 is out.

Based on extensive research, both locally & globally, the forecast reveals what tones and trends we can expect to see more of next year.

Dulux 3 palettes feature a mix of earth drawn neutrals, natural textures and a range of vibrant colours for a post pandemic world.

The main themes are Balance, Connect, Revive.

Balance – the need for Calm

“Uncertainty creates a need to restore the balance in our lives”.

The Inspiration:
Balance features serene marine blues and gentle greens in a calming palette for anyone seeking a simple, but sophisticated, aesthetic.

The Colours:
These colours are inspired by the coast, such as Dulux Kimberley Sea and Dulux Nephrite and are paired with the richness of Dulux Deep Garnet – a rich combination.

The Look: How to use these colours in your Fitout:
The look is luxe with textures like velvet and silk, furniture with exaggerated features and abstract art and décor pieces.

Connect: the need to connect with Nature

“Our connections are renewed through sustainability, authenticity and meaning”.

The Inspiration:
Connect brings the rich colours of the outdoors inside with earthy tones of moss, wasabi, sandstone, cinnamon, muddied yellow-green and burnt charcoal.

The Colours:
Classics like Dulux Whisper White are combined with warmer colours such as Dulux Bongo Skin and Dulux Basset Brown – these make for great and inviting feature walls.

The Look: How to use these colours in your Fitout:
This palette works best with simple furniture in natural materials – think timber, leather and rattan, as well as natural elements like stone flooring and bespoke, modern lighting made from recycled materials for a rustic and cosy look.

Revive: the need for Joy & Play

“Emerging from challenging times we revive our spirits through joy and creativity”.

The Inspiration:
After all the doom & gloom of recent COVID years, Dulux’s latest forecast brings playful, happy colours to brighten up our everyday lives.

The Colours:
Sunshine yellow, gold and breezy blues paired with Dulux Purple Celebration will lift our moods. These are softened with variations of rose such as Dulux Princess Pink and Dulux Pink Chi.

The Look: How to use these colours in your Fitout:
The Revive colour palette merges the past and present. So add retro influences with futuristic features – pixel patterns and digital art – and use these colours to create look-at-me accent walls and statement seating.

See all shades in Dulux’s 2023 Colour Forecast here.

Talk to Liteco Projects about your next fitout

Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Modern offices, big & small, have fallen in love with the idea of breakout areas.

So, what exactly constitutes an office breakout area and why should you include one in your office fitout?

Read on to find out why.
 

What is an office breakout area?

A breakout space can be defined by any area without a fixed use. At a very base level, it could be just a grouping of chairs, or at the other extreme, a well-designed, experimental space.

It is an alternative space for employees to gather away from their desks, for informal meetings, collaborations, employee catchups or just a place to relax.

5 benefits of office breakout area:

One: Increases Productivity

Studies show that taking regular breaks from a task can dramatically improve an employee’s ability to focus. It is recommended that employees take a break of at least 5-10 minutes every hour.

Changing your setting helps you to recharge. Accordingly, breakout space in workplaces become vital to hoist staff spirit, increment mental prosperity and support efficiency levels.

Two: Increases Innovativeness

Good breakout areas are relaxed and away from work stations, allowing more conceptual thoughts and creativity.

Three: Increases Health & Wellbeing

Sitting all day long at a desk is bad.

Office breakout areas, encourage employees to get up and leave their desks, encouraging mobility and flexibility. Breakout areas in your office are therefore a great starting point for ensuring you have a happy and healthy workforce.

Four: Makes the right impression

We live in a world where your office fitout reflects your company culture and ethics. A well thought out and well-designed office breakout area actually indicates you care about the mental and physical wellbeing of your employees which in turn has an impact on your clients and helps to attract and retain good employees.

Office Breakout Area Considerations:

There are many things to consider with an office breakout area – here are a few recommendations:

• The Space: It should be fun and inviting, so choose the right colours, maybe add a feature wall, provide comfortable chairs and/or lounges
• The Noise: To create a sense of separation and privacy, install pods, or booths or glass panels
• The Extras: Make it homely – provide a coffee machine, add plants, a games area, build a Friday bar, or even a breakfast bar!

If you are considering adding a breakout area to your office fitout, talk to us.  Liteco Projects can help you create the perfect working environment.

Liteco Projects offer office fitouts in Sydney that help take your business to the next level.

Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Office culture isn’t what it used to be – “workspace” and “place of work” have become somewhat indistinguishable.

Following on from our post on hot office design trends, we acknowledge that today’s companies need to rely on critical components such as flexibility and agility to increase growth and stay on top of their game.

The big prominent players – Google, Xero, Airbnb – already know this, and they are leading the revolution, redefining what an office can be.

Technology is combined with creativity to transform workspaces into smart, spaces where workers want to be. When grey walls and drab cubicles are swapped for interesting, inspiring, designed offices, productivity is boosted, and staff morale improved.

Whether you are thinking about a complete office overhaul or a quick office refit, check out some of the best office fitouts from around the world for a little inspiration.

Citibank Singapore: Banking Conservatory

 

Photo is by KHOOGJ

Dezeen selects Citibank Singapore by Ministry of Design as an office space to praise.

This wealth management centre consists of offices and meeting rooms, is a lush, flourishing, tropical oasis with garden pods used as an alternative to traditional meeting rooms.

The ultimate in Biophilic design.

Mercedes-Benz Lifestyle: Timber Curves

 
Photo is by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

The Mercedes-Benz Lifestyle office in Brisbane is mixture of workplace, hospitality and wellbeing with a full car showroom as well as spaces carved up for individual office tenancies, coworking and lounging.

Designed by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, workplace and wellbeing are blended into an enormous display of warm & tactile, curved timber finishes.

The expansive floorplan is divided up into smaller multi-function spaces, lounges, and offices and through formwork and joinery you get the feeling of streets running through the building.

BARK: Humans & Dogs

 

Photography is by Sean Airhart and Chuck Choi.

BARK creates dog toys and treats. Their unique workspace in Columbus Ohio is designed for people and puppies to thrive together and with a growing trend for dog friendly workplaces, BARK shows how this can be pushed to the max.

The project led by architecture firm NBBJ, is an innovative workspace with bunkbed-style seating nooks and indoor play areas that takes dogs and their owners into consideration.

Google: Re-imagining the Office

An article on “Amazing Office Fitout Designs from Around the World’ would not be complete without including a Google office fitout. After all, they are the company known for ground-breaking office design.

Co-founder of Google, Larry Page, has always firmly believed that a comfortable workspace is conducive to productivity, using design to bring workplace culture to life.

Post pandemic, this is Google’s latest HQ design, breaking new ground for sustainability while defying the typical office aesthetic.

This is Google’s Bay View campus by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Heatherwick Studios.

It is comprised of three buildings, spanning 1.1 million square feet of space at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and is designed with ideas of innovation, nature, and community in mind. Google aims to operate entirely on carbon-free energy for 24 hours a day, seven days a week by 2030.

It looks more like an airport terminal than an office!

Whether you want your workplace to just look & function better or you are planning a major fit-out, get in touch with Liteco Projects to find out how we can help you create the perfect working environment.

Liteco Projects offer office fitouts in Sydney that help take your business to the next level.

Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Due to the pandemic, the world of office fitouts is moving faster than ever before – this has had an impact on working styles and, in turn, office interior design trends.

So here we look at hot office design trends that are picking up pace in 2022.

Read on for our top 3 trends.

Design Trend Number One: Biophilic Design

The Living Future Institute of Australia defines Biophilic Design as: “the practice of connecting people and the natural world of which people are part – within our built environments and communities”.

Put simply – in terms of office fitouts – this means incorporating nature into the office. The aim of this is to create positive spaces.

When it comes to workplace design, now more than ever, we should consider what the environment is doing to the brain and how we use that to help people be healthier and more productive.

This is not just via plants, but using a whole range of natural elements, such as wood for furniture, water (think fish tanks and water features), moss feature walls, carpet tiles with textures and colours that reflect the great outdoors and so on.

The workspace should ideally reflect the natural world as much as possible bringing natural light in, preventing noise pollution, using natural, sustainable fabrics – all designed to bring positive energy to the office space.

Design Trend Number Two: Sustainability

This trend follows from number one.

Acting responsibly towards the environment is a huge concern in general, and with office design this no exception. Therefore, we see such changes as using LED lighting (or natural light), prioritising natural materials (preferably locally sourced) and repurposing items wherever possible.

Staff are also being encouraged to behave ethically too – with such items as separate bins for different types of waste, reusable coffee cups, and have plenty of spaces for bikes on-site (and showers too if cyclists want to cool down after arriving).

All of this makes the office a more attractive place to come and work and do business, as well as help in the ongoing fight against climate change.

Design Trend Number Three: A Hybrid Approach

The lockdown forced most of us into the great Working from Home Experiment.

Following on from this, some companies have adopted a hybrid approach, whereby some employees split their time between the office and home.

This has resulted in some companies making changes to their office to accommodate this change.

Agile Spaces:

Rather than the large open plan layout of the past, the new settings need to be able to scale up and down with ease. Agility is important, maximising available space to support this new type of working.

Zoom Booths:

Maintaining clear lines of communication between those in the office and those at home is one obstacle of hybrid working. One solution being adopted by some businesses is “Zoom booths”. This is where digital meetings can be held on laptops plus, with their acoustic properties, they are also good for private phone calls.

See: https://www.wantdontwant.com/

Locker Systems:

Typically, in hybrid offices, employees aren’t allocated a fixed workstation – instead, they hot-desk. This means a robust locker system is essential for safety and security.

Sub-letting:

If the landlord allows it, sub-letting is a great way to make use of space that’s been left vacant due to a reduced workforce. This may also require some intelligent space planning and furniture procurement to safely optimise the area for a new team.

Resimercial:

This is a cross-pollination of “residential” and “commercial” design. Resimercial aims to replicate the comfort of the home in the workplace. This means introducing homely elements – soft seating areas, throws and pillows; living-room items like rugs, plants, coffee tables and photo frames; and warm wooden finishes on floors and walls. With people working at home for so long, savvy companies are making workspaces as enticing as possible to attract and retain their staff.

Whether you want your workplace to just look & function better or you are planning a major fit-out, get in touch with Liteco Projects to find out how we can help you create the perfect working environment.

Liteco Projects offer office fitouts in Sydney that help take your business to the next level.

Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Consider these 2 statistics:

1. More than 70% of customers visit a restaurant once and never go back
2. 82% of companies agree that retention is cheaper than acquisition

As new customers are often harder to attract, it makes logical sense to concentrate on building loyalty with those customers who have already visited your café or restaurant.

So how are you going to create loyalty – well, here are some top tips, some totally simple, some a little more time consuming to help you get there.

Smile

Be friendly. Smile. Train your staff to smile and it will pay off ten-fold.

Allow for Walk-ins

Try to accommodate last minute guests in some capacity. Either leave some tables open for walk-ins, or if you really prefer reservations, consider at least having a bar or a few communal tables so you don’t have to turn away all those without a booking.

Give away Freebies

Be generous. Customers love freebies, however small – whether it is free sparkling water, a basket of bread or a bowl of chips – freebies make customers feel special.

Create a Loyalty Program

Want to turn casual customers into regulars? Then consider a loyalty program & reward your customers for spending money. Plus what is more – research shows Australians love loyalty programs!

According to Loyalogy, 73% of restaurant customers would recommend a business more frequently if it had an appealing rewards program.

Here are some examples to consider:

• Give unlimited coffee for a set fee per month
• Offer points for each dollar spent and get a free menu item with every 150 points
• Earn $25 for every $250 spent.

Communicate with your customers

Don’t stop after enrolling your customers into your loyalty program – communicate with them. Use the information they give you and offer them special birthday promotions, alert them to happy hours and events and most importantly, ask them what they want.

Respond Kindly & with Tact to Online Complaints

Bad restaurant reviews can go viral to the detriment of your business. Don’t allow reviews to make their way through the internet, instead be kind and tactfully address any issues on Google Reviews, Yelp or TripAdvisor with a clear apology.

As a cafe or restaurant you need your customers. Incorporate some of these tips into your business strategy and you should benefit from devoted customers bringing consistency in both periods of growth and tough times.

Liteco Projects offer restaurant and cafe fitouts in Sydney
that help take your business to the next level.

Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Light is one of the biggest factors that will determine the mood of your space, how your customers feel and whether they will come back. Creating a positive atmosphere will therefore not only benefit your customers, as well as your income.
 

Lighting and it’s effect

Understanding lighting and its effect is essential for your cafe or restaurant fitout – so here are a few pointers:

1. Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting is lighting that comes from windows and lighting fixtures that substitute for natural lighting. This is the most common form of lighting and is known for creating warmth as well as illuminating a space without glare.

2. Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is lighting that highlights, or focuses on, a particular part of a room or an object in the room. It is great if you want your costumers to see a certain item or aspect.

3. Artistic lighting

Artistic lights may not provide bright lighting for your customers, but they make for an interesting design and can help to set a style and attract customers to your cafe.

Lighting and different times of the day

As natural light changes outside, lighting in your space should also change. It is therefore good to consider your operating hours and the kind of lighting which will work best.

Lighting Ideas for your Fitout

If understood, light can add so much more to your space than just illumination:

1. Lights as a Focus Piece

Thinking beyond the norm, lights can also become artworks/talking points and can add a unique design touch to your space.

2. Beyond the Table Light

You could have a table light, or the table can be the light – accent lighting reconsidered.

3. Design is Important

The type of light emitted from your lighting is important for your atmosphere, but it is also important to think about the design. Whether you go for chandeliers or pendant lights, design is King.

4. There is more than Edison Bulbs

The Edison bulb is everywhere, and whilst it is great, there are more lighting options that the Edison bulb. Here is just one example.

The team at Liteco Projects are experts in Cafe, Restaurant & Bar fitouts and refurbishments – call us to find out more.

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Want more inspiration?

Talk to Liteco

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Liteco Projects offer restaurant and cafe fitouts in Sydney
that help take your business to the next level.

Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Very Peri is Pantone’s colour of the year 2022. It is a unique shade of purple that encourages creativity and imagination. The colour belongs to the blue family, containing a violet red undertone.

Pantone’s executive stated that the colour is meant to enhance creativity and show off a lively attitude.

“The Pantone Color of the Year reflects what is taking place in our global culture, expressing what people are looking for that colour can hope to answer,” Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, said in a press release.

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Very Peri, Pantone’s colour of the year 2022, is a unique shade of purple that encourages creativity and imagination.

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Why Very Peri?

We are living in transformative times.

Very Peri is a symbol of these times and the transition we are going through.  We are coming out of a period of isolation due to Covid, and our ideas and standards are changing. The digital aspect of our lives has also changed and we are stretching the limits of reality, opening the door to a dynamic virtual world where we can explore and create new colour possibilities. With trends in gaming, the expanding popularity of the metaverse and the rise of the digital space, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri illustrates how colour in the digital world and the physical world can fuse.

Interior design examples

Very Peri has great potential so don’t be afraid to experiment with this bold and fun colour. Use this colour to infuse a fresh, dynamic and joyous vibe into your interiors.

Here is it used in Cafe Krujok. Together, architect Eduard Eremchuk and designer Katy Pititskaya, have designed an “unusual, slightly crazy and unreal” pastry cafe.

Source: Yellowtrace

Another example is a hamburger cafe in Italy called Bun Milan – creating a sophisticated but fun interior.

Source: Archdaily

Tips on how to use Very Peri

This colour is very versatile – making it easy to combine with both warm and cool tones.

1. Match with the right colours: This carefree colour pairs well with white, pink, beige, green. Also, it offers great value when paired with orange and yellow.
2. Use it as an accent wall: Break away from neutral walls and introduce Very Peri as an accent wall.
3. Use it a a pop of colour: Or if a whole wall is too much, use Very Peri as a pop of colour, an artwork, a chair or even a vase!

For a professional restaurant fitout call the team at Liteco Projects, Sydney’s leading hospitality fitout specialists.Contact us on 02 8068 175 or send us an email enquiry

The pandemic has forced the restaurant and food industry to go through a complete overhaul and restaurant interior design has had a rethink too. 2022 is, and will be, a year of big changes – here’s a list of some restaurant design trends we are noticing.

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Restaurant interior design
has had a rethink

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The Rooftop Dining Experience

Rooftop dining is a restaurant design trend that’s here to stay. Outdoor dining of course grew in popularity due to the pandemic, but rooftops have come into their own.

If your restaurant has roof access and you are able to obtain the proper permits to build on your roof, it’s likely to be a good investment to turn your roof into a dining space. Add umbrellas in summer, outdoor patio heaters in winter and even dome igloos (!) and use your rooftop all year round.

Texture, Texture, Texture

It is all about being unique and texture is here to stay.

Restaurant interior design trends are seeing a greater focus on mixing and layering different textures and finishes. Patterned fabrics are paired with plush textiles and wooden floors; metal lighting fixtures are paired with concrete-like flooring and wall finishes; artworks are added to give an extra layer of interest.

Furniture is also mixed and matched. Contrasting furniture has been a trend in home design and is moving into restaurant spaces to help people feel even more at home. Find tables and chairs that are the same colour, but different style.

Making a statement and being unique have never been more important.

Local Flavour

It is all about experience and restaurants need to be memorable.

Locally sourced ingredients has been a trend for a while, but now we’re seeing the physical space reflect the community as well. 2022 is seeing an emphasis on both custom-made and hand-made elements for restaurants, creating a unique, recognisable style for each establishment.

Associating a restaurant with local roots, local artists and local craftsmen, allows a restaurant to score big points with customers.

Industrial Continues

The industrial trend continues in 2022 – unfinished concrete surfaces, metal pipes, visible ducts, high ceilings and exposed structural systems.

The hospitality industry has seen a massive adoption of this trend over the last 2 decades with restaurants taking their cue from old warehouses and factories, with designers using materials such as leather and wood and good lighting to soften these often harsh interiors.

Seating Comfort

Making customers feel at home is a definite trend with more upholstery, soft pillows and cushioned seats used in the form of booths, chairs, and lounge areas.

Inspired by Nature

2022 is tapping into the power of plants with some restaurants even growing their own vegetables. These can be used as part of the decor, as there is no doubt, natural greenery is beautiful.

Without a doubt, this restaurant interior design trend is one that will never fade away.

Open Kitchen Concept

Restaurants have increasingly begun incorporating the open kitchen restaurant into interior design.

Having a view of the open kitchen, not only builds trust and displays transparency it also turns food prep into theatre. An open kitchen provides an immersive experience, with diners able to see, smell, and hear their food being made.

The team at Liteco Projects are experts in office fitouts and refurbishments that future-proof work spaces, promote productivity and bring a homely feel to working environments – call us to find out more.

_____________________________________________________

Want more inspiration?

Talk to Liteco

_____________________________________________________

Liteco Projects offer restaurant and cafe fitouts in Sydney
that help take your business to the next level.

Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Office fitouts and refurbishments have always needed to keep up with the times, however, since the pandemic, work spaces must now evolve to suit different requirements. Productivity is always high on the list for any office refurbishments or new fitouts, however these spaces now need to be more welcoming to employees.

This is because of the Great Resignation, a movement that began during the pandemic lockdowns. With time to reassess their lives, many employees became unhappy with their work/life balance which no longer suited their needs.

Working from home became a motivating factor that has resulted in a hybrid model that combines both remote work with time at the office.

This means that office fitouts and refurbishments need to be highly flexible whilst at the same time making employees feel at home when at the office.

Safety, collaborative spaces, face-to-face interactions and relaxation spaces are all strategies that can be used to help employees feel comfortable at work and part of a community.

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Ideas to increase productivity
& make your employees feel happier

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So here are seven ideas for office refurbishments and new fitouts that will not only increase productivity but also help employees feel happy in their working environment.

1. Indoor Plants

Bring the outdoors inside with professional indoor plantings.

2. Define Space with Colours

Use colours and textures to define individual spaces.

3. Open Office Spaces

Incorporate open office spaces to encourage social distancing and easy communications.

4. Relaxation Lounges

Include relaxation lounges with a homely feel where employees can rest and recharge.

5. Leisure Spaces

Design leisure or recreational spaces where employees can play games and really unwind at work.

6. Transformable Spaces

Create transformable spaces with movable walls that provide small private spaces or larger areas for meetings.

7. Hot desking

Include hot-desks to allow multiple employees to use the same computer on different days.

The team at Liteco Projects are experts in office fitouts and refurbishments that future-proof work spaces, promote productivity and bring a homely feel to working environments – call us to find out more.

Want more office inspiration?

Talk to Liteco.

Liteco Projects offer office fitouts in Sydney that help take your business to the next level – call us to find out more.
Contact us on 02 8068 1755

With an abundance of choice, the restaurant industry is more competitive than ever and a competitive edge is crucial for success.

Great service and amazing food are of course essential, however, for an outstanding dining experience, ambience and restaurant design are critical – and that is where the restaurant fit out comes in as a restaurant’s overall design and layout play a vital role in the restaurant’s success.

In this light, Liteco has gathered together some amazing restaurant fitout design examples from around the world.

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Veneno

Website: http://venenorestaurante.com/

Veneno Restaurant in Guadalajara, Mexico, was designed by Monteon Arquitectos Asociados and Pragma Studi. It was voted by Dezeen as one of the top restaurant interiors.

The restaurant was inspired by desert hues and the haciendas of Mexico and the ceiling shows a  a labyrinth of ancient ruins taking its inspiration from the archeological site of Casas Grandes.

Trois Cafe

The Trois Cafe by Architect and interior designer Nelson Chow, principal of NC Design & Architecture is designed as a tribute to Hong Kong’s housing estates.

With its bubblegum colours, retro-futuristic design, handcrafted details and brutalist geometry it may Hong Kong’s most Instagrammable cafe.

Sketch

Sketch Restaurant is in ritzy Mayfair, comprised of 4 separate restaurants, each with their own unique design.

From an enchanted forest to a quirky patisserie to a Parlour with elegant Louis XV chairs with legs encased in white ballet shoes – this is the epitome of “Alice in Wonderland” eccentricity,

Website: https://sketch.london/

50% Cloud Artist’s Lounge

50% Cloud is a cavernous restaurant within a brick art installation in Mile City in Yunnan province, China.

The structure looks like a giant cluster of termite mounds and the interior is deliberately pared back so that the building is the main focus.

The furniture and layout compliment the curves of the structure and as the walls of the building could not be decorated, the focus is on the light that filtering through the skylights and onto the bricks, creating patterns throughout the day.

The Alchemist Dome

Expect the unexpected!! This is the mantra of the Alchemist Restaurant in Copenhagen and with a 3 hour gastronomic extravaganza under a dome with a flickering aurora borealis above it lives up to its mission.

Designed by Studio Duncalf this is a dining and entertaining space featuring a combination of theatre, warmth and intimacy in Denmark.

Website: https://vioso.com/alchemist-dome/

Feeling inspired? Talk to Liteco.

Liteco Projects offer hospitality fitouts for restaurants in Sydney that help take your business to the next level – call us to find out more.
Speak to our expert team about restaurant fitouts and design.
Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Understand the trends and boost your restaurant in 2022

As a leader in hospitality fitouts, Liteco Projects recognises that restaurants have struggled throughout the pandemic. Lockdowns, loss of customers, fewer staff and even a shortage in supplies have brought many hospitality businesses to their knees.

It’s not been easy, but many restaurants are now emerging stronger and more resilient from the pandemic. Much is due to leveraging the changes enforced by the pandemic and using them to drive their business forwards. These changes are evolving into trends that are being embraced by astute restaurant owners to grow and diversify their revenue.

This is where professional Sydney shopfitters can be of assistance, because we understand these trends and how they can be leveraged to transform your business. In fact, these trends will have a significant impact on your hospitality fitouts, as they change the way you operate and how customers dine in your restaurant.
Here are three trends that will change everything in 2022.

1. Think about your restaurant layout

As restaurants change the way they operate, there will be a greater need for professional hospitality fitouts. More emphasis will be made on take-away meals and drive-thru options, even for high-end restaurants.

Allocated spaces will be required for pick-ups and delivery drivers, reducing the space for diners, as this trend continues to grow.

2. Consider streamlined menus and local food products

Supply shortages and constant lockdowns have shown restaurant owners that simplifying their menus and sourcing locally can be a recipe for success.

This trend will continue as restaurants focus on offering a smaller selection of meals, whilst focusing on quality, flavour and freshness to reduce both costs and wastage.

Professional Sydney shopfitters can help redesign your restaurant to reflect your updated messaging.

3. Diversify your revenue streams in 2022

There is a growing trend for restaurants to diversify their income streams with a retail section to increase their revenue. Branded mugs, t-shirts, tote bags and even food items are some of the lucrative merchandise that offers free advertising and greater margins.

Adding a meal delivery service and even cooking classes can help diversify your revenue even further and ensure the ongoing success of your restaurant.

Liteco Projects offer hospitality fitouts for restaurants in Sydney that help take your business to the next level – call us to find out more.
Speak to our expert team about restaurant fitouts and design.
Contact us on 02 8068 1755

Boost your covers & revenue whilst keeping safe this Christmas

As interior project specialists, we know that hospitality owners want to maximise their covers over the Christmas Season. However, you’re faced with the need to balance the health needs of your customers and staff with trying to service as many customers as possible.

So how can you achieve all these goals this festive season?

Well, we’ve been faced with the same dilemma in our latest restaurant and café fitouts in Sydney. So why not take a leaf out of our book and leverage our expertise?

Here are our top three tips for boosting your covers and revenue, whilst keeping everyone healthy and safe this holiday season.

1. Optimise seating arrangements

Given the ongoing need for social distancing, you need to think of ways to expand your dining options. So is there space in a rear garden, roof top or sidewalk for diners? Is there space inside that isn’t utilised efficiently? Can you install smaller and more slimline tables and chairs that allow for social distancing but still keep the covers high? Our recent restaurant and café fitouts in Sydney have used at least one of these strategies to great effect.

2. Increase hygiene & cleanliness

Rundown and worn out furniture and fittings not only discourages customers, but also promotes the impression that you might be as lax with your hygiene standards.

The easiest way to turn this around and give your customers confidence in your hygiene is to refurbish with new furniture and fittings, making sure they are quickly and easily cleanable. As interior project specialists, we have recently started using more timber elements in our client’s makeovers, because it’s less of a problem with the COVID virus than other materials.

3. Encourage bookings when it’s quiet

Every café and restaurant has quiet periods during the week, so why not offer two for the price of one or free deserts during these times? Many families and couples look for these type of offers, particularly around the festive season. It’s a great way to increase bookings and revenue at times that don’t normally lead to many covers.

Liteco Projects are the leading interior project specialists for restaurant and café fitouts in – call us to find out more.

With Sydney now focussing on living with COVID, it’s time for life to return to normal.

This normality, however, doesn’t guarantee the return of customers to your café nor the numbers needed to achieve your bottom line. So what can you do to give your café a competitive edge?

This is where café fitouts can make a huge difference to your revenue. That’s because you can leverage the psychology of colour to influence the way customers interact with your business.

Using colour psychology in café fitouts

Along with location, café fitouts have a huge impact on the success of a business, so it’s no surprise that colour is such a big factor. In fact, colour is one of the most affordable ways to change the ambiance of a café and clever business owners use the psychology of colour to subtly influence their customers.

Do you want to increase your turnover rate? There’s a colour for that. Want customers to relax, linger and spend more money? There’s a colour for that. Want to promote a healthy menu? There’s a colour for that!

Here’s a few colour palettes that are already being used in café fitouts to boost revenue in post-lockdown Sydney.

Red & Yellow:

These colours elevate the heart rate and blood pressure and get people to move! So if you want to increase turnover in your café and there’s a high footfall in your area, introducing elements of red and yellow will do the trick.

Green & Brown:

For cafes with a dining area, green and brown colours are great for encouraging customers to sit and relax, chat and linger.

They are also perfect for promoting healthy, fresh food, so if that’s your menu, then consider adding elements of these colours during your next café fitout.

Blue & Purple:

These are tricky colours for cafes, because they tend to make you thirsty, rather than hungry. However, blue and purple are ideal for take-away coffee shops who focus on the quality of their coffee, rather than on providing food.

At Liteco Projects, we use colour psychology to maximise the benefits of café fitouts for our Sydney clients.

If you are hoping to reopen your restaurant soon, it might be wise to speak to an interior projects specialist about a new and updated hospitality fitout.

That’s because COVID is highly transmissible, particularly in enclosed spaces, and is likely to be a legitimate concern to both your staff and customers.

At Liteco, we know exactly what needs to be done to help make your restaurant as safe as possible in a post COVID world. So given that we need to live with the virus for the foreseeable future, here are a few of the strategies you should consider for your updated hospitality fitout.

1. CHECK RESTRICTIONS

Check your state or territory’s COVID restrictions for the maximum number of customers allowed in your restaurant at one time.

2. RETHINK THE FLOOR PLAN

Redesign the floor so that it can accommodate social distancing between tables and allow customers to safely walk through the restaurant to the bar, toilets, and so on.

3. GET CREATIVE WITH HANDLING

Reduce transmission rates by using disposable paper menus, chalk boards or digital menus (the latter can be accessed using a QR code on each table).

4. ENCOURAGE PRE-ORDERS

Encourage people to pre-order before arriving at the restaurant to reduce the amount of time they are in an enclosed space.

5. CREATE OUTDOOR SPACES

Maximise any outdoor spaces to accommodate al fresco dining and install outdoor heaters if necessary.

6. REWORK FURNISHINGS

Replace furnishings and surfaces that are time consuming to clean with low-maintenance options that can be quickly sanitised and disinfected.

During your hospitality fitout, however, you need to ensure that the decor and ambiance of your restaurant are not jeopardised. That’s because reducing the number of tables and seats, combined with installing furnishings and surfaces that can be easily sanitised may give your restaurant a slightly clinical appearance. It takes a highly skilled team of interior projects specialists to balance these different aspects and create a design that still represents your brand, appeals to your customers and keeps everyone safe.

With the rising cost of commercial real estate, office refurbishments in the post COVID world will help operators scale back their requirements and boost employee confidence in one fail swoop.

That’s because with the continuation of remote working, flexi spaces will become more popular with operators, reducing the costs of leases and office fitouts.

Employees will also be happier with their work-life balance, spending a few days working at home and a few days using the flexi spaces in their place of employment.

Here are three more refurbishments that will help keep your employees safe and comfortable in the office, post COVID.

Office refurbishments will include separated workstations

Open plan work spaces have never really been popular with employees, but can be adapted, post COVID, to create more separation and privacy.

New office refurbishments might involve installing privacy booths so that employees can take phone calls without disrupting their colleagues.

Refurbishments can also involve installing panels between socially distanced workstations creating a physical separation, promoting a healthier environment even with a fully vaccinated workforce.

Hygiene & cleanliness as a prime factor in office fitouts

COVID has made us all more aware of hygiene in the workplace, so expect office fitouts to include more options for hand washing, as well as soft furnishings and flooring that can withstand a high level of cleaning. Air conditioning will also be a big focus with the installation of UV light air purifiers gaining more momentum.

High-tech refurbishments promote a contactless office

Social distancing and hand washing can be taken up a level by including aspects of a contactless office in your refurbishments.

This design strategy focuses on reducing the number of surfaces, appliances and equipment that employees need to touch.

For example, how many people touch the elevator buttons in your building? What about the kettle, fridge and other appliances in the lunch room? The printer, fax or scanner? Voice activation or smartphone apps can be used to activate an amazing array of functions in the workspace, reducing contact and making communal areas safer.

What is a cloud kitchen?

Cloud kitchens take restaurants to a whole new place.

A cloud kitchen is a rentable kitchen in a shared space which allow restaurateurs to prepare food for delivery.

Picture a large space with numerous stations (mini-restaurants) of stainless steel prep tables, hood vents, stoves, ovens, and sinks, each with its own orders coming in direct from customers.

In short, cloud kitchens are a branch of a restaurant that offers delivery services only.

They are also referred to as ‘ghost kitchens’, ‘dark kitchens’ or even ‘virtual kitchens’ and thanks to lower real estate and operational costs as well as a new customer base for eateries to explore, they are making growth far more accessible.
 

Why cloud kitchens?

Cloud kitchens allow chefs to prepare food without having to worry about maintaining the dine-in portion of a brick-and-mortar location.

They are fast becoming a hot trend in the food-delivery arena and it is easy to see why:

• With no brick-and-mortar restaurant, there are lower upfront and operational costs
• These kitchens are usually in densely populated areas allowing for more customers & quicker turnaround
  No fear of outgrowing your restaurant space as cloud kitchens are flexible and scalable
• Cloud kitchens are fully functioning commercial kitchen spaces, so you can hit the ground running with no set up costs

What are the advantages of a Cloud Kitchen?

There are several reasons why you should consider a cloud kitchen or even adding a “micro” cloud kitchen to your restaurant business.
 

1. More customers

Unlike a traditional dine-in restaurant, a cloud kitchen does not rely on customers being physically present. You can therefore reach out to those located kms away, catering to a wider range of customers than you have ever done before. With this in mind, you will be able to offer a broader range of cuisines and your services will be more versatile. More cuisines & more customers, makes for a more sustainable kitchen!

2. You will be able to experiment more easily

A cloud kitchen represents a lower risk with lower capital outlay, providing greater freedom to experiment with different ideas.

If you have a restaurant and your cloud kitchen is a side hustle (a micro cloud kitchen!), then a cloud kitchen can enable you to test and learn before bringing that experience to your in-service guests. You can first introduce your new addition on the cloud kitchen menu and see how it performs. Later, it can be added to your restaurant’s regular menu if you find that the product is generating good revenue.

A cloud kitchen allows operators to get creative and test new offerings, all without the added pressure of sky-high rents or having to simultaneously execute on an in-service experience for guests. For example – Melt Shop utilized cloud kitchens to launch a new concept, Melt’s Wing Shop, focusing solely on wings.

3. A “micro” cloud kitchen can allow you to use your existing resources better

Of course, not every restaurant is busy all the time, there will always be times when most places are running slow. You might then want to consider a micro cloud kitchen for these slow times to carry out delivery services. Everything that you have that would otherwise be idle during those hours – the staff, the kitchen, the inventory – can be put to use, thereby using your restaurant’s resources to their full potential.
 

What is the most important technology consideration for a cloud kitchen?

The most important technology decision to make when opening a cloud kitchen is how to manage the food delivery process – and an online ordering system is essential, improving profit margins and increasing consumer confidence.

Though phone calls and emails can still be used, online ordering is essential as most customers prefer to order online for take-away.

However, not all online ordering solutions are created equal.

Third-party online ordering marketplaces are great tools for driving traffic your way, but can cost you a 30% fee on every order, plus they may also control the guest data from your customers.

Of course, direct online ordering solutions charge no commission fees, and let you own your guest data, which is key for driving repeat orders but you will need to work harder to be visible online.
 

What are some Cloud Kitchen examples?

There are many examples of cloud kitchens across the world from CloudKitchens in San Francisco to Karma Kitchens in London to WeKitchens in Sydney.

What is the future of cloud kitchens?

Whilst many restaurants have suffered due to Covid, but cloud kitchens have been able to weather the Covid-19 storm and as consumers increasingly lean in to getting take away, the cloud-kitchen market will likely get even hotter.

In the current environment and with the continued uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, cloud kitchens or food and beverages outlets backed by a cloud kitchen network have a better chance of survival and are likely the future of the food industry.

And then, into the future restaurants across the world will reappear, and cloud kitchens will also remain – both will survive.

What is Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2021?

Pantone’s colour for 2021 is grey with yellow for highlighting. To be exact, the colours are Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating.

These 2 colours, say Pantone express:

“A story of color that encapsulates deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the promise of something sunny and friendly”.

The colours are therefore a message for now, when we need something warm and optimistic, and we need to feel like everything is going to get better.

How is Pantone’s Colour of the Year Chosen:

For over 20 years, Pantone’s Colour of the Year has influenced product development & purchasing decisions across many industries from fashion, to home furnishings, as well as industrial design, product packaging & graphic design.

Each year, the Pantone Colour of the Year is selected after careful consideration & a broad analysis of trends. Each year the team at Pantone Colour Institute comb the world looking for new colour influences from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact colour, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention.

How to use these Colours in Interior Design:

So how will interior designers use this optimistic colour palette?

The idea is to use the grey as the neutral backdrop with the yellow as the contrasting, highlighting colour.

Houzz has plenty of examples of this:

An example of using this could be a grey exterior paint colour which would be coupled with a  “hint” of yellow at the front door. Another example would be a grey backdrop with a “pop” of yellow such as with a furniture piece, or cabinets or even towels.

Sunday Coffee cafe in Lviv, Ukraine, by Vymir Design Studio. Photo via behance.net

A fitout, whether it is for a shop, office, cafe or restaurant, can be one of the biggest expenses your company will incur. It is therefore imperative you get it right the first time – from choosing the right company to nailing the look & feel, to functionality and branding.

To get it right – planning is fundamental and asking the right questions is crucial.

To help you in this endeavour, we have compiled a list of key questions you should be asking your fitout company from the get go.

1. COMPANY BACKGROUND: How long have you been in business?

A company that has extensive experience will instil confidence that they will be able to deliver the right solution. Obviously, the longer a company has been established, the more likely it is they are reliable and trustworthy. So find out their background & how long they have been working in this field.

2. COMPANY EXPERIENCE: What kind of experience do you have in building the kind of fitout we need?

Find out if the company has done similar work to your project and ask to see project examples. Ideally you will want to choose a company that has already completed at least one project that is similar to yours.

3. TIMEFRAMES & DEADLINES: What is the expected timeframe for completion?

Before you commit to anything, it is imperative to be clear about timeframes & deadlines as unexpected delays can have a huge impact on your business and sales.

Understand the different phases of your project and get confirmation of timeframes at the start of your project – if possible, in writing!

4. COMMUNICATION: How will you communicate with me & keep me up to date with the project?

It is important to have open communication regarding the project both in the planning and construction phases.

Knowing upfront who the contact person is, how they will communicate with you and what is their experience will help inspire confidence and allow you to rest easy during what could otherwise be a stressful experience. You should also find out what kind of information the company needs you to provide at the various project phases to keep the project moving.

5. INSURANCES: Do you have the necessary licensing and insurances in place?

If anything unforeseen happens insurance will protect the fit-out company AND your business – so before you commit ask if the company has the required insurance and licenses in the state they are operating, and check they comply with local building and safety regulations. You need to make sure you are covered if anything goes wrong.

6. PAPERWORK: What approvals do I need for my fitout and will you help me lodge them?

There are various compliances and approvals you will require prior to beginning and throughout the duration of your fitout. For your project you may need to apply for CDC, DA or OC. These are often time-consuming and complicated. Find out if your fitout company will manage these submissions for you.

7. WARRANTY: What warranty do you offer for the services you are providing?

After your project has been completed, it is important to know how defects will be handled. Find out what warranties are in place for both works & materials.

8. PAYMENT: What are your payment terms?

It’s vital to get the payment terms agreed upfront so everyone is clear on expectations. This includes any progress payments and a documented process of approvals, so everyone is on the same page. It is also important to know how unexpected things are accounted for during the fitout process.

9. GREEN: How can we be more ‘Green’ with our refurbishment?

There is a growing trend towards sustainable fitouts. If this fits with you and your company ethos, you may want to ask your fitout company if (and how) they prioritise green issues such using eco-friendly materials, providing responsible waste management or making your new fitout energy efficient.

Plan the Basics:

The best thing you can do before setting out on a commercial fitout, is to take time to plan the basics and this starts with asking the right questions. If you’re looking for a reputable office fit-out company for your next project, get in touch with Liteco – we have thousands of successfully completed projects!

How can a restaurant fitout in Sydney help your business succeed when others fail?

Well, you might already know that a lot of restaurants don’t last their first five years in the business, but 80%? That’s a lot of restaurants.
So to help you select the best value for money equipment, here are some questions to ask yourself before making your purchases.

Can good design counter a poor location?

The biggest mistake made by these restaurant owners was in selecting the wrong location, but can good design counter a poor location? It might come as a surprise to learn that a professional hospitality fitout can help to counter some of the negatives of a bad location in Sydney. For example, how many times have you seen a restaurant or café that’s booming where it has no right to be?

Success + an awesome reputation

Given a poor location, the success of a restaurant usually comes down to one single factor – an awesome reputation. This reputation is built on good food and an atmosphere that calls to the crowds.

You can guess what happens – a few people stumble across the restaurant in an out of the way place and are amazed at the food and vibe, they talk to their friends and before you know what is happening, your restaurant is full every night.

All despite a location that might have ruined many other businesses.

The importance of design

At Liteco, we can’t help with the food (unless you count our kitchen fitouts), but we can use our expertise in restaurant design to give your business an interior design layout that just begs customers to stop, stay and return, again and again.

So if business isn’t going so well at your restaurant and you believe that location is a problem, you have two choices – relocate or make your restaurant so awesome that it succeeds despite its location!

Whether you are opening a new establishment or renovating your existing restaurant or café, one of your main purchases will always be the commercial kitchen equipment. In fact, since this equipment can take up a large part of your kitchen budget in Sydney, it’s important that you choose wisely.

So to help you select the best value for money equipment, here are five questions to ask yourself before making your purchases.

1.  What’s the cost of the kitchen equipment?

If you are on a tight budget, then cost might be your priority. This should, however, be tempered with quality, because there’s no point in buying poor quality kitchen equipment, just because it’s cheap.

2.  Does your kitchen have enough space for the equipment?

Th design features of any good commercial kitchen are ease of use, efficiency and safety, but you also need sufficient space for your equipment. With the right plan to hand, you can select the best commercial kitchen equipment for your space.

3.  Is this the best quality you can afford on your budget?

On a limited budget, you might not be able to buy the best of everything. So buy equipment with multiple uses and splash out on one or two essential, but high quality, items.

4.  Is the commercial kitchen equipment easy to use and clean?

The commercial kitchen equipment you purchase needs to be easily cleaned and easy to use. So do some research into your preferred items, making sure they are not difficult to operate and can be cleaned quickly and efficiently.

5.  Do you need advice refitting your commercial kitchen?

Designing an efficient kitchen with a good work flow and finding the right suppliers can be difficult, even if you are an experienced chef. So you might want to consider engaging a kitchen designer for your project. Someone who can help with the layout of your kitchen, select the best value for money equipment, and locate reliable suppliers.

Are you considering a hospitality fitout in Sydney this year?

Updating your restaurant isn’t something that’s taken lightly, but with the impact of the virus on the industry, it actually makes good business sense.

This is because you need to attract both old and new customers to your restaurant. One of the ways to do this is to give people confidence that you are handling their concerns about the virus in an appropriate manner. So some aspects of your hospitality fitout will most probably stay the same, but others will need to change.

Here are the top 6 hospitality fitout trends in Sydney that you should consider for your new restaurant design.

1. Shared condiments

Leaving condiments on the table or sharing them between tables can transfer the virus between customers. So these condiments are now being brought to the table on request and cleaned between tables.

2. Shared tables

Communal tables also pose problems for many people, so again, there’s a movement away from this type of dining towards a more innovative restaurant design that provides distance between diners.

3. Restaurant apps

Using apps to access menus and order food in your restaurant is gaining momentum as it plays on the use of technology and supports contactless interactions.

4. Outdoor dining

We have seen an increase in outdoor dining during the pandemic and this will continue as we start to return to a more normal lifestyle.

5. Social distancing

Whilst social distancing may be eliminated at some time in the future, it will continue to be important for many people. So layouts that foster a safe distance between diners are becoming more prevalent in restaurants.

6. Buffets

Even though we may return to normal, it’s likely that many customers will continue to have problems with the close social interactions around buffets. This means that the trend for hospitality fitouts is moving away from shared buffets to creating new dining experiences that allay these fears.

In Part A, we covered your business plan and now in Part B, we take a look at the final steps needed to start your own restaurant or café.

These steps begin with engaging the best interior project specialists for your new restaurant or café fitout in Sydney and ends with the launch of your business!

1.  Arrange your restaurant or café fitout in Sydney

With your business plan and funds organised, your next step is to hire interior project specialists to start your restaurant or cafe fitout. This includes the front end with its furniture and décor, as well as the back end kitchen and all the necessary equipment.

2.  Select the best POS for your situation

Now that your cafe fitout is well on its way to completion, you need to organise your Point of Service or POS as it’s usually called in the industry. This is a computerised system that helps you track sales, food inventories and cash flow for your business. It will make your bookkeeping and tax much easier at the end of the month.

3.  Organise food and liquor supplies

You might not be selling alcohol at your establishment, but if you are then it’s time to organise these suppliers, as well as suppliers for your food. Finding reliable providers is an important part of a successful business venture, so it pays to take your time and get it right.

4.  Hire staff for front of house and kitchen

Now is the time to hire a manager for your restaurant or café, as well as all the staff for the front end and kitchen. Having staff on board (particularly the chef) will help you with the final step in your venture, outlined below.

5.  Test your new menu on staff, family and friends

Your cafe fitout should be nearing completion, so it’s time to design and test your initial menu. This will also allow you to spot check your new suppliers for quality and reliability.

With all ten steps covered, you are now ready to launch your new café or restaurant!

If you’re thinking of opening your own restaurant or café, you need a solid business plan before you start looking for interior project specialists.

So in Part A of our cheat sheet we cover the five steps you need to create a business plan for your new venture. It’s not until Part B that we cover restaurant and café fitouts in Sydney, as well as the remaining steps that need to be completed before launching your new business.

At the end, you will have a ten-step cheat sheet to starting your own restaurant or café!

1.  What type of restaurant or café do you want?

You might have a preference for a fast food restaurant, casual dining, organic café, family restaurant or even fine dining, but what does the market need? Match your location with what people want and you have a goldmine!

2.  Identify the regulations that apply in your location

Each state or territory has its own regulations, permits and compliance standards that cover the sale of food and liquor, as well as food safety. Check these out and know exactly what’s expected of your restaurant or café.

3.  How will you fund your new business?

Make sure you have enough funds to pay for everything for at least six months, including your restaurant or café fitout, utilities, staff wages, food, liquor, marketing, rent and licences. Forecast your cashflow needs and make sure you can last until you start making a profit.

4.  Identify the right location and look at leases

Your success can rely heavily on your location, so do your research and find a site that is popular with people, as well as easily accessible with parking and transport nearby.

5.  How will you brand and market your business?

You also need to have your branding message organised before you contact interior project specialists. This means that once you have your new lease and commence the fitout, you can start marketing your new café or restaurant, building momentum for your awesome launch!

In Part B of our cheat sheet we cover the final steps for making your dream a reality!

There are two ways to increase your café’s revenue in Sydney. One way is to move to a better location where there is plenty of foot traffic. The other is to invest in your business by focussing on the latest trends in café fitouts.

As interior projects specialists, we keep our finger on the pulse of all the latest innovations and trends in the hospitality industry. Our clients benefit because they know that their new refurbishment will engage their customers and grow their business. So if you are ready to revamp your café, here are three of the easiest trends to follow.

Focus on comfort

Some of the best café fitouts in Sydney are those that make people feel as if they are in a comfortable living room. So instead of cramming as much seating as possible into your café, consider a range of stylish sofas and armchairs, low set coffee tables, floor lamps, book cases, and so on. This design style encourages customers to linger in your café, meet up with friends, and tell everyone about the wonderful time they spent there!

Mixing textures

It’s time to move away from heavily themed café fitouts in Sydney and focus on textures. More specifically, you want to layer all these delicious textures on top of one another so that you overwhelm your customers with delight! This means combining old timbers with new, concrete floors with plush rugs, recycled chairs with new sofas, copper, iron, glass and marble. This approach will give your café a unique look and feel, which is what customers love!

Industrial & unfinished

Mixing an industrial and unfinished design with a focus on comfort and textures can take your café to the next level. At Liteco Projects, we recognise that café fitouts focussing on an industrial and unfinished theme have been trending in Sydney for a few years.

This is mainly because it’s a very functional and practical design. The way to make this interior your own, however, is to use the latest trends as your inspiration, layering textures and introducing comfort to create a vibe that draws customers into your cafe.

With a focus on work-life balance, many companies have been slowly investing in office fitouts and refurbishments that focus on flexibility and adaptability.

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, however, we are likely to see a much bigger emphasis on these type of office fitouts. That’s because many employees are now working from home and may continue to do so as restrictions ease.

Many others, however, may return to the office, whether that’s on a full-time basis or splitting their time between the office and home.

So what are the benefits to a business owner when some of their employees work from home? Are there any disadvantages of this business model?

Benefits of a work from home business model

One of the biggest benefits of a work from home business model is a reduction in infrastructure costs. For example, you don’t need to lease such large office spaces and when you need to pay for office fitouts, less space equates to less costs.

However, with social distancing likely to be with us for the foreseeable future, you will also need to focus on interior design and refurbishments that promote this new way of working.

Other advantages of this business model are that your employees are generally happier with their work-life balance. Productivity increases, attrition reduces and fewer sick days are taken.

Another benefit is that employers can hire people based on their skill-set, regardless of their location.

Disadvantages of a work from home business model

Working from home doesn’t suit everyone.

As a business owner you don’t want to lose control of your employees, so you need a business model that supports this way of working.

For example, Skype and Zoom can be used for meetings and team collaborations; targets and goals will need to be closely monitored, and insurances and security issues addressed.

Do you need help with interior design for your office fitouts or refurbishments? Liteco Projects can help your company redesign your office spaces with a focus on social distancing, flexibility and adaptability to a new working environment.

In Sydney, café fitouts might be the furthest thing from you mind right now, but future proofing your café is going to be vital to your on-going recovery. By this we mean that the interior layout of your café needs to adapt to social distancing and the demands of your COVID-19 aware customers.

So what does this really mean for your café and what changes do you need to make before reopening fully?

Interior seating needs to be optimised

Hospitality fitouts in Sydney now need to focus on social distancing, which means no more benches, booths, sofas or bar stools. Instead, café fitouts need to focus on creative designs that maximise the use of space, whilst still enabling social distancing. This might include partitions or dividers to separate customers and flexible seating layouts that allow families to sit together, whilst providing separation from other customers.

Exterior seating should be utilised

If at all possible, hospitality fitouts should extend their creativity to exterior seating that increases the available space and promotes social distancing. Sydney rooftops and footpaths are two options that might pose interesting challenges, particularly with local councils, but they can be a practical solution for struggling cafes.

Encourage patronage with more enticing café fitouts

Revamping the interior of your café to make it more appealing to your customers has always been one of the aims of cafe fitouts in Sydney. Now, however, it’s a strategy that may be vital to the recovery of many hospitality businesses as restrictions are lifted.

Increase revenue with more take-away options

With a focus on social distancing, new cafe fitouts could refocus on takeaway services and home delivery. This strategy might help to increase revenues, as more people socially distance and self-isolate at home.

Sensor based handwashing in kitchens and bathrooms

These high-tech innovations might seem over the top, but the more no-contact options you offer your Sydney customers (and are seen to practice), the more they may gravitate to your café, rather than the competition.

The team at Liteco Projects has a strong reputation for creative hospitality fitouts and we are working full-time to help our clients in their hour of need.

With the global pandemic still underway and people starting to return to work, how can you connect your restaurant to the local community? These are the people that support your restaurant, so it makes sense to create an environment that resonates with them. This is particularly relevant if you are investing in a refurbishment, for example a new restaurant or café fitout, but it can also simply mean reengaging with your local community.

So here are three ways you can reconnect with the local community in your area.

1.  Highlight your use of local products

When everyone is suffering from a loss in trade, supporting other local businesses is a fabulous way to engage the local community. So look around for wineries, fruit and veggie growers, even wholesale butchers and dairies, any type of business that markets the produce you need for your menu. In fact, why not change your menu to incorporate local produce, even grow some of your own herbs and veggies? If you include these potted herbs (or even your restaurant’s garden) into your new fitout, everyone wins!

2.  Support local fundraising events

Whether it’s community sporting events, fetes and wine tasting nights or fundraising for your local school and hospital, charity work connects you with your community. You can hold fundraising events at your restaurant, even donate a $1 for every $50 spent in your restaurant on a specific date. Charities, schools and hospitals are only too happy to promote your restaurant as one of their sponsors, so everyone wins!

3.  Refurbish an unused shop

If you want to expand your business on a limited budget and connect with your community, why not refurbish an unused shop? Locals will love that you’re breathing life back into their community and if you opt for an urban inspired fitout for your restaurant, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

If you want a welcoming and community focused fitout for your restaurant or café, the team at Liteco Projects are full of great ideas! Please contact us for a free quote, call us on 02 8068 1755, email us at info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

The increasing complexity of office spaces reflects the ever-evolving needs of businesses to both innovate and embrace their company’s culture. In response, office refurbishments have been heading towards more flexible environments that can promote both performance and productivity, whilst enhancing the comfort and health of their employees.

As we can all appreciate, trends come and go, but some remain because they fulfil a particular need within a business culture. These enduring interior design trends can help to future-proof office spaces and significantly impact the way we work for many years.

So as autumn turns to winter and the days become shorter and colder, refurbishments put in place now can reap the rewards of good interior design. This is achieved by maximising productivity and enriching employee well-being. The following three trends will help to foster creativity and connectivity in the workplace and create a welcoming space for your employees this autumn.

1.  Multi-functional workspaces

Gone are the days when bulky office furniture limited what could and could not be done in an office space. Future-proofing your workspaces means interior design that is multi-functional, dynamic, and flexible. The transformation from workstations to meeting rooms to private study areas can be achieved in the blink of an eye, accommodating the fast changing needs of your employees.

2.  Collaborative environments

With more and more people choosing to work at home, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, office spaces need to meet their employee’s expectations. This means that office refurbishments need to promote collaboration (and a return to the office if needed) by creating warm and welcoming spaces with comfortable environments and home-styled fixtures.

3.  Sustainable interior design

The majority of employees appreciate an environmentally-friendly workspace. This means reducing your company’s carbon footprint by using sustainable practices during your office refurbishments. Green building materials, energy efficient heating and cooling, and thermal insulation are just some of the basic steps that can future-proof your office spaces.

Liteco Projects has extensive experience in office refurbishments that create workspaces designed to anticipate the ever-evolving needs of both employers and employees.

If you are thinking of a new office or shop fitout please contact us for a free quote, call us on 02 8068 1755, email us at info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

With COVID-19 restrictions easing and people going back to work, new office fitouts might be the furthest thing from your mind! However, don’t forget that you need to make your office spaces safe for your employees when they return to work and there’s still the government’s asset write-off available until the end of June.

These two factors might be enough to push you over the line, but how can office refurbishments help to make your office spaces COVID-19 safe?

Identify multiple use facilities

Printers, faxes, and phones are used by multiple people everyday in your office. What about hot desks, lunchrooms, and meeting areas? Are clients allowed into your office spaces? If your office has a dedicated printing room, post COVID-19 office refurbishments can include moving this equipment into a more open area. For example, spaces where people aren’t packed in together for extended periods of time, such as at the end of office partitions. You can also remove stud walls to make these areas more open plan and less confined.

Office fitouts for social distancing workstations

Workstations that are ‘U’ or ‘L’ shaped aren’t conducive to the recommended 4 metre square workspace distancing. So consider changing to bench based workstations, as these make the most of your available floor space and fulfil the social distancing guidelines. It’s a good idea to include modular furniture in your post COVID-19 office refurbishments, as this allows you to make further modifications as the government recommendations change over time.

Office fitouts for social distancing lunchrooms

With everyone congregating in the lunchroom at one time, changes need to be made quickly. Staggered breaks will soon become the norm, reducing the number of people in these confined areas, and allowing adequate social distancing. Office fitouts should focus on a layout that reduces employee crossover between the sink, fridge, microwave, kettle, crockery, and cutlery.

From screen extensions and glass safety barriers to moveable workstation dividers, automated doors, and more flexible layouts. Liteco Projects specialise in office fitouts that are tailored to your company’s specific needs.

Liteco are here to help. If you want a free quote for your office fitout, call us on 02 8068 1755, email us at info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

It’s hard to avoid the impact that COVID-19 is having on everyone around the world, including small businesses.

One positive move from the government however, which will help small businesses to navigate this new landscape, is the $189 billion COVID-19 Stimulus Package.

The government has designed this package to help small businesses remain viable and continue to employ staff until the world returns to some sort of normality. One way you can leverage this package is if you were considering an office refurbishment pre-COVID-19, but have put it off for the time being.

In fact, this package may even encourage some businesses to invest in new office fitouts during this enforced downtime.

How can you leverage the COVID-19 Stimulus Package for your office refurbishment?

Within this package there are three key areas that benefit small businesses, two of these can be directly leveraged for your office fitouts.

1.  Guaranteed loans

This package guarantees 50% of any loans (up to $250,000) taken out by small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $50m. If you are in a position to borrow money for an office refurbishment, then these loans can make a huge difference!

2.  PAYG wage subsidy

Small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $50 million will also receive a $100,000 credit on their activity statements. Whilst not having a direct impact on office fitouts, a positive cashflow can put your business in a good position to take on a loan that’s guaranteed by the government!

3.  Asset write offs

In an effort to stimulate the economy, the government has increased asset write offs to $150,000 per asset. This means that you can write off the costs of office fitouts immediately. Currently however, there is a cut-off date of 30 June 2020, but it may be extended until 2021.

Liteco are still operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining social distances and obeying all the rules. If you want a free quote for your office fitout, call us on 02 8068 1755, email us at info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

The hospitality industry is pretty tough and we have seen some very big names close their doors in the last 12 months. It’s clear that long term success means not only moving with the times, but also meeting the needs of your customers. This is why all successful restaurant & café fitouts in Sydney follow a process that ultimately future-proofs their business.

So if you are considering investing in a refurbishment this year, here are six steps that will help you to create your own magical formula to success.

1. Identify your customers

To create a restaurant or café that your customers will love, you need to identify your customers. In other words, you need to identify your target market and give them what they want, when they want it and for the right price.

2. Pinpoint your competition

It’s essential to identify your competition in the area. What are the competition doing that you can do better? How can you gain an edge on the competition with your design?

3. Know your budget

Don’t go into the refurbishment with an open wallet, instead create a realistic budget and stick with it. After all, it takes hard work to erase debts, so do what you can, but within your budget.

4. Define your interior design theme

All successful hospitality fitouts are designed around a specific concept and interior design theme that reflects their brand and appeals to their customers.

5. Make it Instagrammable

With Instagram now being so popular, creating Instagrammable vignettes will engage your customers and promote your restaurant or café to a much larger audience.

6. Find the right interior projects specialists

Always engage a company experienced in restaurant & café fitouts in Sydney to ensure your refurbishment is top quality and on trend.

Liteco are highly experienced Interior Projects Specialists. For a free quote on restaurant & café fitouts in Sydney, call us on 02 8068 1755, email us at info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Whether you own a café, restaurant, retail store or office, keeping on trend with the latest colours is a great way to engage your customers.

As one of the leading Interior Projects Specialists in Sydney, we are always searching for new ways to add a little zhuzh to our client’s refurbishment, so we were happy to note Pantone’s new colour of the year is Classic Blue (19-4052).

How can you use Pantone’s Classic Blue for your refurbishment?

Pantone describes their Classic Blue as instilling calm, confidence and connection for the new decade, as well as a timeless simplicity. Peace, tranquillity and sanctuary are other words that describe this fabulous hue. It can be used in bold swathes or as a highlight to other colours.

One of the easiest ways to include Classic Blue into your Sydney refits is in items that can be removed or replaced easily. This means that you can update your colours every year, keeping your business on trend at all times!

For café fitouts, you might reupholster your casual seating (comfy arm chairs and lounges) in Classic Blue, whilst restaurants might reupholster their dining chairs for example.

Retail stores can repaint their walls in Classic Blue and offices can add promotional art or comfortable seating in the foyer.

Classic Blue is truly a classic, because it fits in well with most colour palettes. However, as it’s such a dark colour, it needs to be balanced within a space, otherwise it can become overpowering.

If you need help from Interior Projects Specialists in Sydney, call Liteco Projects on 02 8068 1755, email us at info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

The aroma of roasted beans and a good cup of coffee are just part of the whole experience customers demand when they give their loyalty to a café.

That’s why our café fitouts in Sydney focus on enriching your customers’ senses and enveloping them in a warm and exiting ambiance when they enter your café.

As shopfitters and interior projects specialists, we know that in 2020 it’s all about a positive and welcoming experience for your customers. The interior design of your café’s refurbishment needs to gently encourage your customers to sit awhile over their coffee, engage in idle chit-chat, and simply enjoy the invigorating atmosphere with friends. If you want to offer your customers a genuine, warm and unforgettable experience in your café, here are three growing trends that you can’t ignore for your 2020 refurbishment.

1. Warm timbers and urban chic

Urban chic is all about making use of old materials to create a more modern interior design, based on reclaimed timbers, old brickwork and recycled metals. You don’t need to use all these elements in your café, but most successful café fitouts in Sydney have nailed it down well. On trend materials include railway sleepers, old boat timbers and iron with divots or dents, all softened with vintage leathers, industrial lighting and a hint of steampunk nestled in the corners.

2. Comfy communal seating

Communal seating using long benches and tables made from recycled timbers encourages customers to socialise, meet new people and engage in conversation over coffee. You can also offer other more exclusive seating areas, such as sofas and coffee tables, so your customers can choose to mingle or relax on their own in comfort.

3. Instagram worthy interior design

Some of the best café fitouts in Sydney have focused on an interior design that is unique and exciting, yet still comfortable. Creating an Instagram worthy interior with a number of photographic vignettes simply encourages customers to take snapshots and promote your café online to their followers.

If you need more inspiration for your café refurbishment, call Liteco Projects, interior projects specialists, on 02 8068 1755, email us at info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Office refurbishments are a necessary part of business and are important to both your employees and your customers. Your employees need a comfortable, bright and efficient office space and your customers need to know that you are a caring and modern business.

As you can imagine, a sloppy, poorly designed office is off-putting for both employees and customers, reducing employee efficiency and quite possibly, turning customers away. However, when you are on a limited budget, how do you afford new office fitouts?

Well, your refurbishment doesn’t have to break the bank, because with the following 7 interior design tips you can easily create an affordable, warm and comforting space that suits everyone – even on a budget.

Lighting

The best office refurbishments start by assessing how much natural light is available. If you have lots of natural light flooding into your office, then you are fine. On the other hand, if your office is fairly dark or you rely on florescent lighting during the day, then it is best to consult a lighting specialist and select the best energy efficient lighting you can afford. This one, single upgrade can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your office space and is one our best tips for affordable office fitouts.

Second hand furniture

Depending on your business, you might find that pre-loved or vintage furniture suits your interior design. There is nothing wrong with this approach to office refurbishments and you will find many high quality pieces online. You can either look for overstocked office furniture that is sold below RRP in your local area or opt for an eclectic mix of pre-loved furniture that suits your ethos. The interior design tip here is to look for style, comfort and practicality.

Plants

There is nothing quite like being surrounded by nature to give us a calm and relaxed feeling. Many office fitouts could easily benefit from a few well considered plants to bring life and energy into the work space. First of all, make sure that the plants will flourish indoors and that you have chosen the right locations for them. Then you need to choose the right size plants and the right size pots. A few small, half dead plants is not the interior design look you want, instead check out your local council or government buildings and steal some of their ideas for indoor plantings.

Artwork

This is one of the easiest ways to brighten up a dull office space and doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Two of the most affordable strategies we often use in our office fitouts are absolutely free!

First, you can ask local artists to display their artwork on your walls (especially if they will be seen by customers), so they are effectively using your office walls as their own personal gallery. If that idea doesn’t suit, then you can simply enlarge some digital images and frame them on your walls. Always pick images that you have taken yourself, so there are no copyright issues, and for just the cost of a few frames, you have beautiful, unique wall art.

With these 4 easy refurbishment tips, you should make a world of difference to your office space.

If you want more help with your next office refurbishments, call Liteco Projects, on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Eco-friendly interior design and sustainability are some of the more popular buzzwords that have been bandied around over the past few years. As interior projects specialists we recognise that whilst sustainability is important, it needs to be melded into a healthy and productive working environment.

Building fitouts are one of the areas where we can reduce our ecological footprint and at the same time care for our planet and create a pleasant and stylish space. So let’s take a look at the 5 essential interior design components of an eco-friendly and healthy refurbishment for your establishment.

1. Using sustainable materials in your interior design

The essence of eco-friendly building fitouts is to use sustainable materials as much as possible. This means that the materials are sourced from processes that are non-toxic, can be recycled easily and will create as little waste as possible. For example, your refurbishment can include recycled timbers or timbers from renewable plantations, bamboo or cork flooring, and sustainable concrete that incorporates recycled materials in the mix. Don’t forget about eco wallpaper, zero VOC paint, sisal flooring and organic cottons and linens.

2. Sustainable insulation is ideal for eco building fitouts

As interior projects specialists in Sydney, we know that thermal insulation is essential to counter the extremes of hot and cold weather, and is also handy for cutting down on your power bills. The trick is to use eco-friendly insulation in your roof and walls. For example, sheep wool, cotton or cellulose insulation, which is natural and toxic free, as well as environmentally friendly.

3. Reduce energy consumption in your refurbishment

Reducing power bills is a hot topic for many business owners and there are many interior design elements that can help in this area. Think about including large windows or skylights in your building fitouts to let in lots of natural light, particularly if you need to use lights during the day. Energy efficient bulbs, automated timers to turn lights on and off, motion detectors for lighting, tinted windows, automated air-conditioning and heating, and energy efficient appliances.

4. Incorporate recycled materials in your design

Reclaimed or recycled materials help to reduce your carbon footprint and can include furniture, timbers, artworks, blinds, filing cabinets, tables and carpet tiles. Depending on your interior design style, your refurbishment can include pre-loved options, vintage and reclaimed fabrics as well. Don’t worry, your establishment doesn’t have to look retro, recycled or emulate a second hand store, as a sustainable interior can look beautiful, stylish and quite normal, if done correctly.

The focus of sustainable refurbishments is on using renewable resources that provide good thermal insulation, are low maintenance and recyclable, use as little energy as possible during sourcing or manufacture, and reduce your power usage. For interior projects specialists this means using natural light and natural ventilation as much as possible, using efficient heating and cooling equipment, maximising the use of space and using smart computerised building control systems if possible.

As interior projects specialists we are always sourcing new ideas and materials that we can incorporate into our client’s sustainable refurbishments.

If you want help with an environmentally friendly interior design for your next refurbishment, call Liteco Projects, on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

As interior projects specialists and experts in new office fitouts, one of our main jobs is to select the right colour schemes for our clients.

We usually suggest that it is best to stay away from trendy colours, because they come and go so quickly; what is in vogue this year, might be really old hat next year! That is unless you are happy to pay for new office refurbishments every year or more importantly, they are your branding colours.

Colours you should avoid in office fitouts

Below are 7 colours that you should avoid in office refurbishments, but mainly when they are used as block colours. You can use them as accent colours sparingly of course, but it is never a good interior design idea to paint your office walls lime green or bright pink.

1. White: This is too stark and clinical and doesn’t do much for promoting productivity, particularly with overhead fluorescent lighting. Too much brilliant white can be overwhelming in office fitouts, making people feel isolated, detached and disinterested.
2. Dark grey: This colour lacks energy and tends to supress our creativity, fostering a lack of confidence, sleepiness and even depression. If you really want to use dark grey in your office refurbishments, use it sparingly on accessories and furnishings, adding in other colours for a more upbeat contrast.
3. Yellow: Even though yellow can be uplifting, making us feel warm and happy, too much yellow in your interior design can have the opposite effect. As interior projects specialists we know that too much bright yellow can evoke anger, irritation and frustration, in much the same as too much red.
4. Red: For stimulation, a racing pulse, and an eye for detail, you can’t go past fire engine red. However, if you really want to avoid unrest and arguments in the office, it’s best to steer away from too much of this colour and just use pops of it around the office instead.
5. Lime green: Another exciting and trendy colour, lime is ideal for creative environments as it bounces energy around the room. The problem for office refurbishments however, is that it can be too distracting, reducing productivity and efficiency. On the other hand, as an accessory colour it is energetic and is perfect for creative office spaces.
6. Purple: Most people either love or hate the colour purple, but it has been known for its romantic connotations for many years. For a creative and efficient office space, you should avoid lots of purple in your interior design, as it has the potential to increase romantic feelings, causing distractions and lowering productivity.
7. Bright pink: This is another distracting colour that reduces focus and concentration in the work environment. It is also too extremely feminine, causing men to be even more distracted than women.

Colours to embrace in office fitouts

If we have to avoid all of these colours in our office refurbishments – what’s left? Well, for block wall colours you can’t go past light greys, tonal whites and pastels. So think about light blues for subtle energy and creativity, peaches for freshness and comfort, and light greys (which are trendy right now) for security, reliability and experience. Just add pops of colour from the ‘7 colours to avoid’ and you will have the perfect office makeover.

For help with your office fitouts, call Liteco Projects, interior projects specialists on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

The seduction of open plan office fitouts is obvious. This type of layout is said to promote collaboration, increase productivity, and reduce setup and refurbishment costs, leading to greater flexibility and layout options. On the flip side, critics state that there is a lack of privacy, too much noise and a lack of morale, leading to a decrease in creativity, focus and productivity.

So with both sides battling it out, which type of refurbishment is best for your business?

Pros of open plan office fitouts

The interior design of an open plan layout consists of one large space with few if any barriers between workstations. Everyone can see and hear everyone else, promoting collaboration, team work and informal group chats. If this is your business’s modus operandi, then open plan office refurbishments will suit you perfectly.

Some businesses encourage group collaborations on the fly, as they believe that these ‘brain-storming’ sessions increase creativity. As such, there is no need for formal meeting rooms or private offices in this interior design, as everyone is already in the same space, making it easier to share ideas and communicate with each other.

Apart from productivity and creativity, cost and flexibility are two other big factors when you are considering modern office refurbishments. As you can imagine, a large open space allows managers to move workstations around fairly easily to accommodate new employees or to create pockets of collaborators or specialists.

An interior design that allows constant intermingling is said to foster the flow of information and teamwork as employees no longer have to knock on doors, make appointments for meetings and generally interrupt the flow of their own work.

Cons of open plan office fitouts

While there are clear positives to office refurbishments that favour open plan layouts, there are many documented examples of negative effects that do the reverse. For example, whilst an open plan interior design is said to enhance collaboration and team work, a 2013 study found little evidence for this belief. In fact, they found that any perceived benefits, such as increased interactions between employees, were offset by the startling disadvantages of open plan designs.

They even found that the increased noise and lack of privacy inherent with these type of office fitouts, was the main cause of dissatisfaction in the workplace. A more recent study in 2016, has supported this earlier research, demonstrating that employees find it difficult to concentrate and to perform their work, amidst so much noise and distraction.

Many employees are disgruntled with the lack of privacy in open plan office refurbishments, not appreciating the encroachment of other employees on their perceived personal space. The ability to personalise their own space is an important part of employee satisfaction, as is the ability for private conversations and a sense of heightened security, all of which comes with a private office space.

Open plan spaces can actually lead to conflicts with other employees, due to excessive noise, annoying habits and a lack of personal space. All of this means that private offices and partitions between work stations are becoming increasingly popular once again.

In the end, it seems that open plan interior designs lend themselves to creativity and collaborative teamwork, whilst closed spaces lend themselves to more productivity and increased employee satisfaction.

For assistance with your office fitouts, call Liteco Projects, on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Keeping on top of interior design trends in the hospitality industry is vital if you want to keep your business busy and popular with customers. That is why we have put together the 3 top trends for café fitouts in Sydney, which will keep your business humming along in 2017.

We know that some of these trends might not suit all cafes and restaurants, however hospitality fitouts that incorporate at least some of these elements, will find themselves at the leading edge of interior design!

So let’s take a look at our top 3 café and restaurant trends for 2017: LED lighting, recycled timbers and polished concrete.

LED lighting in hospitality fitouts

LED lighting is no longer boring, because there are lots of fabulous new designs that can make your café or restaurant shine. Lasting up to 10 times longer than regular halogen bulbs, they are also cool to touch, more durable and more cost effective.

Apart from being eco-friendly and saving money on power bills, we now have LED lighting solutions that offer huge interior design options for café fitouts in Sydney. Some of these designs are fabulous and can be used in unique signage designs, as well as in a variety of spot lights, pendants and table lighting.

Polished concrete in Sydney café fitouts

No longer the domain of urban or industrial buildings, polished concrete offered a clean, modern and slick interior design option for cutting edge hospitality fitouts. Decorative concrete has an aesthetic appeal all of its own and is now seen as a modern flooring option that is durable, easy to maintain and simple to keep clean.

Polished concrete is also very reflective and can increase the lighting in a space, which is particularly beneficial when used with high quality LED lighting. For café fitouts in Sydney, this type of flooring offers a seamless finish and a minimalistic look that is appealing to both customers and staff.

As a blank canvas, polished floors give you endless opportunities to create a unique interior design for your café or restaurant. Whilst some people might see them as a cold and clinical flooring material, with some clever design ideas, you can easily add warmth and uniqueness to the interior design of your café or restaurant.

This type of flooring can also be enhanced by using contrasting materials, such as recycled timber, which is very on trend at the moment.

Recycled timbers in hospitality fitouts

The combination of unique LED lighting solutions, polished concrete flooring and recycled timber is perfect for many new hospitality fitouts. Recycled timber is not only inexpensive, but it offers a warmth and character that is difficult to match from any other materials.

Many cafes and restaurants are veering away from the one size fits all interior design mentality, looking for ways to make their spaces truly unique, comfortable and inviting, finding that timber adds a charm all of its own.

There is no end to the uses for recycled timber in Sydney café fitouts, offering a beauty and timelessness that is appreciated by customers. Recycled timber can be paired with stainless steel, polished concrete, glass and stone, and just about any type of building or design materials, making it extremely versatile and cost effective.

If you want more design ideas for Sydney café fitouts, call Liteco Projects, on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form

Does the popularity of online shopping, make you wonder how commercial shop fitouts will cope with the competition? Maybe you ask yourself if it is even worthwhile sinking money into a retail refurbishment, when you see so many people shopping online.

Well, all is not lost because even though online shopping is here to stay, we will always need retail stores. In fact, as one of the leading shopfitters in Sydney, we know that a clever interior design can help to augment or even offset online shopping.

Will online shopping replace physical stores?

We will go so far to say that this will never happen. Customers will always want to visit physical stores because they like to feel, touch and examine the products before they buy. More importantly, as a retail store with a physical presence, you can have the edge on ecommerce stores, if you plan your business accordingly.

The key is to take advantage of the increase in online shopping by also offering online shopping yourself. This may sound simple, but as shopfitters in Sydney, we speak to lots of business owners and managers, who are already taking this vital step. All it takes is a website, shopping cart and a payment gateway or if you prefer, you can simply offer online ordering with payment and pick-up at the store.

Suggestions for commercial shop fitouts

Clearly, retailers might have to work harder in some instances to encourage customers away from the internet and into their stores, but this is where clever marketing and expert interior design can help. From a marketing point of view you will need to integrate your online and offline businesses and from an interior design standpoint, you will need to design the interior of your stores to take the customer’s needs into account, now more than ever before.

This means that commercial shop fitouts and retail refurbishments need to turn a retail store into a destination and a meeting place, rather than just a shopping outlet. After all, if customers only want to peruse and purchase merchandise, in many instances they can do that online in the comfort of their own home. So you need to give them a reason to enter your store, as well as a reason to visit your online store.

To achieve these lofty outcomes, you need first class marketing skills, a top of the line interior design and an unparalleled knowledge of shopping behaviour. The future is all about integrating online and offline shopping, so giving customers an experience in your physical store that is not achievable online is essential.

Your marketing strategy for this new model of integrated shopping also needs to take advantage of social media, as this is one of the most popular forms of communication today. Include not only images of your new refurbishments on your website, but also images of your products, and post offers and discounts (available in-store only!) to your business’s social networks.

It is clear that commercial shop fitouts need to leverage the power of online shopping and use it to their own benefit. Without a doubt, a top of the line interior design refurbishment and a friendly designer atmosphere is something that cannot be equalled by an ecommerce store.

For more information on competitive, top-end commercial shop fitouts, call Liteco Projects, specialist Sydney Shopfitters on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

New office fitouts can make or break a business. As every good business owner knows, employees are far more productive in an environment that is both physically and mentally comfortable and also conducive to their work.

You don’t have to go all out and offer an interior design that emulates the Google environment with a variety of different play areas, outdoor sunny terraces and gourmet meals on tap. There are however, 5 golden keys that all successful office refurbishments share and if you follow these steps, you should see a significant uptick in productivity.

1. Work flow assessment

When it comes to office fitouts, there is no point in painting the walls a different colour and moving all of the work stations around, if these are not the causes of low productivity. So perform a comprehensive work flow assessment, taking into consideration disabled access, sufficient storage and work flow patterns in the office space.

2. Employee wellbeing assessment

Keeping your employees happy in their working environment will pay dividends in the short and long term. This might mean that you need to change the interior design of your office, add more natural light, bring in ergonomically designed office furniture and add a swanky coffee machine. Happy employees result in less absenteeism and longer retention rates, which leads to greater productivity and more profits.

3. Design a flexible plan

Successful office refurbishments are always designed with one eye on the future. For example, this might mean designing your office space so that it can easily accommodate additional work stations, if you need to hire more staff next year. A flexible work space is one that can expand and contract as your business demands without requiring expensive remodelling or structural changes.

4. Fix your budget

Don’t spend one dollar until you have organised the budget for your refurbishment. Without a realistic budget, the cost of office fitouts can really blow out, so be very clear about what work needs to be undertaken to increase productivity. On the one hand, you don’t want to scrimp on your budget, because your refurbishment has a purpose and that is to increase productivity, but at the same time you don’t want to overspend and waste your money on poor choices.

5. Leverage the experts

Office fitouts can be complex and time consuming, so it is always best if you hire a company that has proven abilities in office refurbishments, as well as completing on time and within budget. These qualities are the hallmark of Liteco Projects and we guarantee that your refurbishment will be swift, professional and uplifting.

There are many ways to increase profits when you are in business, but at the end of the day one of the vital factors in the road to success are your employees. If you can provide them with a happy, healthy and stimulating work environment, then you are pretty much assured of a positive ROI on your investment.

For professional, high quality and employee friendly office fitouts, call Liteco Projects on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Have you always had a dream to open a café of your own? Many café fitouts in Sydney are simply cookie cutter designs and don’t offer anything new to their customers. So the way to make your mark and run a successful business is to offer something different in the design department.

Hospitality fitouts that are innovative will always bring in the customers, and at Liteco Projects, we have seen a lot of cafés and completed an uncountable number of café fitouts in Sydney. So we know what is boring and dull, as well as what’s popular, trendy and out-of-the-box in café designs and layouts.

To give you some interior design inspiration for your new or refurbished café, here are 5 hospitality fitouts that are cute, a little quirky and will help you to stand out from the crowd.

1. Living room designs

Once the domain of universities and the hippie culture, a few café fitouts in Sydney are moving towards a comfortable living room feel, offering something different to their customers. A few of these have popped up around Australia and they add an extra level of intimacy and intrigue to the customer’s experience.

2. Industrial rustic

This might seem like a misnomer, but it is essentially an unfinished look to your refurbished café. Unfinished hospitality fitouts have industrial girders, open brickwork, exposed timbers and other interior design These can actually be easily ‘finished’ and altered in the future, if the design no longer suits your ethos.

3. Open kitchens

Having an open plan kitchen helps to make your customers feel part of the overall café experience and also heightens the transparency of your business. Café fitouts in Sydney that incorporate open plan kitchens find that customers flock to their establishments, because they like to watch their food being prepared, an idea that has become popular in many restaurants over the past few years.

4. Mixed use

In the USA, you see many hospitality fitouts that are a mix of both a retail outlet and a café. This design style is becoming more and more popular here, as customers appreciate being able to enjoy good food, whilst also being able to actually buy the same food items to take home or read one of the books on the shelves with their coffee.

5. Textural layering

The beauty of this design is that with a change of textures you can have a whole new interior design. Think about brick walls and polished concrete floors, then add in copper light fittings, timber tables and chairs, brocades, cushions, carpet mats and lots of glass. To make a complete change in the future, you just need to change the furniture and accessories and you have a whole new concept.

Only you know the ambiance you want in your new café, however with our help at Liteco Projects, we can bring your ideas to life with one of the most innovative and trendy café fitouts in Sydney.

For on-point hospitality fitouts in Sydney, call Liteco Projects on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

There are so many different ideas for restaurant and café fitouts in Sydney that it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees. Every year, new trendy interior designs seem to rear their head, making the design process hard work and confusing for many business owners.

This is particularly relevant in busy metropolitan areas, where the design of your café or restaurant truly reflects its popularity with customers. This means that when you are in the market for new café fitouts in Sydney, you need to keep your ear to the ground, so you know what works and what doesn’t, as well as the hot new trends that are attracting customers.

As we all know, hospitality fitouts are not cheap, so it is important that you spend your money on a fashionable and trendy interior design that will appeal to your customers. After all, the most successful cafés and restaurants tend to hit the mark in the design arena and this is also where you need to position your business.

So to help you create a fresh, modern and welcoming atmosphere for your café or restaurant, here are 7 interior design ideas for hospitality fitouts that are trending in 2016.

1. Open plan kitchens

This is not a design that suits all businesses, but when you match an open plan kitchen with the right type of cafe or restaurant, it is pure magic.

2. Distressed and recycled

Many trendy cafés excel at using distressed timbers and recycled materials in their interior designs, and reusing old materials seems to hit the mark with many customers.

3. Living room designs

This interior design really suits café fitouts in Sydney, having a strong focus on comfort, along with home cooking styles, natural produce and heart-warming recipes.

4. Exposed ambiance

This is very popular with the younger set and is a twist on an urban industrial design with exposed beams, ducts and wiring, essentially looking unfinished, but eminently workable.

5. Organic and natural

An emphasis on natural and locally grown produce lends itself very well to café fitouts in Sydney. These fitouts focus on natural or recycled timbers, bamboo, natural stone, wicker, greenery and communal dining, all in an open and airy space.

6. Themed cafés and restaurants

Creating an interior design around your passions is very much on trend right now with hospitality fitouts, but not many people are brave enough to go this far. For inspiration consider that customers love cafes where they can take their pets or those designed around books, bicycles or sports.

7. Focus on seating

A simple and easy trend to follow is to add unusual or mismatched seating in your café or restaurant. For example, instead of 4 matched dining chairs, add a comfortable bench seat along one wall and two dining chairs for each table.

If you add your own special twist to any of these 7 hot trendy interior design ideas for café fitouts in Sydney, you will have a comfortable, innovative and unique space.

Liteco projects offer professional, high quality and on-trend restaurant and café fitouts in Sydney. To bring your interior design ideas to life, call us on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Many shop owners attempt to design and project manage their own retail fitouts themselves, instead of hiring interior projects specialists to do the job.

This is all well and good, but there are some serious reasons why hiring a firm experienced in retail fitouts is a much better and more cost-effective move in the long run.

The main objection to engaging interior projects specialists to take on the whole refurbishment is usually the cost. Right at the start this needs to be put into perspective, because we have seen so many poorly thought through retail fitouts, which end up costing owners a lot more money than the cost of a professional project management team.

So let’s take a look at 6 reasons why engaging interior projects specialists for your next retail fitout makes good business sense.

1. Within budget

At Liteco Projects we have years of experience in project managing retail fitouts and every single time we complete within budget. Left to themselves, many store owners lose track of their budget and considerably overspend, eating into their profits before they even reopen their store.

2. On time

Completing fitouts within a set time frame is essential for all retail businesses, but it is vital for stores in shopping malls where the management designates the timeframe for the refurbishment. As interior projects specialists, we make sure that your store is up and running on time, every time.

3. Professional service

Handing over your refurbishment to an expert team leaves you free to focus on other aspects of your business and gives you peace of mind as well. Our service is second to none and you can rest easy knowing that it will be on time and within budget.

4. Superior design

Whether it is a franchise design or your own design, we offer professional and expert advice for all retail fitouts as needed. We will make sure that your customer’s shopping experience is the best it can be in your store, enhancing flow through and optimising your interior design.

5. Qualified tradies

We have a team of qualified and experienced tradies available, so you don’t have to worry about finding an electrician or plumber at the last minute. We cover all of your trades and the costs are all included in your initial quote.

6. Maximise profits

As interior projects specialists we make sure that the money you spend on your refurbishment is well spent in areas that will maximize the customer experience and your profits as well. We know where your merchandise displays need to be placed, how to optimise the flow through your store, the best location for POS counters and how to avoid visual overload, whilst enhancing visual breaks to increase profits.

So whilst you might think that managing your refurbishment yourself is a good idea and a great way to save money on retail fitouts, in reality it can turn into a long term headache.

For professional, commercial shop fitouts in Sydney, call Liteco Projects on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Commercial shop fitouts can be one of your largest expenses, so any mistakes can be costly and long term.

Many business owners consider their interior design refurbishments to be an expense, but if done correctly, they are an investment in your business’s growth and continued success.

Poorly orchestrated commercial shop fitouts can easily turn customers away, so it is essential that you find the best interior projects specialists to manage your next fit out. At Liteco Projects, we have seen numerous, costly mistakes made by unaware business owners that have led to rapid customer drop offs and reduced profits.

To ensure that you don’t make these same mistakes, you need to be aware of the problems that can cost you a lot of money and which will turn your positive ROI into a dismal failure.

So here are 5 of the most common problems made by well-meaning, but uninformed business owners in commercial shop fitouts.

1. Poor layouts

The golden rule of commercial shop fitouts is to have a clear layout that optimises the customer’s shopping experience and exposes them to your best selling products. A meandering maze with inadequate signage, narrow walk ways and poor navigation is an issue you need to avoid at all costs.

2. Inadequate lighting

Whether you are selling books, clothes or jewellery, poor lighting is guaranteed to turn customers away. As interior projects specialists we know you need to provide sufficient lighting so that your customers can easily see your products, read your materials and feel that your store is light and airy. A closed in dark interior, is not the way to enhance a buyer’s shopping experience, not unless you are a nightclub!

3. Small POS counters

One of the biggest problems in many commercial shop fitouts is that their check-out counters are too small. Customers need room to place their handbag or other purchases on the counter safely and within reach, while they are making their current purchases in your store. Experienced interior projects specialists will also tell you that you need space for displays of impulse purchases to increase your profits as well.

4. Blank walls

Whilst we all need some visual relief now and again, new commercial shop fitouts that leave walls blank are leaving money on the table. Wall spaces are the ideal place for shelves, hanging racks, branding, graphics, signage and even complementary artworks, depending on your merchandise and customer base. A modern and up-to-date interior design has a subtle mix of white wall space and usable space, optimising the buyer’s experience, while not overpowering them from a visual point of view.

5. Lack of speed bumps

These are the points in the shopper’s experience where they can pause and engage with your brand. In commercial shop fitouts, speed bumps are visual breaks that relieve the monotony of rows of clothes, books or shoes for example, and allow your customers to examine a branded display, a group of complementary gifts or a seasonal display. Visual breaks are vital to enhancing your customer’s shopping experience and are one of the most forgotten strategies of marketing.

For professional, commercial shop fitouts in Sydney, call Liteco Projects on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

One of the essential components of commercial shop fitouts is the shop counter, which is one of the most noticeable aspects of your store.

The position of your checkout counter is vital to the interior layout of your shop and all good shopfitters know that this location needs to be at a natural stopping point in the shopping experience.

Retail fitouts can be an expensive exercise, so your checkout counter needs to flow smoothly with the interior design of your refurbishment, whilst also offering enough space for transactions, as well as for gift wrapping, packaging, folding and handling of purchases. With commercial shop fitouts in mind, your priority is to help buyers feel comfortable while making their purchases, providing sufficient room for their handbag and other belongings on the counter.

Once you have decided on the location of your shop counter, it is time to consider its design, and your choice will rely heavily on the interior design and style of your store’s refurbishment. Nevertheless, there are generally four different types of shop counters available on the market.

Cash Wrap counters

These are suitable for retail stores where purchases need to be wrapped and packaged, in particular commercial shop fitouts for clothing stores. One of the common features in cash wrap counters is a large area for impulse displays. This is where customers can view additional items while making their transaction and hopefully add one or two more extra purchases.

Glass counters

Many new retail fitouts take advantage of the style and elegance of glass counters, as glass can really make a positive impact on your customers. These are very popular with commercial shop fitouts for jewellery stores and are a simple way to display valuable items, whilst keeping them safe and secure at all times. Counter tops and display fronts can all be manufactured from glass or you can opt for a mix of glass and aluminium or even timber to suit your design.

Timber counters

Whether traditional and natural or sleek and modern, there is still a place for timber POS counters in many retail stores. Timber is very hard wearing and can easily enhance your interior design with its raw, natural appearance. A long expanse of timber countertops can really impress customers and give you plenty of room for impulse displays at the same time.

Custom made counters

There are lots of ready-made shop counters available for commercial shop fitouts, which come in a variety of colours, styles and sizes. Many retail businesses however, opt for bespoke counters, because this is the most cost effective way of highlighting their brand. After all, one of the reasons for your refurbishment is to keep your brand fresh and new in the eyes of customers, so a custom counter is an easy way to show off your brand and impress buyers.

There are many important aspects you need to consider in commercial shop fitouts, however the shop counter is too often overlooked. This is a shame, because your POS counter can have a big impact on your sales and can make the difference between customers who tap their foot while making their purchase or those who linger to make additional purchases.

For more information on commercial shop fitouts, call Liteco Projects, interior design and retail refurbishment experts, on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

As interior design specialists, we recognise that with the continuing growth in online shopping, it is more important than ever that stores are designed to engage shoppers and optimise their shopping experience. Regularly redesigning an entire store however, whilst usually part of a shopping centre’s leasing requirements, is an expensive endeavour.

So here are 10 cost effective retail fitout tips for ‘on the run’ changes that will help to increase your bottom line, before your next major retail fitout is due.

1. Strategically place your lowest priced products at the front of your store to encourage shoppers to enter, and display the higher priced items at points of high traffic, within your store.
2. Research has shown that the right hand side of a store is the most lucrative, as shoppers tend to turn right when they first enter a shop. So take advantage of this fact and have your best and most enticing displays on the right hand side of your store.
3. Once the shopper turns right, create a pathway so that they are led on a wandering journey throughout your store, exposing them to as many of your products as possible.
4. Make sure that the aisles are wide enough for shoppers to walk through in comfort and don’t forget to make it easy for parents with strollers or people in wheelchairs to navigate your store.
5. Place top selling products at eye level and add a display at the end of product aisles to encourage impulse buying.
6. One of the best additions to your store is to provide seating for your customers. A few minutes resting their weary feet gives them ample time to cast their eyes over your products and to then hone in on their choices. Seating also helps to take the weight of a male partners feet and gives the lady shopper plenty of time to shop in peace and quiet.
7. One of the more annoying retail fitout designs is the lack of counter space at the checkout. Trying to juggle handbags, shopping bags and young children at the register can be made a whole lot easier if there is enough counter space to place their bags while they find their credit cards.
8. Always add an additional fixture or two at the register to encourage impulse buying. You can display discounted items or frequently bought items, so long as they are easily reached from the register.
9. Design your store so that the aisles and fixtures can be easily changed. Customers become bored with the same layout and a quick change adds an extra sparkle of interest and encourages customers to return more often.
10. As your customers wander along the path you have made for them, add interesting displays or product information, discount signs etc., with the aim of slowing their journey towards the exit. The addition of seating also helps to slow their progress through your store.

As you can see, the perfect retail fitout doesn’t have to cost a fortune and many of these ideas can be achieved in a very short space of time with hardly any cost.

For more information on retail fitouts, call Liteco Projects, interior fitout specialists on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Over the past few years we have seen a growing trend where shoppers are steadily moving away from retail stores and outlets and towards online shopping. This trend seems set to continue and as a result, we see retail stores cutting prices, offering discounts and bumping up their sales offerings.

Traditional holiday sales times are no longer the nirvana of retail outlets and competition for shopping dollars is increasing in leaps and bounds. Maybe this trend will hit a ceiling and the numbers of online shoppers will reach a plateau, but then again, maybe not.

So how can retail operators accommodate this change in shopping behaviour or is there nothing to be done – and over the next few years we will witness many smaller stores closing their doors?

The loss of physical stores has many ramifications, not the least of which is the loss of employee jobs, but there is also the loss of business to shopfitters, interior designers and interior project specialists who are essential to setting up physical retail outlets.

So what is the solution to online shopping for retailers?

One solution is to copy online retailers and jump into the online market. Of course this will involve a change in marketing, warehousing and lines of distribution, but the addition of an online channel to a retailer’s physical presence may just be the break that is needed.

It goes without saying that online marketing and sales can be very lucrative, just think of Amazon and EBay, and as we are all well aware, many smaller stores are already established in the internet space. Many in fact, do not have physical stores at all and only sell their products online.

So one solution is to beat them at their own game and set up an online store for your products. Another possible option which has huge possibilities are Hub Destination Centres (HDCs).

Hub Destination Centres

The best way to explain these centres is as a meeting place where people can meet, mingle and share their experiences about the brand. This concept is in direct contrast to the current shopping centres where you go to shop, grab a cup of coffee and leave. The shopping centres of the future may be more about the destination and the experience, rather than the shopping.

As an example, think of the Apple stores, where people congregate to share their experiences of the brand. We may even find that these HDCs help to influence people in their shopping behaviour, where they can see and touch the latest designs and then go home and order online.

The whole point of HDCs is engagement and it is believed that these futuristic shopping centres will provide food, entertainment and special product linked events, all of which will lead to greater product awareness and engagement.

Clearly these HDCs will help to translocate many store employees, as well as requiring interior project specialists – as the design and retail fitouts of these new centres will need to be highly innovative.

It will be interesting to observe the changing trends in physical and online sales over the next few years and whether these customer-centric HDCs will in fact, be the future of shopping.

For more information on retail fitouts, call Liteco Projects, interior design specialists on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Trends come and go and that is just as true with café fitouts in Sydney as it is with website designs and ladies fashion. Each year there is always something new that is said to be the next miracle solution and everyone scrabbles to be the first in line to show off their new designs.

Despite these waxing and waning yearly trends, café interior designs and refurbishments need to keep the customer in mind, whilst still remaining ahead of the game. There is no point in following trends if they don’t have a positive effect on your ROI and increase your bottom line.

So to help you attract new customers through your doors, here are 7 ideas rather than trends that you might consider including in your next café fitout:

1. Live music: Music makes the world go around and adding live music, rather than piped background music will set you apart from the herd. A small stage might be appropriate, but if you don’t have sufficient room for a designated stage area, then just set aside an area as needed.
2. Ovens: Depending on the type of food you serve, consider investing in a wood fired oven. These are a great draw card for customers and the smell of perfectly cooked roasts, grills, breads and pizzas will have your customers lined up down the street.
3. Exclusive parties: People love private parties, but they don’t like to be out in the main café area, they much prefer to have a small private area all to themselves. So if you want to expand your business this year, consider partitioning part of your dining area for private parties, which increases both your flexibility and your income.
4. Coffee Equipment: Make sure that your espresso equipment is up to date and high tech. The aroma of coffee wafting through your café will have your customers returning day after day for their fix of fabulous roasted coffee beans. So position your coffee machine facing the entrance of your café or at the very least, have it facing your customers for maximum effect.
5. Barista layout: If you want lots of sales then you want a perfect working area for your baristas and other staff. Don’t make them walk from one end of the bench to the other, instead have everything designed perfectly so they have whatever they need at their fingertips. It is worth your time to research hospitality fitouts, because the faster your staff work and the more organised they appear, the more cups of coffee you can sell.
6. Accessibility: Make sure that there is enough space in your café so that people with baby strollers or with mobility disabilities can easily move around. If customers see that you really care about them and that you have put some serious thought into making their lives easier, they will spread the word and keep coming back.
7. Branding: If you are ready for a new café fitout, then carefully consider how best to incorporate your brand into the new refurbished café. Simply having a sign above the café that announces your brand name is definitely not thinking outside the box. Start with colours, textures, feelings and ambiance – how does your brand express itself in your café?

For more information on interior design, refurbishments and café fitouts in Sydney, call Liteco Projects, interior design specialists on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

Café fitouts and refurbishments can be a trying time, because you need a layout that welcomes customers and makes them feel comfortable, whilst at the same time increasing employee efficiency. As a business owner you have a responsibility to offer a healthy, safe and pleasurable work space for your employees and a safe environment for your customers.

This brings us to colour and furnishing, both of which need to reflect the idea you have for your café and for your branding. Colour is one of the most important factors in branding your café and since hospitality fitouts can take a large chunk out of your budget, you want to make the right choice at the very beginning.

Pantone’s colour for 2015

Did you know that every year Pantene announces the colour they predict will be not only popular, but will trend heavily in the design world? If you are looking for design inspiration for your new café fitout, then this can be a great resource that helps you to create a cohesive design that offsets your branding.

It’s fair to say that we all know how influential colour can be in our lives and if you pick the right colour for your refurbishment, you can have a gold mine on your hands. Well, maybe not a gold mine, but colour does affect our mood, doesn’t it? So how does the new Pantone colour for 2015 stack up?

Well this year their pick is Marsala (#18-1438 if you need to know these facts). Pantone states that this colour is impactful and full-bodied, and will make an elegant and grounded statement when used on its own or as an accent colour.

How will Pantone’s new colour effect your cafe fitout?

Well, Marsala is an earthy, rich red/brown colour which when used as an accent, lends itself perfectly well to cafes and restaurants that want to imbue a sense of comfort, warmth and home cooked meals to their branding. If your store specialises in freshly squeezed juices or you are a noodle bar for example, then Marsala is not really going to be the best colour for you – try limes or greens instead.

Marsala is more like a plush blanket that keep you warm, a roaring fire and a hot toddy or a succulent roast and a large glass of full bodied red wine. If these are the feelings you want your customers to sense as they enter your café, then Marsala might be the key to your new refurbishment.

So think of reds, browns, navy blue, dark timbers, stone work and glass with a background of cream or chantilly lace to ground your colour scheme and lift the ambiance. Marsala is a robust, organic colour that suits itself well to a sophisticated décor that emphasises creativity, whilst grounding itself in history, permanence and tradition.

Not everyone likes the same colour palette, so you might not please everyone, all of the time. Marsala though, certainly gives us food for thought.

For more information on hospitality fitouts, refurbishments and café fitouts in Sydney, call Liteco Projects, interior design specialists on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

It doesn’t matter whether customers pop in for a quick takeaway coffee or for sit down lunch, it’s not just about the coffee, it’s about the whole coffee experience. Gone are the days when you were the only café for miles, now cafés are everywhere and competition is fierce. Some cafes even deliver coffee and lunches to offices, which saves staff spending time waiting in line for their coffee fix.

So if there is something that can give you a leg up on the competition, then it is certainly worth while taking a look. That brings us to café fitouts and refurbishments and the hottest trends that could quite possibly, make you stand out from the crowd.

Here are 5 recent café fitout trends that you might consider for your next refurbishment:

Communal dining: You might have noticed some of the more stylish cafes moving towards communal tables – what’s that all about? Well this feeds into the whole coffee experience and gives us a feeling of belonging, sharing and of community. You can still keep a few smaller tables, for people who prefer not to be so communal, however people tend to flock to community tables and sit around chatting for hours – more coffee anyone?

Themed cafes: These used to be considered odd balls with the most common being a coffee shop themed around a reading library or an internet cafe. More recent trends are moving towards retail therapy mixed with the coffee experience. Check out Lock 7 Cycle Café in Copenhagen or the MOJO in San Francisco where you can fill up on your favourite coffee and buy a new bike or have your bicycle fixed all at the same time.

Organic cafes: This is an increasing trend which sources locally grown ingredients and sustainable coffee beans and other products. The ambiance is one of recycling, favouring raw timbers, metals and lots of open space. Check out the Green Salmon in Oregon or Maple and Clove in Canberra.

Food staging: With the rise of the ‘selfie’, taking photos of food and posting them to social media networks is a growing trend. More and more café owners and chefs are creating food with the idea that photos of their food could be posted online, giving them free advertising.

Fast food: The younger generation are less likely to spend their money on fine dining and more likely to expect casual dining experiences with quality food. They are also moving away from fast food chains to more boutique cafes that serve organic fast food at a reasonable price. So give them fast food – but with a difference.

If your cafe is due for a refurbishment or you are considering a new café fitout then thinking outside the box and meeting your customers where they are comfortable is the key to a roaring trade. Customer expectations are always changing and the cafes of the future will serve fast food in a multifunctional space that enhances the coffee experience and provides a comforting ambiance.

For more information on hospitality fitouts, refurbishments and café fitouts in Sydney, call Liteco Projects, interior design specialists on 02 8068 1755 , email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.

There are many factors that contribute to the success of a restaurant and the first that comes to most people’s mind is the quality of the food. It is true that if the food is first class, your customers will continue to grace your door, but it is even better if the décor is stunningly fabulous as well.

At Liteco, we are interior project specialists, which means that we understand interior design and the influence that an inspiring restaurant refurbishment can have on your bottom line. A truly spectacular interior design can dramatically increase the popularity of your restaurant and bring an influx of customers through your doors

So we thought we would share with you 5 of what we believe, are the world’s most fabulous and most magnificent restaurant interior designs:

H.R. Giger Museum Bar, Gruyeres, Switzerland

The interior design of this bar is beyond stunning and was inspired by the famous and popular Alien movies. Opening in 2003, the walls, ceilings and fittings of this dramatically themed bar are the brainchild of Swiss artist H. R Giger. The cavernous bar has massive arches of vertebra that crisscross the vaulted ceilings, mind boggling ‘Harkonnen’ chairs with spinal cord backs and futuristically engraved stone floors. There is no doubt that this is a monumental design. (http://www.hrgiger.com/barmuseum)

Blue Frog Lounge, Mumbai, India

Opening in 2007, the Blue Frog Lounge is a monumental escape into the imagination. It is a lounge, bar, restaurant and music venue, so the interior design needed to give as many people as possible an uninterrupted view of the stage. The different sized cylindrical booths, all on different levels, the flowing cellular design and textured walls make this an elegant and world class example of a hospitality fitout with flair (http://www.bluefrog.co.in)

Truth Cafe, Cape Town, South Africa

At first this glance this coffee shop shrieks eclectic, industrial trash, but you would be deceived. This original and unique interior design by Heldane Martin is a futuristic fantasy based on the form and structure of coffee roasters and espresso machines. Filled with metal piping, old machinery, vintage type writers, sewing machines and candlestick telephones, the Truth Café pushes the boundaries so far, that it becomes aesthetically complete. (http://www.truthcoffee.com)

Photography: Shanna Jones

Jane Restaurant, Antwerp, Belgium

The former chapel of a military hospital in Antwerp is a structural masterpiece of interior design. The refurbishment in early 2014 by Piet Boon has transformed this quiet chapel into a unique experience where the ambiance and architecture of the building is not only enhanced, but is brilliantly magnified. Restorations were kept to a minimum, and the entire design is pure, understated and high-end. This restaurant is a journey into natural stone, leather, oak and glass – and the effect is simply stunning.

Le Pain Frances Restaurant, Gothenburg, Sweden

This glamorous and sophisticated restaurant designed by Stylt Trampoli is an amazing example of how proportions and colour can come together to create an experience like no other. As their first venture into the restaurant world, this established chain of French Bakeries has make a very promising start. Despite the complex mix in textures, materials and proportions, there is a magical quality to the interior design and refurbishment of this four-storey restaurant, one that verges on a Jules Verne era. (http://lepainfrancais.se)

For more information on interior design, restaurant fitouts and refurbishments, call Liteco Projects, interior design specialists on 02 8068 1755, email us: info@liteco.com.au or complete our online enquiry form.