Interiors practice Sundholm Studio has given a fresh makeover to Nanas restaurant in Durham, North Carolina. With vibrant colors, custom-made timber joinery, and metalwork, the 30-year-old establishment has been revitalized. The name was changed from Nana’s to Nanas, paying homage to the entire genre of grandmothers rather than just one.
The space includes a bar, salon, dining room, and an outdoor patio, all designed to capture the warm and welcoming spirit of grandmothers. Shaun Sundholm, the creative director of Sundholm Studio, aimed to bring the outdoors inside by incorporating modern details.
The curved walls in the entryway were preserved and enhanced with wooden slats, allowing light to filter through and creating a forest-like ambiance. In the dining room, wooden window blinds and sheer drapes not only add to the aesthetic but also help with sound absorption and adjusting natural light levels. The entrance, with its dim lighting, provides a striking contrast to the vibrant bar, dining area, and salon, where jewel-toned colors such as emerald green, sapphire blue, and rich amber orange dominate the space.
Sundholm aimed to pay tribute to elements of the previous design, highlighting certain intriguing features of the existing physical space, such as the curved wall at the entrance and the touches of orange throughout, reminiscent of the vibrant orange walls from the past. In accordance with the jewel-toned color scheme, Sundholm opted for a variety of textures throughout the restaurant, including glossy green handmade Italian tiles and brass finishes.
The bar banquettes are covered in blue velvet upholstery, while the banquettes in the salon and dining area are adorned with “vintage luggage” orange leather. Brass archways created by local metal art studio Andrew Preiss Designs are prominently featured throughout the restaurant, serving as a transition between the salon and dining area. This arch motif is also reflected in the bathroom mirrors.
The earth-toned grasscloth wallpaper and plaid-patterned carpet provide a contrast to the solid colors and textures used in the space. Sundholm mentioned, “For this restaurant, our initial mood boards drew inspiration from a wide range of sources – from The Golden Girls and vintage Ralph Lauren textiles to 1970s Cadillacs and abstract impressionist art influenced by the Smoky Mountains.”
The studio’s objective was to distill these inspirations down to their fundamental elements and utilize them to guide the interiors in a tasteful manner, avoiding any gimmicks.
A selection of mixed-media artworks by local artist Jason Craighead are displayed throughout the restaurant, contributing to this overall aesthetic.