Commercial
Hospitality
Brooklyn, NY
2023

Mama Lee

A Clean Design to Keep Food as the Focus

Transformed from a loading dock into a restaurant, Mama Lee wanted a space to bring her food to a wider audience. We brought in pieces from Mama Lee’s collection of momentos and artwork from Taiwan, making for an eclectic dining environment. The elevated but comfortable design allows for the food and connecting with others to be the focus of the space.

Stylist: Hyphen and Co
Photographer: Genevieve Garruppo
Restaurant entryway with wood counter, stairs to the mezzanine level, wood tables, and dining chairs
Banquette seating, rectangle wood tables, wood dining chairs, and personal framed artwork

In our very first design meeting, the client mentioned that they wanted to anchor the dining space around a communal table. We designed a custom 12 foot long oak table, with wood joinery, to do just that. The low stools keep the area casual and flexible, allowing people to connect with others.

— Eliza McNabb, Interior Designer

Dining area with communal wood table, wood stools, banquette seating, rectangle tables, wood dining chairs, brick walls, hanging plants, and hanging lights
Rectangle wood tables, wood dining chairs, personal framed artwork, rough hewn walls, and exposed conduits
Banquette seating, rectangle wood tables, wood dining chairs, and personal framed artwork
Custom shelving unit for personal mementos and artwork, hanging plants and lights, wood stools, and concrete floors
Dining area with communal wood table, wood stools, banquette seating, rectangle tables, wood dining chairs, brick walls, hanging plants, and hanging lights
Dining area with communal wood table, wood stools, banquette seating, rectangle tables, wood dining chairs, brick walls, hanging plants, and hanging lights
Restaurant entryway with wood counter, stairs to the mezzanine level, wood tables, and dining chairs
Banquette seating, rectangle wood tables, wood dining chairs, and personal framed artwork
Restaurant entryway with wood and tile counter, custom mural, and hanging terracotta pendant lights
Restaurant exterior with white brick wall, floor to ceiling windows, and brand flag

The owners wanted to ensure that Mama Lee’s collection of momentos and artwork from Taiwan were displayed in the restaurant. With quite a few delicate and smaller-scale items, we wanted to make sure nothing would get lost in the space. We designed this custom shelving unit, inspired by vintage printing drawers, to act as a modern curio cabinet for all of Mama Lee’s treasures.

— Eliza McNabb, Interior Designer

Custom shelving unit for personal mementos and artwork, hanging plants and lights, wood stools, and concrete floors

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