Playful and unmistakably Italian tone at Babbo

The Babbo job came about through word-of-mouth. Becky’s extensive list of contacts and active networking secured the gig through a contractor friend. The client, Kia Joorabchian, was a pleasure to work with. “It was great working with Kia. He had a clear idea of what he didn’t want, and we were able to arrive at a design scheme through a process of elimination. He also wanted something special. A dream client really.” 

The interior is defined by shades of red against polished plaster; vermillion, burgundy, terracotta. Dark wood furniture, loose and fixed, from Furniture Fusion provides the seating, and the round tables foster a convivial and family-friendly atmosphere. Wavy wooden wall sculptures and bespoke timber are striking notes as is the beautiful ceiling mirror, created by artist Ruth Parker. “I’m lucky to call Ruth a friend. She does remarkable things with mirrors to create light-infused artworks. We used these to create a feature panelled ceiling and backlit them with adjustable lights. A unique feature.”

There are no curtains at Babbo, the client opting instead for dynamic glass which can become opaque at the flick of a switch, providing privacy for the restaurant’s often celebrated guests. A place to conduct business and enjoy pleasure, a blended space, like much of Studio du Feu’s work.

Solus ASM John Rose worked with Becky to provide some signature touches. A rosette of radiating tiles was so impressive that it found its way into the branding for the restaurant itself, appearing on the menus as a motif. And elsewhere, Solus tiles provided their customary technical and aesthetic excellence to support the overall scheme. “I’ve known John a long time and we always use Solus. They’re wonderful to work with!”