The Maison Estate is home to one of South Africa’s top 10 restaurants, The Kitchen.  The restaurant was due for a revamp and I had the honour of designing and project managing this exciting project under the guidance of Chris Weylandt himself. We transformed the space from bright and airy to dark and moody in preparation for the cold winter days. The renovation took place during the restaurants down time in June this year and reopened for business on the on the 5^th July.

The new layout allowed for a sleek double-sided fireplace between the restaurant and tasting area. I don’t know about you, but I am a sucker for a good fireplace, it adds that cosy and romantic feel to any space. There’s nothing more fitting than dining in front of a beautiful warm fireplace, perfect for the cold winter months that had just passed.

“The fireplace also acts as a dividing wall between the restaurant and tasting room area without making the space feel small.” Chris Weylandt.

Another big change was the coffee bar, the old coffee bar and back wall was demolished opening the space and allowing more natural light to filter in. A new “U”- shaped mild steel coffee bar and planter grids were installed which became the focal point in the restaurant area. The raw and refined Weylandts aesthetic was introduced into the space by using their signature finishes of raw oak and mild steel. A visual contrast to the bright white outdoor seating area.

The mix of mild steel, dark walls, ceilings and floors juxtaposed beautifully with the light nature of oak and leather. Which filters out to the bright white outdoor patio area.

My favourite feature is use of plants (Ferns & Scandens) between all the hard surfaces. It adds a beautiful pop of colour in the dark interior while also softening the space. It makes you feel like you are close to nature, which is what we all long for when visiting the evergreen Franschoek hills.

The new layout and moody look and feel was very well received by staff and customers alike. If you’re looking for a reason to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, then head over to The Kitchen @ Maison. There is a lovely outdoor area where you can lunch under tall oak trees while enjoying the beautiful scenery Franschoek has to offer.

For bookings and reservations click here.

*All Images courtesy of Weylandts

*If you are interested in any of the decorative accents, chairs or pedants you can shop the look at Weylandts Home.

*All furniture has been custom made for The Kitchen at Maison, but if there is anything you are interested in then please contact me or alternatively you can contact the Spaces Design department at Weylandts here.