From café counters to fine dining destinations, hospitality design invites storytelling that engages all the senses. To tell those stories, the five designers featured here each considered how color, materiality, and layout can shape mood, brand, and guest experience. From a sunny California coffee shop to a moody steak and sushi concept in New England, these projects show how thoughtful design elevates dining environments across the country and can tell deeper stories—of place, of culture, and of community.

Better Buzz Coffee Roasters set out to remodel a dated and dull fast-casual space in Oceanside, California, into something that better reflected their energetic, fun, and welcoming brand. To do this, Melissa Young, principal designer of My Studio ID, turned to Sherwin-Williams paints, and the guidance of her Account Executive, John Dumesnil, to reinvigorate an old building and bring a jolt of beautifully balanced contrast, warmth, and brand personality into a space worthy of becoming a new favorite coffee spot.

By providing initial paint color samples and draw-downs, Melissa says that John gave her exactly the support she needed to make confident decisions on high-performing, visually impactful finishes. “Color sets the emotional tone of a space before anything else,” Melissa believes. “In this project, we used bold black-and-white contrast on the exterior to draw people in—it’s graphic, modern, and memorable. Inside, Pure White SW 7005 (255-C1) served as a unifying canvas, allowing us to layer in pattern, texture, and vibrant details that echo the brand’s playful and warm personality while keeping the space feeling fresh and bright. We used Pure White and Iron Ore SW 7069 (251-C7) to create a bold diagonal wall stripe feature upon entry.”

In a high-traffic café like Better Buzz, materials must withstand daily wear while still maintaining a like-new appearance for as long as possible. The paint finishes selected for this project needed to be scrubbable and stain-resistant, and Sherwin-Williams’s high-performance coatings delivered deep, durable blacks and crisp whites that were up to the challenge. To round out the space, Melissa used wood-look porcelain tile flooring to add a warm, natural feel while offering the durability needed for the space, and banquettes in a leather-look vinyl for cleanable softness and texture.

Melissa used the Better Buzz black-and-white motif and spirited branding as an inspiration and guiding light. “Guests today want more than just food or coffee—they’re looking for a full experience: a vibe, a moment, a memory,” she says. “The bold exterior contrast of Pure White and Caviar SW 6990 (251-C2) pulls people in, while the interior’s brightness, pattern, and texture encourage guests to stay and engage. Every design element—from ceiling paint to custom graphics and lighting—was carefully considered to create a layered, immersive experience that doesn’t feel overdone. The colors and materials aren’t just design decisions—they’re key components of the brand’s physical identity.”

Big Way Hot Pot’s many West Coast locations offer guests a bold, memorable, and one-of-a-kind dining experience, and when it came time to open a new UBC location, Ella Guan of Linhan Design & Interiors Co. was tasked with creating a space full of a sense of culture and storytelling that would invite younger diners to bring their friends—and share with their followers on social media.

“We strive to translate the culinary narrative into a spatial experience. Paint played a key role in achieving that,” Ella tells us. “We used a thoughtfully selected color palette to define distinct zones within the restaurant, emphasize design features like the archway and wall paneling, and balance energy with calm.” The standout element is the saturated coral-red wall paneling and arch, all coated in Foxy SW 6333 (115-C5), which gives the space a generous helping of warmth and impact, contrasted with neutral off-whites and soft greens to provide visual balance.  

“Every painted surface was chosen to support the mood and enhance the guest journey, and we’re especially proud of how the paint palette shaped the entire atmosphere,” Ella says. “The bold red used on the paneling and arch became a defining focal point—it draws guests in and sets a warm, energetic tone without relying on excess decoration. Paired with deep green accents and warm white walls, the palette created a balanced, immersive environment that feels both vibrant and grounded. Seeing the space transform from a blank shell into something so expressive through color was incredibly rewarding.”

The biggest challenge, according to the designer, was ensuring the bold paint selections didn’t overwhelm the space or become difficult to maintain, since high-saturation colors can show scuffs and flaws easily, especially in a high-traffic hospitality setting. “We overcame this by working closely with Sherwin-Williams to test sheen levels and product types. Choosing a high-durability matte finish made all the difference—it gave us the depth and sophistication we wanted, without sacrificing cleanability.”

Sherwin-Williams Account Executive Elizabeth Raczkiewicz provided valuable product knowledge, helped the design team through the sampling process, and ensured a quick turnaround so that the project could stay on schedule. Her guidance ensured a level of quality that would keep the space looking beautiful for a very long time. “We often customize or tweak classic hues to feel fresh,” says Ella about balancing trend-forward designs with timeless longevity. “In this project, the red was inspired by on-trend earthy tones but grounded in a palette that feels timeless. Pairing it with quality Sherwin-Williams products gave us confidence it will age gracefully.”

Photos by Ryan Dawson.

Over the course of the last decade, Atlanta-based designer Emily Chastain has witnessed the gradual pull toward more experiential mindsets in hospitality design, specifically in the restaurant sector. “I think investors and designers are realizing more and more that evoking emotion and creating unique spaces brings guests in,” she says. “People in general enjoy feeling like they are away from home and learning about different cultures.”

Emily had the chance to celebrate the rich history and cultural underpinnings of a food-truck-turned-cafe in Hernando, Mississippi: Pok Cha’s, a local business named for the owner’s mother. The drive and indomitable spirit of the restaurant’s namesake inspired her daughter to continue serving her treasured family recipes and other Korean fusion cuisine to the community, eventually growing the business from a mobile favorite to a thriving—and beautifully designed—brick-and-mortar location.

In the planning stage, Emily says she focused on Korean culture and sentimental pieces from the client’s late mother to honor the business’s legacy and bring together a harmonious space. “I was given the opportunity to go through sentimental family photos and installed large framed photos of Pok Cha in all her fashionable outfits above each booth. I love how this turned out and how moved my client was seeing her late mother honored.”

Emily has learned over the years how much of an impact color can have on how occupants perceive a space, and this is especially crucial in a restaurant setting, where happy guests are essential to the continued health of the business. “I always say, ‘don’t skimp on the paint or the lighting,’ as these elements play the most important roles in any space,” Emily says. “My Account Executive, Clint Craven, was super helpful in getting me set up with a designer kit and samples throughout this project, which allowed me to make sure the base color of the project was warm and inviting, but also fun. The dark brown color on the walls and ceilings, Black Fox SW 7020 (244-C7), really allowed the bright colors of the wallpaper, chairs, and art to pop.”

Photos by Sarah Voigt.

When Michelle Lee embarks on a new project, she has her sights set on a single goal: to deliver excellence for her clients and for anyone who will make use of the space. “I always strive to work with local artists and vendors,” she says. “To me, community is everything. I want people to forget about the outside world and enjoy the colors, fabrics, lighting, and artwork that surrounds them.”

With the support and advice of Account Executive Tiara Castro, Michelle brought her keen eye for both palettes and prints to a recent “mini renovation” of Ten Prime Steak & Sushi in downtown Providence. “I created a color scheme that was dark, rich-feeling, and intimate,” she tells us. “The prior wall color was light gray; it felt cold and sterile. New seating was chosen in shades of blue, orange, and apple green, and the Chef’s Room was completely redone with Oceanside SW 6496 (172-C7) for the walls and trim.”

So, what made this sizable project a “mini” renovation? “Ten Prime Steak and Sushi was open during the renovation, so we only had a certain amount of time to complete things,” Michelle reveals. This meant that planning, installation, and paint and finish selection all had to be considered in the midst of the regular flow of business. But Michelle managed to transform the interior’s look, feel, and color scheme as seamlessly as possible.

“Color is everything,” she believes. “Who wants to dine in a cold and sterile environment? I feel that when the right colors are used, people will stay longer to enjoy the dining experience. Attention to detail is extremely important. Instagrammable walls and bathrooms are definitely trending right now.”

Photos by Grace Lentini Photography.

According to Karen Herold, founder of Studio K, her team’s design philosophy is driven by experience creation and empathy. “Our goal at Studio K is to create spaces that all our guests want to return to time and time again,” Karen says. “We find this is best accomplished with creating spaces that are timeless in their design execution, straying away from trends, and focusing on how a space makes someone feel.”

UMMO, an inviting eatery located in downtown Chicago, presented an exciting opportunity to merge contemporary Italian cuisine with the city’s dynamic cultural and music scene. “The client wanted a restaurant that felt elevated yet approachable—an immersive experience that combined dining, social engagement, and live music,” Karen tells us. “We achieved this by designing a two-level space: a sophisticated dining area on the first floor and a vibrant social lounge/loft on the second. Every detail—from open kitchens to the flexible loft space for live performances—was carefully curated to support both culinary excellence and an energetic guest experience.”

The team aimed to strike a perfect balance between an intimate fine-dining feel and the high-energy, flexible environment needed for live performances upstairs. By carefully layering materials and lighting, they managed to create a bridge where the two concepts could morph into one another as guests passed from the first floor up the stairs to the loft space. Color, we’re told, was critical. 

“Jewel-toned leathers, rich woods, and artisanal plaster walls evoke Italian sophistication while maintaining an approachable, energetic atmosphere. The palette differentiates spaces—the main dining room feels refined and calm, while the loft pulses with darker, moodier hues that support a lively, social energy. Color became a way to subtly guide the guest journey through each level of the restaurant. Guests immediately recognize the combination of jewel tones, textured woods, and dramatic lighting as part of the UMMO experience. The materiality and color choices not only support functional needs but also reinforce the brand’s personality—sophisticated, energetic, and culturally rooted.”

Photos by John Stoffer.

If you’re designing the newest dining hotspot in your area, reach out to your dedicated Account Executive for help bringing your unique vision to life, and order complimentary large-sized color samples using your PRO+ account.

Top image: Tricorn Black SW 6258 (251-C1) in Flat (walls) and High Gloss (fireplace mantel). Design by Karen Herold/Studio K. Photo by John Stoffer.