David & Emily’s Color Conundrum
When Emily and her husband David contacted us to help them select colors for their almost-open Mexican restaurant, we whipped out our paint swatches and got right to work. Here’s their letter:
I love your blog and desperately need your color help! My husband and I are opening our second restaurant and need direction. It is a quick casual Mexican restaurant and we like bright bold colors. What we really don’t want is the campy Mexican look with sombreros and Mexican blankets. We are trying to go for a more modern Mexican look- where it looks Mexican, but not like a 70′s bad TV version or most Mexican restaurants with old pictures of Mexican bandits hanging on the wall. Does that make sense? Of course it’s still under construction but the floor is a brown stained concrete, and there will be a lot of stainless steel on the trim and kitchen walls. The tables will be wood and the chairs will be multicolored – red, blue and yellow. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Thanks so much for your help!! -Emily and David
We can’t wait to see which color combo David and Emily pick. And let me just preface our three digital color schemes by saying that the paint chips are about a million times more dynamic and harmonic than the photoshop rendering below, so we definitely encourage David and Emily to grab all the suggested paint swatches and bring them into the space to decide which scheme tickles their fancy the most. But without further ado, our three bright and current color scheme suggestions:
Here’s the color palette breakdown.
1. The first scheme includes a fun and colorful Cancun feel that evokes the deep turquoise ocean, a pale lemon sunset and the lime green foliage that abounds south of the border. We’d love to see the wall that’s straight ahead when you enter the restaurant in the lush azure turquoise color (Glidden’s Sea Fare) while the other three walls in the space can be coated in our fresh grass green color (Glidden’s June Bud). Lastly the accent color in the space will be a festive lemon tone (Glidden’s Sparkler)- perhaps used in the bathrooms and on all the doors throughout the space and even in some punchy art and maybe a glossy bar top or serving table top). Chic and bright Caribbean-esque colors will feel exotic and festive while avoiding the obvious and expected oranges and reds that abound in most Mexican restaurants for a welcoming place to grab a taco or two.
2. Our second color scheme features a deep coraly-red-orange tone paired with a more subtle salmon coral color and a subdued golden-tan yellow. This scheme will still look bright and colorful while feeling more warm and a lot less primary than the average Mexican restaurant. We’d suggest using the bright coral-reddish-orange tone (Glidden’s Full Bloom) to add punch by painting the wall under the ordering counter and the register (keeping the color from taking over an entire wall and relegating it to half walls or fronts of cabinets and tables and bars in the space will keep it from overwhelming). We also think David and Emily can use it to paint doors to add more punch and dimension to the space (the entrance door and maybe even the bathroom doors as well). Then the more subtle salmon color (still bright and colorful, but not as dark and intense as our door color) can be used on all the walls in the space (try Glidden’s Salmonberry) and our soft golden-tan yellow (Glidden’s Corn Silk) will look great in smaller spaces like the hallway, the bathrooms, and can also be brought into the main eating area with art and signage, etc.
3. Our last color scheme is more authentic and passionate than the other schemes, so it’ll read more sophisticated and rosy than the others- very Salma Hayek. It’ll be rich, lush, and unexpected in a fast-casual restaurant, yet still totally perfect for the modern Mexican concept. First we’ll use our deep rose tone for the front of the ordering area (under the counter) and the doors in the space (try Glidden’s Rio Rose) and we’ll wash the walls in a warm and welcoming tawny brown tone (Glidden’s Soft Wheat). Then for more dimension and some lightness we’ll use a sunnier pale yellow-tan (Glidden’s Costa Mesa) in the hallway, the bathrooms, and also in the art and the signage to bring a bit of the warm, sunny feeling into our rose and warm tan palette.
Mmm, all those yummy colors get me in the mood for a burrito. We can’t wait to hear what you guys think- especially you David and Emily!
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I like the first option.
I like option #2 best.
I like option #2! And just received my copy of RHome and loved your article on ornaments! Looking forward to more holiday decorating ideas.
I love #3…I have seen a similar combo in someone’s house (Spanish style with large Mexican influence) and it was beautiful, rich and elegant.
i like the cool tones of #1 and the warm of #3.
for me the type of mexican food the restaurant serves would determine whether to go with #1 or #3. if it is coastal seafood/mariscos then definitely #1. if it is more inland fare then definitely #3.
the colours define the ambiance of what is going to be presented on the plate.
I love #3
I like 2 and 3. I think 3 a smidge more!
I like #1 and #3 the best.
i love that soap! i have the peppermint and i use it for everything! did you know they sell it at target now too?
I especially love 1 and 2! Those colors are so amazing.
I love #1.
Thanks! We love the choices. I will send you pictures of the finished product and our pick!!!
i’m not sure which one is the most mexican haha but i love the colours of the first one
Hi Sherry – I’m just going through the archives – did you ever find out which colors Emily & David chose? I’d love to see pics!
Hey Elizabeth,
If we haven’t posted an update link on the bottom of a post leading to a big reveal post I’m afraid we haven’t received after pics yet… but we’re always on the look out for them! Sometimes they come when you’d least expect it!
xo,
s