A glamorous break

Tasked with refurbishing the Zacapa Food & Drink bar and restaurant in Taranto, the architecture and design firm Scalera Group focused on effective use of colour and a bold mix of premium, on-trend materials. The spacious venue, located in a popular shopping area, now extends over 150 square metres plus a 90-square-metre food preparation space.

Open from early morning for breakfast and continuing throughout the day with aperitifs, lunch and dinner, the restaurant’s schedule had a decisive influence on the new layout and furnishings. “For this project, I envisioned a glamorous, sophisticated setting in line with the range of services offered to customers,” explains interior designer Claudia Lenti from Scalera Group. “The venue is divided into several areas, including a bar, pastry shop and delicatessen – complete with a small, partially-concealed space for quick food preparation – and a centrally positioned pizzeria.”

As for the standout features of the makeover, Claudia Lenti continues: “We completely clad the interiors with bespoke wood panelling, lacquered in a sugar-paper blue, and created contrast by finishing the pizzeria area in small-format tiles in a distinctive brick-red shade. To tie everything together into a cohesive whole, we introduced jungle-style wallpaper inserts and brass details.” The flooring also plays a crucial role. “I wanted a marble look with something a little different from the usual effects, and ultimately chose the Sound of Marble collection from Ceramica Fioranese,” says the interior designer. These marble-effect porcelain stoneware tiles, chosen in the FioMood finish, create a lively interplay of lines and shapes by combining cuts, diagonals and curves, along with unexpected colour combinations that form compositions with a design that is anything but predictable. “Thanks to its mix of geometry and colour, the collection proved to be the perfect match for the eclectic character of Zacapa Food & Drink,” Lenti concludes.