Scallop shells, Vienna, ‘Mad Men’ and ‘Stranger Things’ inspire this casually elegant restaurant in Dublin

Cocktail bar, terrace, and restaurant serving locally sourced produce, focusing on seafood and steaks. That’s Big Mike’s, a casual, modern and elegant restaurant in Dublin’s Blackrock Shopping Centre.

Its interior design's main inspiration comes from the scallop shell. From there, says Kate Hartley (KHD), everything else followed: the shape of the roof, the terracotta and copper tones… “Orange tones stimulates the appetite, has an exhilarating effect and indicates informality. We wanted our guests to feel relaxed and have fun".

Another major source of inspiration, particularly reflected in the echoes of mid-century design, came from Vienna. Restaurateur Gaz Smith, lived there for some time and KHD brought this Vienna influence into the interiors. Kate says, "I wanted the space to feel like stepping into another time zone, I love the studio sets of Mad Men and wanted to bring some of that opulence into Big Mikes'."

All this has resulted in a very sensory interior décor, as Kate pointed out at the outset: “We were clear that we wanted the design to distinguish all the separate areas: the terrace, the cocktail bar and the restaurant. But at the same time, we wanted all the areas to have the same feel regarding materials, such as the Dekton tables” Kate mentions – “I didn’t want each space to look different; we aimed to create a continuity that links all the spaces together.”

Indeed, Dekton Laurent tables are an integral part of this project. Inspired by the natural stone Port Laurent, the texture of this surface brings an interplay of nuances that enhance the contrast of its tones. Thus, its golden veins establish a hierarchy in the space and bring warmth to a cold, dark background, which in turn add depth to the overall effect, creating the sense of cosiness the interior designer is looking for.

“I was attracted to both the colour and the texture of Dekton Laurent. I like the kind of velvety feel it has, and also the fact that it’s not too reflective, there are lots of reflective surfaces in the restaurant and I wanted a contrast with the tables. I also was influenced by Dekton’s antibacterial properties: Dekton is easy to clean, highly durable and, quite simply, beautiful.”

Cosentino is also present in the bathrooms, where the antibacterial properties of this stone and the look of Dekton Laurent work hand in hand. “The women’s toilet is quite an experience, the immersive orange colour and gives off that ‘wow’ factor. When I chose the orange tiles, the orange flooring and the paint, I knew combining it with Dekton Laurent with its cinnamon veins looked absolutely spectacular. We wanted it to have a motorised disco ball in the ladies' bathrooms and later Gaz decided to sync this to music. It is totally an unexpected addition and it is so much fun” says the designer.

Ultimately, the ease with which the project was carried out was also key to Cosentino taking a prominent place at Big Mike’s. “Throughout the project, working with Cosentino has been very, very smooth, very effortless. I selected the products with Ronan, Cosentino’s Sales Manager for Ireland, who provided me with all the product samples and information. My specialist contractors then organised the manufacture and installation with Elm Fireplaces, who I have worked with for many years,” concludes Kate.