Image number 32 of the current section of Chef & Restaurateur Grant van Gameren’s Head Office, “The Overbudget offices” features Dekton and Silestone by Cosentino of Cosentino USA

Chef & Restaurateur Grant van Gameren’s Head Office, “The Overbudget offices” features Dekton and Silestone by Cosentino

Tags: news and events | 6 years ago | Written by: Cosentino

"

Canadian chef and restaurateur, Grant van Gameren was looking for functionality paired with exceptional design for the renovation of his new head office, “The Overbudget Offices” located in Toronto, Ontario. van Gameren worked alongside the talented team at Studio Junction Architect and Design Studio to design his creative hub for partners and employees under the Overbudget Inc. umbrella.

The project was considered a complete rebuild, combining modern Japanese and Scandinavian design influences. Both Dekton and Silestone surfaces were included in the renovation, playing a significant role in the overall function and design. The surfaces were featured throughout the space as countertops, backsplashes and wall cladding, which allows van Gameren and his team to work in an environment resistant to stains, heat and scratches.

The cascading kitchen island, bar top and prep areas were specifically designed with Dekton in Glacier, a subtle colour inspired by natural stone, featuring thin golden veins over a white polished background. It was the perfect choice for extreme durability when faced with the unforgiving force of a working chef. Silestone in Charcoal Soapstone, from the Eternal Collection, was used as the kitchen countertops and backsplash, creating a striking contrast between the working kitchen area and the rest of the space.

"

"

Interview with Grant van Gameren

What is the purpose of the Overbudget Offices?

Our main objective is to provide a space where our chefs, bartenders, servers, owners, marketing, public relations and accounting teams can collaborate in a creative and vibrant environment. It’s a space where we can meet to further develop our existing projects and be the birthplace of innovative ideas and businesses.

How does the renovation meet your needs?

It is both functional, beautiful and is adaptable to our day to day needs. It can easily transform from a space of recipe development and marketing meetings to a catered event for an important client. We have selected durable surfaces that can hold up to being utilized daily without sacrificing on design.

What was the inspiration behind the design of the Overbudget Offices?

Our main inspiration was for the space to be bright, airy and clean. A typical restaurant office can be dark and depressing. We wanted a space that was both inviting and productive – a space that makes you happy to come to work each day and perform to your fullest extent. With every restaurant, we design based on creating a feeling for the end user. In this case, the feeling we wanted to create for our office is one of inspiration and productivity. We love natural materials. When working with beautiful stone and wood, you don’t have to do much. We wanted the rich warmth from oak and walnut and the clean and bright feeling of Cosentino countertops.

Why did you decide to incorporate Dekton and Silestone into the project?

When contemplating countertops, we needed something both resilient and beautiful. Very rarely do you see both of these qualities in the same product. Dekton has the durability of a man-made product with the beauty of a natural stone. It’s heat and scratch resistance is second to none. We chose to do our backsplash with Silestone in charcoal, a beautiful option that looks like natural soapstone but without the upkeep and fragility you encounter with natural soapstone.

How does this new space factor into the future of Grant van Gameren and team?

Running restaurants has become more than just cooking and serving food. The landscape has evolved and we now employ a whole team of members who tackle the creative aspects of marketing and idea building. Our offices are only the beginning for this extension of our business and we look forward to growing into our new space.

Photo credit: Arnal Photography

Download the full project information here: Overbudget Offices Case Study_Cosentino Canada