Clever design + good food + thoughtful quotes = total inspiration for me! This is DBGB Kitchen and Bar in the Bowery section of New York City. Chef Daniel Boulud combined French brasserie with American tavern and took his design cues from the restaurant supply industry. He used shelves filled with actual items needed for the kitchen as part of the charm and decor. The chocolate brown color scheme feels warm - perfect when serving up 14 varieties of (in house made) sausages, tall burgers dripping with cheese and washing it down with 22 varieties of craft beer or affordable house wines. Mirrors display Boulud's favorite culinary quotes, giving the customer food for thought as well as a full belly. As I have said before, hotels and restaurants are GREAT places to get ideas for your own home. They use top designers who have their pulse on up and coming trends. I have minimal cabinet space in my home so I have also displayed kitchen items on metro shelves. It works well as long as you stick with either a color scheme (mine are all white dishes) or you aesthetically display items such as uniform bottles of water. Since I love and collect quotes, I have to leave you with some:

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart.” Erma Bombeck

“If you're afraid of butter, use cream.” Julia Child

“Tofu tacos are not Mexican. I think putting tofu on anything and calling it Mexican is an insult to my people.” Simone Elkeles, Rules of Attraction

“The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.” Calvin Trillin

“You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans. ” Ronald Reagan

Salut!

DBGB Kitchen and Bar