Interior design is not just about constructing an aesthetically pleasing environment. For companies like Adean Studios, it’s all about creating an immersive experience within a space that the world has yet to discover. Recently, DesignSpec Co-Founder Fiona Sanipelli sat down with Alexa Nafisi-Movaghar, the founder and creative director of Adean Studios. They discussed Adean’s recent exciting project, Cafe Goldie, their brand philosophy, and how DesignSpec is helping streamline the company’s workflow.
Cafe Goldie has just been recognized by the LIV 2024 Hospitality Design Awards as the winner of “Restaurant – Casual”
Could you tell us about your background in design and how Adean Studios was started?
Alexa: My whole life has always been geared around hospitality operations and services. Growing up in Park City, a resort town, I was immersed in the tourism industry. Throughout middle school and high school, I worked in hotels and restaurants, gaining valuable insights into their internal operations. After spending some time at large design firms, I realized I wanted to find my own voice rather than be confined by corporate regulations. When we founded Adean Studios in 2019, we decided to focus on restaurants and hotels. The storytelling and narrative possibilities within these spaces are endless.
The entire philosophy of Adean Studios is customization and narration-driven. We strive to create a transportive environment for anyone coming to visit our spaces. The company pays close attention to every detail, from cutlery to plants, prioritizing a harmonious sensory experience within our interiors. As a small boutique studio, our meticulous approach allows us to maintain high standards, and we intend to keep it that way.
“The entire focus of Adean Studios is customization and narration-driven.”
Alexa Nafisi-Movaghar
I appreciate that you began your career in high school by working at restaurants and hotels. This background really enhances the understanding of how a restaurant operates. In your opinion, what is the most crucial aspect of working in hospitality or restaurant design?
Alexa: Operations are the most critical factor in hospitality and restaurant design. You can create a beautiful space, but the business will struggle to succeed if the food is poor quality and the operations are not well managed. We work closely with our operating partners, which helps us successfully develop projects through a personalized approach. While our company collaborates with large corporations, we also enjoy cultivating new, smaller brand identities because it allows us to be part of their storytelling.
Let’s discuss your recent project in West Hollywood – an incredibly glamorous space called Cafe Goldie. Can you tell us about the initial brief for this project, and what design concept you developed?
Alexa: Cafe Goldie was envisioned as a classic breakfast spot for the W Hollywood Hotel, as well as a connection to the overall restaurant experience. It was essential for the cafe to meet the new brand standards, especially since Marriott was reimagining its philosophy. It needed to be approachable yet beautiful.
From the operator’s perspective, the client wanted the cafe to embody a beachy California aesthetic and reflect the mid-century Hollywood modern style already present in the lobby. The design features an ombre color palette that flows throughout the space, complemented by half arches that represent the sunset over the hills. Inspired by the classic modern style of the 1950s, we emphasized clean lines and graphic shapes while softening them with curvatures evident in the booth and counter designs.
As part of the design concept, our team incorporated the “Belt of Venus,” a star constellation visible at a specific time during sunset. In contrast to the Rockwell hotel lobby space, which has a cooler, more masculine blue palette, we aimed for the cafe design to evoke a feminine feel by applying warm colors, soft textures, and curves. The incorporation of reflective surfaces created a dynamic visual experience as visitors moved through the space. Additionally, a series of arches with spotlighting from the floor illuminated the curtains, allowing light to reflect and refract through the sheer panels.
“Cafe Goldie was envisioned as a classic breakfast spot for the W Hollywood Hotel, as well as a connection to the overall restaurant experience.”
Alexa Nafisi-Movaghar
When you look back at the project now, what were some of its biggest challenges?
Alexa: The biggest challenge our team faced with this project was the budget. Although it was a brand new concept, it had to blend into the existing space. For instance, the ceilings were already in place, which limited our options for modification. As a result, we decided to focus on the floor space, where we could make the most significant impact with our budget.
Another essential coordination item was the front millwork counter, which looks like it’s carved from solid marble, but it’s not. We invested a significant amount of work into cutting and shaping marble slabs to achieve the complex curves on both the top and bottom, as well as rounding the corners, which required a large radius. This piece was challenging because the counter is cut from slabs and assembled seamlessly like a mosaic tile.
Additionally, the cafe includes a food service prep area, so we had to comply with specific codes. For instance, we installed a standard tile cove base, which we color-matched to the walls. This helped us achieve a seamless look while meeting all code requirements. All of our panel-ready fridges were designed to be ultra-wipeable yet fit in with the space. Adean Studios collaborated closely with the operations team to make sure that the design was both practical and front-of-house approachable.
“Adean Studios collaborated closely with the operations team to make sure that the design was both practical and front-of-house approachable.”
Alexa Nafisi-Movaghar
Could you tell us about your custom fabrication process?
Alexa: Customization makes everything within the space feel more purposeful. It celebrates unique, one-of-a-kind items and allows you to create distinctive experiences for your environment. For example, selecting the appropriate scale for a chandelier relative to the room size enables you to achieve the desired look while maintaining the right proportions.
When designing lighting, we begin by considering the scale, size, design, and desired light output of the piece. Next, we create sketches and hand renderings to refine the details and send out technical drawings to two or three vendors for bids. While we have our preferred vendors that we love to recommend, we always keep our options open. We also use DesignSpec to specify all finishes for the fabricator. The schedule is often a critical factor, so we work closely with the fabricator to ensure shop drawings and the final product come together on time.
Another custom item at Cafe Goldie we’re proud of is the color-drenched mustard-yellow velvet chairs. Rather than using fully upholstered designs that are common in the market and are not ideal for cleaning, we chose a design with fewer upholstered elements. This makes maintenance easier and prevents the buildup of dirt. The fabric is cleanable, so even if a glass of wine is spilled, it can easily be managed. Overall, the scale and design of the chairs are perfectly suited to our needs, particularly the luxurious velvet and velour finish reminiscent of Hollywood elegance.
“Customization makes everything within the space feel more purposeful.“
Alexa Nafisi-Movaghar
How does DesignSpec help simplify the process of putting together a project for your company?
Alexa: Custom work is very important to us, and DesignSpec helps us organize and showcase everything we need in one place. We can tag all finishes and highlight important aspects of specific items on a single sheet. With DesignSpec, we can establish company standards for all our guidelines within each specification. Once global changes are made, they automatically apply across the entire company to all relevant specs.
Adean Studios is a dynamic, modern interior design studio dedicated to creating beautiful spaces that stand the test of time. With a meticulous approach, clients can trust that every detail will be carefully considered. Whether the design is minimalistic or intricate, Adean Studios is committed to meeting specific needs and bringing each unique vision to life.
Project Credits:
Design: Adean Studios
General Contractor – Build Group
Architect of Record – Wimberly WATG
Photography – MJ Kroeger
Prop Stylist – Julie Dumas
Custom Lighting – iWorks
Custom Furnishings – Areca | Falcon
Mustard Yellow Velvet – P/Kaufmann
