Bloom Restaurant

Bloom embodies its namesake. What began as a coffee shop, evolved into a beloved brunch spot and has now grown into a full-scale restaurant and bar. The owner and chef were very hands-on in the project planning. Having restaurant experience themselves, the design team took great care in planning the flow of service for both front and back of house.
The existing space had the teller counters to the left with the vault behind, offices to the right and a large conference room at the back. As an ode to the original layout we located the open kitchen and chef’s counter along the previous line of the teller counter. We removed the offices and opened up the space to gain light from the floor-to-ceiling storefront along the East wall. The conference room maintained the same footprint but is now a private dining room with new sliding doors.
The aesthetic was largely inspired by the owner’s taste. They wanted a bright, welcoming space which was neutral yet colorful and full of greenery. With such a large footprint, we broke up the spaces into zones which received coordinating architectural elements. The bar has a lit, mirrored arch display and a curved hanging glass rack mimicking the curved bar below. The central banquette anchors the main space with circular booths and arches above. The banquette was specifically designed for displaying potted and hanging plants. The private dining room needed to be open and flexible so graphic arches were designed with a painted arch above and a wood arch below to protect the walls from tables and chairs.
The outdoor patios transformed a bland covered plaza into a welcoming space wrapped by built-in planters, benches and a screen wall all out of Cumaru. The client had a favorite “Charleston green” in their previous space. We used that color to simply paint the base of the building to visually ground it. As a nod to the Charleston green and Appalachian fusion on the menu, we painted the outdoor ceilings a traditional Haint Blue. Pendant lights were also added to help “bring down” the high ceilings to a comfortable level when seated. The larger outdoor patio is the main seating for outdoor dining. The smaller patio is flexible and can be used for enjoying to-go coffee during the day, bar overflow, waiting area or additional dining seating during the busiest seasons.

Framework for Design Excellence

a. Integration – Adaptive Reuse projects tend to have a special quality about them. The community usually has an association with a building and its original use. This building has a shorter history than most of the buildings on State Street however it is technically eligible for the National Register of Historic Places next year. Even so, prior to sitting vacant for the last few years, the lobby was used as a bank since the building’s inception. To honor that, we maintained elements such as the vault and vault doors, the outdoor night drop door and we were able to turn a very heavy old safe into the host stand. We maintained the special elements such as the slate floor and wall details in the lobby. Most importantly, the project turned an empty corner and vacant space into a vibrant and bustling community gathering spot.
b. Equitable Communities – Over the years, the restaurant owner created a welcoming atmosphere for all at their previous location. From the beginning of the design process we were made aware that many employees and guests see Bloom as a safe haven for the LGBTQ community. When it came to the design we were asked to incorporate small touches such as gender-neutral bathrooms which are allowed in the Virginia Construction code. The owner deserves all of the credit for creating that environment in a small southern town. We were just glad to be a part of their growth at their new location. Their growth also allowed them to triple their staff, hiring close to 70 new employees.
c. Economy – The HVAC and lights were an integrated coffer system. Replacing the coffers would have been cost prohibitive and the HVAC was still functioning very well. To work with the existing infrastructure, we replaced the 2x2 lights with gyp infill panels, cans and pendants. The existing popcorn texture was scraped to a textured plaster finish. The sliding doors in the private dining room were originally hinged doors to the offices we removed. The doors were saved during demo for repurposing within the restaurant and for any future renovation of the upper floors. The vault doors were also kept in place. The vault itself became a quirky office for the management staff.
d. Well-Being – With the new open layout, we were able to take advantage of the full-height storefront windows which run the full length of the main and private dining areas. Eastern light comes in first thing in the morning but then the existing overhang allows indirect light throughout the rest of the day. During the day, minimal artificial lighting is needed. The natural light is great for guests as well as the many plants the owner and staff maintain themselves. Restaurants can get very loud so we took advantage of the existing coffer ceilings which are perforated as they are the returns for the HVAC system but they also provide acoustic dampening. The banquette also acts as an acoustic barrier due to its general mass, the upholstered seating and the plants which sit on the surface and hang from the arches.
e. Change – On a yearly basis the restaurant industry is seasonal and on a daily and weekly basis the crowds may vary. Keeping this in mind the spaces were designed to work with the ebb and flow. As described in the project narrative, the outdoor patios were designed to work for different scenarios throughout the day, week or year. Additionally, the private dining room was designed to be multi-functional. It can be open for regular seating during peak times. It can be closed when it is less busy or there are fewer staff members. It can also be closed off for private events such as private dinners, corporate lunches, or baby showers. There are even yoga classes held in the space. The unique space provides flexibility for the restaurant but also creates another source of income.
f. Discovery – Bloom was a design-build project with a great deal of input from the restaurant owner and building owner. This, in addition to the collaboration between the owner’s interior design consultant, our design team and our construction team, created an amazing group to take the project from start to finish. The overall goal was to create an elevated design without losing the vintage charm of their previous location. The new space has had an incredible reaction from the community with its welcoming atmosphere for new and returning customers alike. Bloom will soon celebrate their one-year anniversary in the new space.