New York-based design firm Jeffrey Beers International (JBI) has completed its renovation of the Washington, DC eatery Sequoia, one of the city’s famed waterfront restaurants. Set upon the banks of the Potomac River, the redesign draws inspiration from the personal art collection of Michael Weinstein, the founder of Ark Restaurant, which manages Sequoia. Bethesda, Maryland-based GTM Architects also served on the project.
Artwork from Isidro Blasco and Arnie Quinze enhance the character of the interior upon arrival. The design is also punctuated with an expansive lighting installation by Hitoshi Kuriyama, which comprises 913 custom glass and 200 neon tubes suspended across more than 125 feet of the main dining room.
Accented with inlaid brass, the 50-foot-long curved bar on the main dining level is crafted with a white terrazzo face and a dark gray top. Located along the long window wall, the bar features a backbar of glass and brass shelving, while its curves recall the shapes of the terrace and outdoor plaza. New vibrant gem-toned seating contrasts the white walls along with sheer drapery that is illuminated with architectural lighting. Wood doors with wood grain accents distinguish the banquet room, which includes custom carpeting, starburst chandeliers, and a hand-applied graphite finish on the entry wall.
Sequoia’s revamped mezzanine is anchored with a new lounge area appointed with gray armchairs and metal and glass cocktail tables. Existing nautical railings have been replaced with sleek, frameless glass railings that feature a gradient frosting that transitions from white to clear, akin to a low-floating mist. The restaurant’s terrace commands the presence of the space on the harbor, with large stepped terraces, an expansive wood grain porcelain bar, and a 40-foot-tall metal tree sculpture from Belgian artist Arne Quinze.
