Locally based Bliss Home & Design has redesigned Laguna Beach’s Selanne Steak Tavern.
Originally built in 1934 and formerly the restaurant French 75, the redone Selanne Steak Tavern is residential in style with an element of whimsy. The design draws from the area’s history and beach appeal, with highlights such as slightly distressed wide planked oak wood floors and a color palette of muted gray, white, and cognac.
Guests enter into a foyer anchored by an original brick fireplace updated with white Carrara marble. An oversized, recycled glass and bike chain chandelier graces the stairwell and illuminates a gallery wall of distinctive artwork and vintage photography. A focal point of the downstairs tavern is the central oak bar with an inset Carrara marble counter top. Barstools are designed with metal bases and oak seats, evoking an industrial feel.
The restaurant offers five spaces, including a bar, a wine room, formal upstairs dining, a private dining room, and a patio. Furnishings such as zinc-topped tables, leather-clad banquettes, and French bistro-style wood chairs distinguish the tavern. Historical nuances, such as classic striped upholstery, etched glass windows and crisp white paneled walls further the appeal.
The upstairs dining area features a more formal atmosphere. Lit by light fixtures inspired by African sea glass beads, the room is filled with cream upholstery, leather furnishings accented with silver nail heads, natural oak flooring, crisp white wood accents, and tongue and groove gray ceilings.
Decidedly contemporary touches accentuate the venue throughout, such as large abstract pieces by local artist Nick Gaetano, smoked glass mirrors, and unique bathrooms with fire glazed patterned tile flooring and crystal chandeliers. Lending a quixotic touch are quartz mineral accents, framed butterflies, and unique pieces such as an antique zinc horse head from mid-18th century France, a fossilized crocodile skull, and an assortment of white-patinaed tortoise shells.
An outdoor patio features all-white pierced Moroccan light fixtures. By day, this overhead lighting imbues subtle, sculptural beauty while the fixtures create a dramatic mosaic of dappled light in the evening.
