Bethesda, Maryland-based Streetsense has finished its design of chef Mike Isabella’s newest restaurant, Bandolero in Washington, DC. Isabella tasked the firm with creating a “loud, dark, and cold” bi-level space that recalled Mexico’s “Day of the Dead” celebration. To that end, the Streetsense team incorporated materials such as painted black woods and reclaimed metal, accented with warmer and brighter splashes of color. A major focal point is the bar backdrop featuring yellow tile illuminated by LED lights. The LED lighting scheme is offset throughout the restaurant by dimly lit gothic-style chandeliers and wall sconces.
Meanwhile, rustic touches include ornate handcrafted wooden tables, stacked wooden tequila crates at barside, reclaimed wood floors, and exposed brick walls with original building artwork. The front of the bar is clad with copper that was uncovered during renovations after being buried beneath layers of millwork.
“One of the biggest design challenges was to help the owners streamline the permitting process, which meant retaining the basic structure and layout of the former Hook restaurant while completely transforming the look and feel of the interior space,” says Kathryn Bram, director of projects for Streetsense. “This took a lot of creativity and resourcefulness.”
