Just weeks after first opening its doors, 7 Gerard was forced to temporarily close—like so many establishments across the U.S. and beyond—due to COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions. However, the restaurant has since reopened and is operating full steam ahead with outdoor seating, socially distant indoor tables, and a reconfigured, more space-conscious bar in the bustling suburban Long Island town of Huntington, New York.
7 Gerard was a true labor of love for interior designer and local resident Eileen Kathryn Boyd, who is also a co-owner of the eatery. “I wanted to create the feeling of an action-packed visual experience that guests want to be a part of from the minute they walk in the door,” Boyd explains. “Think Parisian bistro meets chic SoHo lounge meets art gallery.” Boyd executed her vision by devising several seating arrangements spread across the restaurant’s three floors, including high-top tables to perch, convivial areas for large groups, and a communal farm table with views of the open kitchen.
7 Gerard comprises a three-story structure on the North Shore of Long Island
In order to unite the multilevel space, which Boyd compares to a large townhouse, artwork was commissioned and sourced to produce a unique yet visually cohesive atmosphere from floor to floor. The black metal and glass-clad staircase, for instance, acts as the centerpiece and connector with a floor-to-ceiling custom graffiti mural by local painter Diego Garcia that “pulls your eye up to the soaring ceilings,” upon entering, says Boyd.
The double-height main dining area is flooded with natural light via metal-paned warehouse windows. A chic-yet-industrial vibe continues on to the second level, where a black metal wall with divets sets the scene for a Studio 54-inspired bar area, and abstract paintings by Manhattan-based artist Kerry Irvine hang within a cozy seating nook.
Artwork by Diego Garcia (left) and Kerry Irvine (right) punctuate the interior of 7 Gerard
Perfect for intimate private gatherings, the loft-like third level features slanted ceilings and eyebrow windows. Banquette seating and wood tables are installed against an antiqued mirror backdrop, while black accent walls are home to colorful graphic artworks. To the other side, a whitewashed brick fireplace offers warmth and further promotes a residential feel.
“So many times, you don’t get to experience a project and the environment you created after you have designed it,” says Boyd, “but this one is different—it has been an amazing journey to be the designer and owner-operator of a restaurant.”
On the restaurant’s uppermost floor, graphic artworks enliven black-painted walls
