“Our goal was to achieve a look that feels authentic and grounded in history yet is still incredibly modern and a true reflection of Daniel’s personality,” says New York-based designer Jeffrey Beers, who led the design of db Brasserie for Bouloud.
The restaurant’s centerpiece is a faux skylight reminiscent of those in Beaux-Arts train stations. Custom blackened steel panels frame a grid of glass ceiling panels, which are anchored by a modern interpretation of brasserie-style globe pendant light fixtures.
“We used many classic brasserie materials—rich leathers, geometric floor tiles, brass hardware, and detailed craftsmanship—but framed them within a modern and clean aesthetic,” says Beers. Modern brasserie materials are also used, such as a cement green and white tile in a hexagonal pattern for the bar and several dining areas, as well as an oak wood floor underneath the skylights.
For the central bar, welded steel and glass details introduce centuries-old industrial craftsmanship and a bespoke aesthetic while preserving a modern shape and structure.
The carpet in one private dining room has a decorative pattern that mimics the blackened steel panels in the main skylight. This design is mimicked in hand-applied curved moldings on the ceiling.
“Daniel encouraged our design team to look at classic brasseries in France, those energetic and timeless spots that feel like they are always in style,” says Beers. For a look inspired by the romantic cafes, single Edison bulbs are mounted to antique brass fixtures and attached to coffered, Venetian-plastered ceilings.