Culinary Outfitters Waterfront
Studio M was approached by the son of the owner of a mom-and-pop sandwich shop and caterer whose time it was to take over his Mother’s local eatery. As a head chef of several five-star hotel restaurants in the Bahamas, Chef Pritchard was excited to return to Florida and transform the small sandwich shop into a thriving waterfront restaurant. His unique selling point was his passion for fishing, which he wanted to share with his patrons through a menu that celebrated the sea and fresh local fish and vegetables. He and Marsha were committed to supporting local businesses, sourcing local materials, vendors, artisans, and artists to create a unique and successful waterfront dining experience.
During the planning, Marsha worked with Chef Pritchard regarding the spaces he wanted to incorporate into the program:
- Open kitchen concept
- Private dining room for larger dinner parties
- Separate dining room that could be rented out for bigger parties such as bridal events and birthdays
Once those needs were met, Marsha wanted to create smaller dining experiences throughout. There is a comfortable lounge near the hostess stand and bar where people can hang out and enjoy a cocktail while waiting for their table.
A “captains table” near the custom wine cooler was planned to be the regular hangout of some infamous St. Augustine “captains.” The finishes were changed here to provide a look that differentiated itself from the rest of the restaurant but still blended. To add mystique surrounding the private dining room, Marsha and her team designed a custom walk-through wine cooler feature that leads to the private area.
A large bar is centered in the space for patrons who want to drop by just for a cocktail. Behind the bar is a smaller seating area with booth seating for a diner feel. The rest of the dining area is outfitted with bistro-style tables and centered booths. We planned a booth in the main dining center to break up the vast space into smaller, more intimate areas for diners to enjoy. The extensive outdoor patio takes full advantage of the water plus adds 200 more seats for dining, a vast outdoor bar with a communal table, more high tops, several sectional sofa lounge areas, and a place for the band. Patrons could visit Culinary Outfitters every day for two weeks and have a different experience.
When selecting the furniture and finishes, the team was dedicated to sourcing as much locally as possible. The wood species chosen for walls, ceilings, and millwork was locally sourced Cypress, custom-stained to a beautiful golden brown color. All the furniture was designed in collaboration with a local custom furniture business owner and close personal friend of the Chef. This local collaboration brought thoughtful details and accents to the custom tables, chairs, and hostess stands. Local St. Augustine craftsmen carved custom millwork for inside and outside bars using local cypress with copper details. A local metalsmith created custom metal doors and details throughout. This commitment to local sourcing and collaboration not only supports the local economy but also contributes to the sustainability of the project.
A local art representative, gallery owner, and artist put the collection of work from local artists. We met several times to outline Marsha’s vision for the artwork. One artist created expressionistic paintings of the local rivers and streams from above, another photographer shot photographs from the local St. Augustine city and surrounding marshes, and others painted images of fish that Chef would have caught and perhaps served as entrees. A three-dimensional piece of the State of Florida that Chef will mark today’s catch with little flags. It is a fun and interactive way of keeping tabs on where the food is sourced. Another whimsical touch is taxidermied fish that our Chef had caught previously and that a patron could expect to see on the menu. We kept the interior close to the Chef’s heart at every turn. The result is another fantastic space from the Studio M Interior Design team.
