The chic insides of a green room

interiors

The landscape of Pakistani interior design in restaurants has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Gone are the days of traditional, ornate, and often gaudy decor. Modern Pakistani restaurants now boast sleek and contemporary designs that blend cultural elements with global trends. Often, they also represent the ideology behind the food being served, creating inviting and Instagram-worthy environments that appeal to a new generation of diners.

Popular burger joint ‘Meat the Cheese’ has recently opened its doors in Islamabad with a beautiful interior that is not just visually appealing, but also has a welcoming feel to it. The brainchild behind this chic, modern interior design is Zahra Taha Ali, who is a Pakistani Canadian architect and interior designer.

Originally hailing from Karachi, Pakistan, Zahra loves to play with rustic and traditional vintage spaces. A mother of three beautiful children and currently based in Toronto, Zahra has been very passionate about World History, but it is true that she has an inborn talent for being creative and innovative.

You! had a chat with Zahra to gather details about her most recent Pakistani venture. Read on…

You! Tell us about your project. What were you expected to create and how did you deliver?

Zahra Taha Ali: The idea was to make the diner feel extremely special, walking into it and dining, here but still be very aware of being in the essence of the brand. There was another factor we were playing with. A newer fresher chic-er branding of green and gold. We used those colours in multiple ways and mediums to drive home the brand colours.

You! What was your design philosophy while carving the space for your client? How did you align it with the brief you had for the project?

ZTA: The initial concept I started with was a bold engulfing design, something that makes you very aware of the interiors. The client brief was very precise, the place should complement the food and improve the dining experience through ambiance. Using marble in different ways was something I wanted to experiment with. The marble and designs available in Pakistan and the rates we get them at is remarkable. We used marble and metal sheets in multiple ways, and it was such a fun exercise.

You! What is the theme and which pieces did you work with that also complemented the theme of the restaurant?

ZTA: ‘Meat the Cheese’ is a very statement food brand. It doesn’t offer everything for everyone. You must be a die-hard meat and cheese lover.

I see that translated into very inorganic elements and pure geometric forms. You can see that into the floor, wall clads and houndstooth dining chairs. We also brought the restaurant’s signature graffiti and happening floors.

You! Your forte is in creating rustic spaces with a tinge of modern elements, what modern elements did you incorporate in this project?

ZTA: We worked with a lot of rustic elements but in a modern way. Subway marble tiles, antique mirrors with green painted frames and carved wood wainscotting has a very old-world charm to it.

You! Any additional pieces you experimented with while designing the restaurant?

ZTA: The green room is very special. It has the most unique wainscotting and corner carvings. I love the ceiling as well. It’s a metal ripple ceiling that’s worth a mention. The ceiling opens the space but also acts like a juxtaposition to the colour drenched green walls. At the entrance we have used gold metal sheets, it has a very red carpet feel while entering the restaurant, I quite love that as well.

You! The primary role of lighting in interior design is to help with the illusion of space. Which lights did you use? Also, tell us about the classic monochrome flooring and beautiful emerald-green walls.

ZTA: Lights are central to my design. I plan entire spaces keeping in mind how I want my lighting to play. Nothing has changed in this project. The very understated raindrop lights at various heights over the checkerboard marble floor at the entrance is a spectacle worth looking at.

Checkerboard floors are something that never ceases to amaze. Going to traditional route but opting for a green and white was as exciting for me as it was for the client. Living in Canada, I have a taste for certain muted accent colours. Always found it super odd that the contractor could never match the paint I had in mind. Took me a while to realise that muted shades are not displayed in the Pakistani paint fans. For the Benjamin Moore Hunter Green feel, I shipped a colour card from here to match the paint and the results are phenomenal.

You! What about the furniture, what was the idea and where did you source it from?

ZTA: ‘Eloquence’, one of the most popular furniture brands for Parisian style of rustic furniture is my favourite. The carpenter carved legs very similar to those for these special wood and marble tables. I wanted a heavily veined marble for the tabletop and so the special tables came to be. Every piece of furniture is custom designed and does justice to the overall concept.

You! How was your overall experience while designing ‘Meat the Cheese’?

ZTA: I loved it! This was my 9th restaurant with the same clients, and it is my baby brand. It’s always a joy working with Mustafa Totana.

You! Tell us about your future projects:

ZTA: Currently working on a restaurant in Bhera, Punjab. In Canada, I am working on a Lucknow cuisine restaurant, a milestone restaurant, two residences and an adventure land for little kids.

Iqra Sarfaraz is a freelance journalist, based in Sydney, Australia. She can be reached at iqra.sarfaraz53@gmail.com Instagram: @cheekuinsydney