TRIA: A FRESH NEW LOOK FOR THE NORTH OAKS RESTAURANT
Location:
Minneapolis, MN
Scope:
Furniture
As you drive up to the entrance of Tria, it’s easy to feel like you’ve left Minnesota and been transported to the French countryside. The terracotta tile roof and grand fireplace create the perfect setting for the upscale, French Americana cuisine served inside. After almost 20 years in business, the owners were ready to refresh the dining room, and turned to the team at Boelter to partner with them on the project.
Design Insight
The task at hand included coordinating the design and sourcing new booths and chairs in the restaurant, as well as refinishing the bar stools and some table tops. For this project, Boelter worked directly with the owners of Tria to decide on the overall design selections. Bill Ziegler, director contract & design, Boelter, brought in samples and went over options for everything from fabric selections for the booths to stains and finishes for the furniture.
“When we came into the project the owners had already decided on a color for the new menu cover and a stain for the floors,” Ziegler says. “We also knew they were staying with the same French countryside décor, with drapery between rooms to soften the architectural features and rustic collections of plates and art on the walls. We were able to use all of that information to recommend materials that would match the European, high-end feel of the restaurant.”
Booths. The new booths set the right mood with luxurious leather for the back and rich leather seating. These selections speak to the staying power of the restaurant, providing the quality and beauty Tria’s patrons expect.
Chairs. Ziegler knew this project called for something special in terms of dining chairs, so he went to Canadel to source Tria’s new furniture. The furniture manufacturer is well known for its residential designs, but Ziegler’s experience in foodservice allowed him to choose a chair with a lower stretcher that holds up and works well in a commercial setting. Then he sat down with the owners to go through Canadel’s design process, picking from multiple different stains and fabrics. From there Canadel created three prototypes for the Tria team to see their designs and choose the final one in person.
Bar Stools. Not everything in the dining rooms needed to be replaced. Ziegler worked with the furniture manufacturer to refurbish the bar stools which were taken to the warehouse where they were sanded down, repegged and screwed and then refinished to match the new color schemes. The manufacturer also worked to refinish some of the restaurant’s table tops.
Boelter’s many years of experience in foodservice helped bring to life the owners’ vision for the renovations at Tria. Thanks to strong relationships within the industry with manufacturers, Ziegler and his team were able to source just the right furniture and create a timeless look that will last for years to come.
