Westworld Meets Bio-Dome in this Lush Tablescape
This time last year, I was knee deep in preparations for a really fun experience and I’m excited to share an in depth look with you! I was invited to participate in a Dinner x Design event where I partnered with The Brewer’s Table to create an immersive, three-coursed meal. The evening took place at an open industrial warehouse space where my challenge was to create a small parcel of intimate space where guests would be transported to a pseudo pop-up restaurant. Challenge accepted.
It initially began with a conversation with the head chef, Zach, and his vision for the evening. We threw some ideas around and then he mentioned the idea of masking a bread stick as a branch and creating that illusion for guests to experience. That idea set into motion the aesthetic and design of the evening for me. Simultaneously, I was also in the head space of HBO’s Westworld as it was peak season and the fantasy concept was still so mind-blowing. I wanted to create a piece of Westworld meets Bio-Dome for the tablescape. The idea was to build a mini, lush forest of botanics that ran the length of the dining tables that gave guests the feeling of observing from bird’s eye and the opportunity to forage and pick out edible elements within the tablescape as part of the dinner experience. Thus became the evening, Forest and Forage.
Forest and forage
In creating this tucked-away fantasy dinner experience, I had to first find a way to establish intimacy that set the tone for the evening. What you initially feel from the photograph on the left is this black box, moody environment. Doing that was a feat in itself because just beyond those panels is an industrial warehouse with rafters, reclaimed wood, and too many Edison bulbs for a lifetime. I knew I had to strip away all that and create this sleek and modern black box effect you see.
Just above the chandeliers are panels of black foam core that were precision cut, aligned and installed to create a flat, drop-ceiling. It might have seemed a little excessive and the installation was not easy, however, it did it’s job beautifully and in the end was completely worth it. Black mesh curtain panels lined the walls and created the separation needed from the rest of the space. More importantly in creating the black box room, it enhanced the chandeliers by masking their black structure and revealing floating discs of light, reminiscent of an ethereal sea of UFO’s. All the chandeliers were wired as plug-ins and set on dimmers, and cords were hidden above the foam core ceiling panels for a seamless execution.
For continuity in creating the modern forest aesthetic, I used Parsons-style block tables in white-washed oak that spanned the length of the room. Paired with white Knoll Bertoia chairs, the architectural nods and crisp white finishes was the perfect contrast to the moody, black surround. Modern black dinnerware, vintage silverware and a textural grey linen napkin completed the place setting. Menus were tied with black cord in a simple knot and placed on each setting. For the finishing touch, a personal lime-green cymbidium orchid in a smoke grey cordial glass for each guest to admire and enjoy.
TIED UP WITH STRING
For each place setting, I wanted to include details of the evening for guests to read between courses. Because the forest-like tablescape was layered with many exotic florals, I created a card with the floral breakdown for guests to learn their names. Behind that card is the menu listing out the different courses. I designed these cards so they staggered, revealing the title of the evening as they read through each card. For the finish, a black cotton cord wrapped around the two cards to tie everything together.
A VIEW
FROM THE TOP
As guests moved around the table and visually absorbed all the different elements of the table design, I wanted them to feel like they were taking it in from an aerial perspective. To complete the Westworld x Bio-Dome experience, it needed to accomplish two things, 1) the expansive tabletop forest had to impress from above and 2) after guests were seated, experience it at eye-level, immersed in the forest.
