Horst Design International completes design of 7,000 s/f sushi restaurant

Doug Horst, owner of Horst Design International (HDI), and his team have completed the design of a 7,000 s/f culinary sushi restaurant. Fushimi, located at 475 Driggs Ave. in the Williamsburg neighborhood, marks the third spot of the Japanese Cuisine and Lounge. The other restaurants are in Staten Island and Bay Ridge. Williamsburg's atmosphere led Fushimi co-owners, Ben and Daniel Chen, to request a Vegas-themed design. "They wanted that type of feel," said Horst. "They wanted an escapism-type of environment where people could feel like they've gone somewhere else. They wanted a colorful and inviting space that gives the visitor the feeling of Las Vegas." The restaurant, originally an industrial building turned apartment complex, needed to be renovated in order to create five main sections including a sushi bar, main dining room, secondary dining room (that doubles as a private room for parties), private booth pods, and a bar and lounge area. With all design processes, there was much to consider for the overall look. "We looked at their menu and what they would be offering, who the target customer is, what the demographic is like in the neighborhood, what their price point is, and what kind of service they are going to provide," said Horst. Williamsburg's up-and-coming neighborhood is populated by a very vibrant and hip group of young people and families. The area is filled with exciting destinations, retail and restaurant, which Horst and both co-owners believe Fushimi fits right into. "The atmosphere is like being in one of Las Vegas' most entertaining dining destinations—a high-paced, racy and contemporary Asian Fusion restaurant exceeding the guests' expectations," said Ben and Daniel Chen. "Fushimi is a lavishly detailed restaurant where every guest is WOWED as soon as they walk through the dramatically lit entry doors." Some of Horst's favorite elements include the entry's exterior, a "nautical portal eternally lit at night" that can be seen from a distance down the block. A Saki display houses hundreds (possibly even thousands) of bottles above the bar, creating a "fun and funky" feel. There are chandeliers made of beads and chrome that depict abstract jellyfish at all different heights. There are unique oval booths that allow privacy, upholstered from top to bottom to provide a quiet, intimate meal. Horst also likes the murals of oriental women that add another element of sophistication. Horst has been designing for over 26 years. With restaurant and retail clients worldwide, HDI stands out amongst competition by always presenting new ideas. "What makes it fun for me, [which is] more effective and most important for my client and their brand, is we try to do something different every time we hit the drawing board," says Horst. "We try to create a brand new statement for each client, whether it is retail or restaurant, and develop something completely new. We try not to draw solutions or elements from past designs. With our experience we can create something unique. And that's what keeps us fresh." HDI, located in Cold Spring Harbor, NY, is an award winning Retail Brand Imaging strategic design consultancy. They provide strategic economical design solutions that maximize their project investments and financial results. HDI has been ranked among the top retail designers in North America and its work has been published in numerous magazines and books around the globe.