Canadian studio Sarah Ward Interiors looked to China's art-deco era for the colours and motifs at this dim sum restaurant and basement cocktail bar in Calgary.
The local firm was asked to imagine the decor for Two Penny Chinese, located in the city's Victoria Park neighbourhood ? just south of the Downtown business district.

The team settled on a scheme based on Shanghai in the 1920s, where the art-deco movement merged with traditional Chinese motifs to create a hybrid style.
"The Chinese Deco period provided for such rich design inspiration for this historical space, and we loved creating all of the specialty details that tell the story of the space," said studio founder Sarah Ward.

Shades of teal and dusty pink are found throughout the restaurant as a nod to this era, on the leather-upholstered banquettes, wall panels and metal mirrors. Terracotta accents in the form of cushions and napkins complement the base colour scheme. Guests enter the restaurant through a moon gate ? a circular opening common in traditional Chinese architecture ? made from blackened oak.

"While modern in design, the gate was executed using traditional dowel joinery and was built entirely by hand," said a project description.
Tables of various sizes are scattered across the main restaurant space, paired with curve-backed wooden chairs and benches.

The front server station was turned into a feature, with wicker caning and hand-glazed green tiles formed into typically deco shap...