Ayesha Usman, owner of her eponymous firm and a LUXE Next In Design 99 honoree, began her first restaurant design endeavor much like any residential project: with a conversation. The owners of the Issaquah, Washington, location of Naan N Curry shared their desire to infuse the restaurant with Pakistani culture, demonstrating the hospitality at its core.
Usman set out to “create a warm space that feels like home,” she says. The designer sourced artworks from a local Pakistani creative, as well as from artists in Pakistan, and placed them in vintage frames to make it seem as though the restaurant had “been there for ages,” she notes. Roman clay wall finishes create a sense of movement, while light fixtures contribute to a moody yet inviting atmosphere.
“It’s a place where people can have a meal that reminds them of Pakistan,” Usman adds, “and for anyone not from the country to get a taste and feel of what it stands for.”
