A Balance of Light and Dark Details Give S+W a Clever Sense of Style

Blending the lightness of the California coast with the heavy fare of steaks and whisky seems improbable, but S + W does exactly that. Drawing on water-hued accent shades to relax industrial textures, the Hermosa Beach restaurant's look combines the casual sensibilities of the Pacific shore — which is just a few paces away — with the rich, dark materials that are usually associated with a meat-centric menu. It's a complicated balance that designer Stephen C. Knight of Bishop Pass also managed to achieve in a small, confined space. "We couldn't really knock out walls, so we decided to embrace them," Anthony Agriam, the owner and creative director of Bishop Pass, said. "We wanted a residential component [that's] simple, with a modern silhouette." The team used the ceiling's raw beams and the back wall's exposed brick as foils to gray cabinetry, and they choose vibrant floor tiles that would seem at home in a private address. Then they installed large windows to shed sunlight on chocolate leather booths and wood-and-pipe shelving. It's a clever interpretation of light and dark, where every touch seems to have a perfect counterpart.