Project Description:
The bustling Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean, Virginia finds its latest culinary addition in Sorn Thai, a Thai restaurant where family recipes are celebrated and guests feel right at home. Sorn Thai enlisted //3877 as the architect and interior designer to bring the F&B brand’s vision of a clean, approachable, and inclusive space to life. The restaurant’s namesake, menu, and atmosphere honors the owner’s grandmother, embodying her love of cooking and making everyone feel at home the moment they walk in the door. Much like the well-loved pages of a handwritten cookbook wrapped in a fresh new cover, Sorn Thai’s design cultivates a nostalgic feel balanced with light, modern sensibility.

The design team conducted thorough research into the colors, textures, and plants that are commonly found in Thailand, incorporating traditional design elements that curate an authentic, inviting environment. Backdropped by a light, minimalist aesthetic, Sorn Thai draws inspiration from cozy cafés, welcoming guests to make themselves at home and stay a while or pop in for drinks and appetizers. 

As guests approach the space, they’ll notice a comfortable sitting area just outside surrounded by plants and string lights, reflecting the welcoming atmosphere that exists within. Upon entering the vestibule, clear sightlines to the window seating, bar on the left, and the host stand straight ahead become available. Natural hues are imbued with texture, not only within the millwork, but on the floor as well, guiding patrons throughout the space. The ceilings are high, complementing the narrow space with the use of multiple levels of lighting and a creamy white textured paint gradient above glossy tile walls. 

The custom host stand emulates a nostalgic kitchen cupboard cloaked in a warm, teak-look wood finish with a creamy stone top. Turning left from the host stand, the bar draws diners in with the curved lines along the overhead soffit backdropped by clean lines surrounding the warm and detailed back bar––reflecting the asymmetrical, imperfect nature of a well-loved family cookbook. Two “bookends” with shelving between them further embody this concept, representing a recipe being carried down through generations, slightly evolving as it is passed down. The flooring itself enriches this narrative, featuring the use of patterned tile in hues taken from natural elements native to Thailand: limestone, teak, and bamboo.

Throughout Sorn Thai, cozy banquette seating and loose dining tables are outfitted in different green and neutral hues, including multiple textures, sheens, and patterns. Although varied and layered, the space maintains a cohesive and warm feeling. A large window provides a glimpse into the kitchen, an engaging element for guests to discover and observe throughout their meal.

Sorn Thai’s lived-in, approachable design showcases a warm, nostalgic feel while maintaining an airy, elevated atmosphere. Similar to the levels of flavor married together in Sorn Thai’s cherished dishes, the design is unified using a repetition of a variety of textured elements and neutral colors in varying shades. Unified with color and layered with moments of soft lighting, the restaurant strikes a harmonious transition between traditional textures and contemporary elements, an ode to its backstory and curated cuisine.