ELEGANT, COZY AND MASCULINE - 5 CARPETS FOR A STEAKHOUSE

Creative Matters’ carpet for the lounge at Hy’s Steakhouse. Photo: Gabby Frank

Last month Hy’s Steakhouse returned to Toronto’s financial district with a spectacular new flagship.The impressive 18,000-square-foot space was designed by our long-time client Elaine Thorsell of BOTI Interiors. She devised a lush colour palette of rich greens and burnished golds, leather and velvet materials, and millwork with burled walnut details, paired with contemporary Canadian art, granite and metal accents. Creative Matters President Carol Sebert was then tasked with developing the carpet designs for all three storeys.

“Elaine and I began the project with a brainstorming session looking at brutalist architecture and 1960s metal sculpture along with some deco patterns,” said Carol. “As inspiration for the dining lounge, we also used the Empire rug pattern from our XXV Collection.”

The Creative Matters Empire design from the XXV Collection inspired the lounge carpet.

The carpet design for Hy’s lounge that was inspired by Empire from Creative Matters’ XXV Collection.

The carpet design for Hy’s lounge that was inspired by Empire from Creative Matters’ XXV Collection.

Eventually they decided on five different patterns using the same six colours: light gold, darker gold, medium copper, dark copper, light black and rich black. “We limited our palette as we wanted all the carpets to relate to one another,” said Carol.

The direction was to be masculine and subtle, but also rich and warm in tone, like being in your favourite uncle’s cozy and elegant living room. “Elaine is great to work with because she can describe the feeling she wants to deliver. Once we were on the same page, we could really collaborate to achieve the result she desired.” The owners of the steakhouse also had a say in the patterns as they joined a few meetings to review the designs and colours.

The dining room design was based on mid-century metal wall sculptures. Harry Bertoia - a 20th century sculpture and furniture designer who crossed boundaries daily - is one of the artists Carol and Elaine studied for inspiration.

The artwork for Creative Matters’ design for the dining room.

The Creative Matters carpet for the dining room. Photo: Gabby Frank

Creative Matters Design Development Director Anna Panosyan worked with Carol juggling the multiple patterns, limited colour palette and tight time frame. The challenges were more easily overcome because they felt so in tune with their client.

The staircase design is a narrow pinstripe of alternating colours and widths with the border pattern on the inside of the staircase, as shown in more detail in the images below.

The Creative Matters design for the stair carpet.

The Creative Matters design for the stair carpet - flooded into the floor plan.

With their intimate understanding of yarn, Carol and Anna recommended production in woven Axminster in a blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon. This not only enabled the project to be completed on time but will ensure the carpets retain their elegance through messy Canadian winters.

As Carol said, “The final result is really beautiful and all of us - the Creative Matters team, Elaine and the owners of the steakhouse - are thrilled with the result. What a pleasure!”

The Creative Matters carpet for the dining room. Photo: Gabby Frank