Schoos Group - Portfolio

The Villa Restaurant

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

As Thomas puts it, Villa is a bit like one of those classic New England barns that are often converted to elegant, rustic homes, speaking of old world elegance, but with an eclectic contemporary attitude that is full of visual interest. An impressive space, the architecture of Villa includes an A-frame ceiling, four wrought-iron chandeliers and oversized fireplaces made from stone and gun metal that give the rooms a grand feel. But the grandness is softened by wood paneling, grey and honey-toned wood beams, natural textures, linens and putty tones to keep the atmosphere warm and domestic. The domestic atmosphere continues on the back patio where large old trees and lush planting give the effect of a private, well-tended garden.

Figue Restaurant

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

While clearly an homage to the influential “mid-century modern” design tradition of nearby Palm Springs, Schoos brought to Figue an effusion of shapes, colors and textures that is decidedly post-modern. “I love the practicality and clean lines of mid-century modernism,” explains Thomas, “but if you are too strict about it, the uniformity can be off-putting. I wanted Figue to be a place where people love to mingle and hang out.” To accomplish this, we made use of many modernist elements but added a degree of eclecticism and contrast not associated with the modernist style. For instance, above the lounge is an explosion of light fixtures that are mostly in the mid-century style, but, their sheer number and variety goes far beyond what any true modernist would imagine. Another dramatic moment is the collection of monolithic desert “driftwood” pieces that stands inside the front door, bringing an organic sculptural quality that ties the restaurant to its local environment.

Lexington Social House

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Lexington Social House, a restaurant/nightclub, is located near the junction of Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St., long known as the epicenter of Hollywood culture where colors, trends, preferences and art meld seamlessly together. The design by Schoos has followed this recipe to create an environment where old textures blend with contemporary art and design, from classic Queen Anne chairs with five legs to modern stick figure art painted by Thomas Schoos. The interiors of Lexington offer guests multiple dining experiences, from an intimate dinner for two to a more social experience at the carrara marble bar. Truly a gathering place, the garden patio is an outdoor room with an indoor vibe, complete with cocktail seating, a fireplace, tree canopies and its own bar.

Duplex Restaurant

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Designer Thomas Schoos’ concept for Duplex restaurant in Beverly Hills was to emulate a casual yet opulent home where people can mingle and relax in an environment that is warm, handsome and inviting. And yet, though comfortable, the décor of Duplex is visually stimulating, combining old world elegance with an eclectic contemporary attitude. A lush garden greets guests who enter through two flanking front patios. Inside, hardwood floors, open fireplaces, a variety of furniture styles and colorful patchwork rugs offer rich contrasting textures. Giant walls of bookcases provide a backdrop for all sorts of unusual artifacts, from leather-bound volumes to exotic bronze statues to other assorted tchotchkes. There is even a vintage taxidermy water buffalo named Terry.

Gabardine Restaurant

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Thomas' inspiration for this small seafood bar and restaurant was the oyster bars he experienced in Savannah, Georgia, with their rustic textures and practical amenities. To make Gabardine a haven for serious seafood enthusiasts, Thomas included features like raw wood, concrete floors, tall, zinc-topped tables and an oyster shucking bar. The design is bright and fresh, avoiding most cliches associated with seafood restaurants except for a few innovative interpretations such as lobster crates under the benches and a large whimsical painting by Thomas of lobsters, butter and a looming pot. Finally, since this is another Fabric restaurant for chef Brian Malarkey, it was important to include the trademark chandeliers featuring hanging ropes with Edison bulbs. In this case, however, the bulbs hang from dozens of vintage fishing poles, like a glowing catch of the day.

Herringbone Restaurant

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0700

The design for our fourth restaurant for Chef Brian Malarkey is a wry spin on typical seafood restaurants, bringing striking images and a sense of humor into this vintage warehouse environment. To maximize the breezy California ambiance, Thomas ripped the roof off the front portion of the structure to create a cozy patio, with retractable awnings that use the streel trusses of the old barrel roof as tracking. To enhance the indoor/outdoor atmosphere even further, six 100-year-old olive trees were brought inside, allowing guests to dine in an indoor garden. The nautical theme is given a twist with stacks of lobster traps filled with inflated blowfish, numerous large paintings by Thomas on the seafood theme, and a giant whale skeleton in a wrought iron blimp structure that becomes a chandelier.

Ellipsis Restaurant

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Set in a 19th century building in Mumbai, Ellipsis was conceived as a stimulating interplay of history and modernism, combining contemporary style with the opulence and romance of the past. We began by stripping away surface elements, revealing the authentic colonial-era architecture underneath. Custom furniture and fixtures are subtle and modern, creating a chic environment. As a contrast, Thomas installed an explosion of vintage paintings from every style and period over the last 100 years, like an artist's loft from a former era. Thomas also contributed several large format paintings of his own, in some cases allowing the design to run off the canvas and continue along the walls.

Morimoto Mexico City

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Seeing the modernist design of the Camino Real Hotel in Mexico City, Thomas was inspired to create a restaurant inside that is literally a piece of modern art. The first challenge was the location itself: a large, cavernous room with a 75 foot high glass ceiling that would need to be divided into functional areas. Schoos achieved this by building an almost free-standing wooden structure that resembles a series of interlocking boxes – like a Japanese “bento” box turned on its side. Into this restrained design, Schoos poured a variety of dramatic art pieces and custom-designed furnishings, each of which possesses its own artistic appeal. These include a series of massive canvases painted by Thomas and a rope art installation that winds through the whole restaurant, literally tying the design together.

Georges Hong Kong

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Thomas describes the design for the George restaurants in Hong Kong and Taipei as an "explosion of the senses without limits" and a collector's dream multiplied by a thousand, like an artistic mind on cocaine. However, the sensual indulgence consists of all original collector's pieces and museum quality items by artists like Salvador Dali and the amusing white sculptures by Chinese artist Gao Xiaowu, which underscore the sense of humor needed to bring together so many contrasting styles and elements.

Georges Taipei

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Burlap Restaurant

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Burlap is the second collaboration between Thomas Schoos and Brian Mallarkey (Top Chef), the first being Searsucker in San Diego, for which Thomas chose an Urban Cowboy theme. Brian wanted the food for Burlap to combine Asian and American influences, so this time the theme became "Asian Cowboy." Thomas brought an intriguing blend of elements together, like Asian water buffalo chandeliers tied with lassos and colorful Burmese temple dragons hanging over the sharing table. An entire Thai architectural facade forms the outdoor bar, paired with barstools made from western tractor seats. An original painting by Thomas includes Chinese characters that translate as "Asian cowboy."

Canon Drive Home

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Before this spacious Beverly Hills home was completed, the owners came to Schoos design, unhappy with the plans that had been drawn for them. The former design was a traditional Mediterranean villa but the owners wanted something more fresh and contemporary. Schoos kept the basic design but moved the style in a transitional direction, simplifying and adding modern features such as square windows, modern railings, large doors and open sight lines. A dramatic floral white-on-white carved plaster relief was also added to the walls of the entry hall, bringing a dramatic organic touch into this imposing space.

For more about this transformation, please see the Case Study in our Live section.

Thousand Oaks Home

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

The owners of this spacious home had very little in the way of furniture, drapery or other furnishings. They were seeking a more modern twist on their traditional home, including an all-new kitchen, new furniture, lighting and original works of art. Thomas painted several large canvases to fill the ample wall space and bring a sense of refined elegance. Eighty percent of the furniture is custom, designed specifically for the space. Carpets were exchanged for walnut hardwood floors in the 2,000 square foot master bedroom and a custom bedframe with hand carved trim added modern style. Modern furniture and art give the deep, comfortable seating in the family room more style, along with an indoor/outdoor vibe on the porches and patios.

West Hollywood Condominium