Photography by David Straight, courtesy of Katie Lockhart Studio.
Overlooking the city beach in Auckland, New Zealand, the historic Melanesian Mission building once served as the dining hall, kitchen, and storehouse for an Anglican boys college.
The pavilion windows open up in warmer months.
Inside, Lockhart opted for durable surfaces (Mission Bay is Auckland’s busiest beach) like painted wood, powder-coated steel, laminate, and Sunbrella fabric.
Lockhart had Michael Thonet Era Chairs custom colored in Clay, a shade from her own paint collaboration with Drikolor.
The lights are off-the-shelf glass globes from Bardsleys Lighting & Design that Lockhart modified with a brass fitting, rod, and attachment.
Pillars throughout the restaurant are lacquered in Everyday Needs Clay paint with laminate tops to match the dining tables.
Katie Lockhart Studio worked closely with architects Lance and Nicky Herbst to design the interiors, including the custom cabinets done in Spotted Gum.
The slatted back of the custom cabinets lets in light and mimics the building’s facade.
Cabinets are stocked with glassware, tall stainless steel pitchers, and ceramic pitchers by potter Peter Collis that are hand-painted by artist Tracey Tawhiao.
More custom cabinetry, this time with laminate fronts—Laminex Teal—and brass details.
The table tops are made of Spotted Gum laminate tops in Teal from Laminex. Lockhart powder-coated the bases in Dulux Denim Blue.
Lockhart designed the freestanding benches; for the cushions, she experimented with different stripe combinations, but opted for a classic, wide blue-and-white stripe.
The restaurant addition is designed with cedar slats, blackened steel, and a gabion wall foundation.