THE PREACHER’S SON

Bentonville, AR

YEAR
2016

SCOPE
Interior Design, FF&E Selection, and Procurement

AWARDS
2017 James Beard Awards - Best Restaurant Design 76 Seats+ Finalist
2017 AIA Design Awards - Best Interior Design Finalist
2017 IIDA Best Awards - Best Eat and Drink Design

Completed while working at SAR+.

The Preacher’s Son restaurant is a luminous sanctuary within a 1904 Gothic Revival-style church, where the concept unfolds like a story.  The design is informed by John Ruskin’s, “The Seven Lamps of Architecture,” the chef’s own personal story he happens to be a preacher’s son and the amazing structural features of the building.

Jewel tones in the art glass dance on the serene walls, where light dances in a changing pattern throughout day. The former apse wall, adorned with a golden wash, bathes the space in a soft champagne glow. Natural tones in wood and upholstery create an earthly palette and texture, while custom banquettes, tables and millwork were designed to maintain consistency across the space. Adding a unique flourish, the design team suspended a grid of 288 tiny bells in the bell tower, (which ironically never housed a bell prior). These design moments within space combine to tell a story that lends to a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

PROJECT ACCOLADES
Architect: The Preacher's Son