For too long has every new bar opening proudly announced minimalist interiors, clean lines and muted, earthy colours. In London, the Light Bar at the St Martin's Lane hotel and the bar at the Pharmacy restaurant epitomised the minimalist trend, while designers Philippe Stark and Issey Miyake ruled supreme.
The age of minimalism is drawing to a close, however. And, while it would be impossible to suggest that minimalism is dead, the multiplication of bars, restaurants and hotels eschewing its values would suggest its grip has slackened.
The cause is in part reactionary, and in part the result of the eclectic nature of the bar operators and designers behind some of the country's most cutting-edge openings. If bars such as London's Met, Alphabet and Match defined the modern drinking den, consumers and operators have evolved further since they were launched.
While the new wave of design-led bars are refreshingly different, ranging from retro to kitsch to maximalist, they are united in their focus on comfort, humour and a laid-back atmosphere. These are not interiors of such pristine beauty that the customer is rendered a blemish on its perfection, but relaxed drinking havens that are aiming to please.
Trailer H: The return of kitsch
Trailer H, the latest bar to emerge from Jonathan Downey's Match Bar portfolio, demurely announces itself as a "retro-sexual haven of cosmopolitan kitsch and faded trailer-park glamour". And kitsch it certainly is.
The inspiration for its interior came from the bar's speciality tiki drinks - cocktails originally served during the mid-1950s and 1960s, when tiki culture reached its peak. If you're not sure what tiki is all about, imagine yourself in a grass skirt drinking a concoction of rum and tropical fruit juice from a large glass adorned with parasol and swizzle stick while listening to Elvis.
Culturally, tiki emerged in the growth of optimism post World War II, the success of South Pacific (1958), Hawaii joining the USA (1959) and the rise of Elvis films such as Blue Hawaii (1961).
Central to the tiki-kitsch theme at Trailer H are prints by Tretchikoff and JH Lynch - populist artists of the era who produced images that, in their time, were considered both erotic and exotic. Tretchikoff's "Mrs Wong", a blue-faced Chinese woman, enlarged on the bar's walls, was perceived as both modern and, in a time before mass-travel, exotic. Today it is a kitsch classic.
The reason for Downey's fascination with kitsch and tiki is not simply nostalgia, however. "These images still have huge impact," he says. "Bar design has become bland and unoriginal with no creativity involved. You won't find many other bars with flying wooden ducks on the walls."
Chris Edmunds, graphic designer and consultant for the Match group, concurs: "Trailer H is a backlash against all these bars that are really cold - where you feel you're in a hospital waiting room. With kitsch, people feel comfortable, there's no pretension."
Address: 177 Portobello Road, London, W11 2DY, Tel: 020 7727 2700
Zigfrid: Eclecticism run wild
Zigfrid is the latest venture from Hoxton-based designer Paul Daly - the man behind the interiors at the Elbow Rooms and LAB - and is a study in eclecticism gone wild.
The bar is in a converted warehouse in Hoxton Square and inside is a mishmash of furniture you are unlikely to see elsewhere. A leather chesterfield from Ozwald Boateng sits among floral lampshades that would not be inappropriate in your grandmother's house. Space-age plastic high-stools reside next to a table made out of a varnished tree stump and chairs and tables of every shape, size and material stand in small clusters around the room.
Heavy ochre, velvet curtains hang against exposed concrete walls and provide partitions for cosy, detached spaces. Blocks of coloured sampler paint remain untouched on the grey walls, while spotlights are positioned theatrically alongside elaborate candelabra and numerous shapes and shades of lamps.
Exposed pipes, cables, ducts and even the pipes supplying the bar lend an industrial feel, but this is softened by both the extensive range of textures, frayed rugs and the aesthetic appeal of some of the pipework itself.
It's hard to define the style, but difficult to rid your mind of the idea of a collection of student living rooms congregated in Hoxton with a bar added for good luck.
Despite the randomness of the furniture and the frayed edges, Zigfrid has an indisputable charm. Its design provides customers with comfort, intimate spaces and even conversation starters.
"I looked at everything I had collected and created myself over the years and that triggered off the idea to put them all together," Daly says. "I wanted to create something mad and I also wanted a space that was constantly changing. At Zigfrid I add more furniture or move it all around constantly."
Address: 11 Hoxton Square, London, N1 6NU, Tel: 020 7613 1988
Lounge lover: The new baroque
Lounge Lover is a Mecca of maximalism - a magnum opus of opulent decadence. Formerly a meat-packing factory, this bar and restaurant is now bedecked with 18th-century French and Swedish furniture, long oak tables, chandeliers, candelabra, flamboyant sculpture and artwork, red drapes, Venetian mirrors and a myriad of other beautiful objets d'art. And, don't be fooled into thinking that any of it is fake: designer Hassan Abdullah and partners Michel Lasserre and Stefan Karlson, (the trio behind Lounge Lover and next door restaurant, Les Trois Gar‡ons), are also antique dealers.
According to Abdullah, the inspiration for the bar was comfort and escapism. "We wanted something more cosy, where the service is friendly and the whole experience is comforting," he says. "The interior is also about fantasy, escapism and indulgence. It's a place to dress up and feel glamorous."
The opulence of Lounge Lover certainly provides both a talking point for guests and gives the bar a sense of warmth even when capacity is low. "So many bars are cold and uninviting," Abdullah says, "but even when there are only 100 people here in a capacity of 300, the furniture and fabric fills the space."
The environment is also designed to get people talking. If the artwork doesn't coax strangers into conversation, than table sharing in the restaurant and the audible, but not overbearing music, might.
Address: 1 Whitby Street, London, E2 7DP, Tel: 020 7012 1234
Trends for 2004
- Individuality. A move away from cookie-cutter, monotone bars in favour of eclectic, colourful and personalised interiors.
- Couple-friendly bars. Too long have bars been the sole territory of large groups of friends, so look out for intimate-friendly drinking dens this year.
- Comfort: Sofas, fabrics and room to breathe are all on the up.
- Glamour: Don't be afraid to dress up in 2004.
How to get the look
Trailer H
- Kitsch doesn't have to be expensive, but it's harder to create than it looks. Try E-bay, car boot sales, retro shops and the internet.
- Kitsch has its own spectrum, ranging from the down-right bad taste (fluffy dice) to admirable retro-sophistication (Tretchikoff). Do your research and decide which one you want to achieve before you begin.
- Kitsch is about creating a comfortable environment as well as making a statement. Avoid cream, beige and too many straight lines.
Zigfrid
- Collect a large stash of furniture from car-boot sales, artist's sales, second-hand shops and auctions. Make sure most of it doesn't match.
- Leave all pipes, ducts, brickwork, etc exposed.
- Ensure lighting is atmospheric and not too bright. The aim is to make your customers look their most attractive.
Lounge lover
- Do not try this on a small budget. Maximalism requires antiques, chandeliers and rich fabrics, so it's not for the faint-hearted. Comfort is also key, so don't spare on the sofas, drapes and curtains. Finally, this look does require knowing when to stop or it could all go horribly wrong.
- Try juxtaposing an antique with a modern piece of art or furniture to add a sense of drama.
- For furniture try antique markets and auctions or consider going bespoke.