Without having to leave home for a consultation, the Restylit startup guides online all entrepreneurs who want to rethink their premises and make it safe, without having to wait biblical times and spend excessive sums of money with Restylit .
MILAN – In a crucial moment for the Italian economy, in which everyone is thinking together about a reopening that allows entrepreneurs and employees to return to work while minimizing the risk of contagion, possible solutions must be sought and analyzed carefully. The hospitality and public establishments sector needs today more than ever to rethink themselves, evolve in terms of spaces and services. How can we do this without making mistakes and wasting energy and resources? Turning to professionals is definitely the way. This is why we spoke with the team at Restylit , a self-financed startup founded in 2018.
The first online interior design company in Italy, but with a long history behind it: a 65-year legacy closely linked to the evolution of Italian residential architecture and hospitality. That is, the business that is closest to the heart of this company and on which it acts, especially today, to respond to the new needs of the market in the face of the virus.
Where Restylit's vocation for Hospitality comes from
“The vocation for this splendid world comes mainly from two factors: the family business we come from, a historic Italian architectural firm that has worked a lot in the design and construction of buildings related to hospitality (especially hotels and tourist complexes) and the personality of the two co-founders of Restylit combined with that of the team, with a great love for travel and experiences that allow you to “live” the place you are in, therefore frequenting many restaurants, hotels and bars.”
What is interior design-online for the Italian public who still knows little about it?
“Today online interior design is particularly linked to online shopping for furniture and decor, in our country. It means that Italians are close to interior design if we talk about renewing the look of their furniture but still not accustomed to having the spaces entirely designed by an interior architect, even less online. In this explanation we find the meaning for which we were born! This as far as the private sector is concerned.
In B2B or hospitality, we find entrepreneurs who are already aware of the importance of interior design and here the challenge is on the one hand to continue to make people understand the importance of a high-level location for the experience to be offered to the customer and on the other to make them understand how this can be achieved with the help of a company that operates online and with a lot of experience in the sector. This means economic savings and speed of execution . We believe that this can bring the sector even closer to our work.
How does it work for the customer who is at home these days and wants to rethink his place?
"We do everything online, so we are used to interacting with people from all over the world. Each customer has an interior designer available to support them in the realization of their projects. We are talking about figures ranging from 15 to 50 euros per square meter for a complete renovation project. But there is more: our online furniture and decor shop offers the possibility of being supported for free by one of our interior designers in choosing the best furnishings.
Returning to the initial question, in these complex days we must all hope that future government interventions can somehow facilitate the future challenges of the sector, also by simplifying at a regulatory level the procedures necessary to make changes to your premises. The points that are certainly worth thinking about now are: the new layout of the premises, safety measures, the commercial offer and the new business plan as well as communication and marketing for the restart.”
Why investing in interior design today, in a time of crisis, will pay off in the near future?
“Investing in interior design always pays off in this sector. At this time when you necessarily have to review some things like redesigning the layout of a room or creating a mezzanine, it could be smart to take advantage of the opportunity to renovate the spaces with the help of a professional in order to have an immediate (and necessary) advantage but also one in the long term. At Restylit we always try to create environments that reflect our Italian DNA. Locations with a timeless design that can excite for at least another 20 years.”
What can be the ways for the future of bars for a service that makes customers feel safe, in the reorganization of spaces against crowding?
“We must necessarily wait for the regulatory provisions in this sense but it seems necessary to have to respect almost two meters of distance between the tables. Another fundamental theme will be to think about the service at the counter , distancing both the operators and the customers.
We have started to think about plexiglass dividers that are not aseptic, but rather become design elements that drop from the ceiling and with particular workmanship. For anyone who has a kitchen, home delivery will be a very important asset to exploit, as well as, even more so, those who have outdoor areas and spaces.”
How to rethink table service?
“It will be a mix of new regulations and common sense, trying to create paths and service methods that guarantee adequate social distancing with customers. The use of gloves and masks will probably be mandatory, as well as sanitizing devices on each table. And it will obviously be necessary to sanitize tables and chairs after each customer.
But it's also fun to think about playing with real large plexiglass elements to separate the tables, creating geometric patterns and plays of light, which become new paths inside the venue , ensuring social distancing and relative safety."
Will consumption at the counter be possible again despite the virus, by redesigning the spaces?
“We hope so: the counter is often the central element of our projects and the true soul of a bar. As we were saying, there will be some measures to take, such as plexiglass (but let's make it a design thing!) to separate customers from operators, but we hope we can continue to experience the counter of a bar, between social distancing and frequent sanitizations.”
What can interior design help us imagine for a contagion-proof outdoor area?
“For those who have it, outdoor space will be an important resource for facing the coming months. Because social distancing becomes simpler and more effective and because even a restaurant, for example, will be able to use this space to encourage unexplored consumption opportunities (brunch, aperitifs, tastings).
The trick here is to create spaces that reflect the care of the historic interiors , perhaps with a pinch of innovation. Mixed designer tables and chairs and a clever play of lights can be enough for a wow effect that encourages the location's instagrammability. We will find ourselves frequenting many places equipped with classy outdoor spaces where we can experience moments of relaxation and tell friends and relatives about it.
The costs with Restylit are quite affordable , interior design consultancy included. We are talking about average figures ranging from 1,500 to 6,000 euros to create a dream outdoor area for a bar. The cost obviously varies depending on the number of seats, the type of furniture and the base from which we start (if possible we enhance what is already available).”
What can you offer hospitality managers in this critical moment?
“At this moment the greatest, immediate and accessible support we can give obviously concerns the furniture and the new layout of the premises and tables. We are trying to offer this service and consultancy free of charge to as many operators in the sector as possible, all those who buy from us in our online shop. We have already worked on some furniture groups depending on the mood you want to give plug & play ready to be delivered and installed for a wow effect.”
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