MASH restaurants across the globe look to cultivate the American steakhouse tradition, creating a design and layout which is exclusive, masculine, warm and simple.

Chantelle Lighting was approached by interior designers Herbert & Duncalf to manufacture a range of bespoke light fittings to suit these needs and enhance the new restaurant openings in Hamburg and Copenhagen.

The challenge

The principle in all MASH restaurants is to create as much lighting as possible at table level, to help create intimacy in the red booths, which have become a real iconic and signature feature of the brand.

Herbert & Duncalf had a clear vision of the lighting they wanted, sending drawings to the Chantelle office. Our operations manager, Chris Astin, visited their office in London to discuss their requirements and they later visited Chantelle's factory during the manufacturing process to look at some unique light fittings which would complement both the bar and the restaurant.

The solution

Chantelle worked closely with Herbert & Duncalf to develop the original pendant lights, creating feature lights with amber glass globes, which gave a warm glow and fantastic effect when illuminated. The fittings were zinc plated and a filament bulb was fit inside each globe. At a diameter of 1200mm, the fittings were an adequate size: enough to illuminate and create an effect which matched the interiors. While the style of the coloured globe fittings was quite retro, the filament bulbs gave them an industrial twist, which mirrored the exclusive and masculine layout required in the MASH restaurant.

Complementing the globe fittings were brushed nickel table lamps, created for the booths by Chantelle; these had both green and red oval shades, creating the ambience which MASH required.

The cocktail bar was also given a design facelift at both the Hamburg and Tivoli restaurants. The colour of the existing lampshades was changed to gold silk, which, alongside the revised material palette, created a different feel between the bar and restaurant.

The result

The restaurant in Hamburg opened in early September 2015. to a very welcome reception of over 800 guests; a fabulous evening which set the tone for things to come.

Chantelle had created lighting which fully complemented the interior style of the restaurant; the chandeliers added a period feel, and the wall lamps created highlights and rhythm through the space.

Mike Duncalf was extremely happy with the final result, he said: "It was a pleasure to work with Chantelle Lighting on this exciting project."

"They were professional, creative and understood our needs for the Hamburg MASH restaurant. The light fittings look brilliant, and everyone involved is very impressed; they certainly add to the feel of the restaurant and brand overall."