Project description provided by Bidgood + Co Interiors. Photos by Janis Nicolay.
Victoria is home to the highest number of restaurants per capita in Canada, second in North America only to San Francisco. But a key concept was missing for foodies and casual coffee drinkers; a day to night institution that could be counted on for quality espresso, friendly fare, or a creative cocktail at any hour. Enter Sherwood.
Located in a contemporary building in Victoria’s downtown core, Sherwood’s floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the intersection beyond, formed a key element of the concept: the challenge of bringing a welcoming, cozy feel to a modernist space.
The owner of Sherwood, Shane Devereux, drew inspiration from European all-day eateries. He wanted to create a community space in the city where people could gather at any time of day. Inspired by his own travels to cities where these types of establishments are institutions, Devereux’s challenge was to offer a space that had a timeless appeal in a brand new build.
The design question for us was how do we make it feel like it has a history. This was achieved with materials like panelling, brass, reeded glass, and adding custom metal components. All the paneling is custom, created by our construction division, Strong Construction Group. The bar top is porcelain from Stone Age Marble while the millwork, tables, and bar edge are all white oak.
The classic Thonet chairs and barstools speak to the inviting, classic feel and were sourced from Gabriel Ross. Plants add life to the space and were installed by Biophilia while the nostalgic graphic elements were created by Aleya Samji.
Patterns were pulled from vintage tennis racquets and sports clothing; all of these elements together give the space a sense of tradition while still feeling contemporary.
It’s the unique offering of modern world meets tradition that makes Sherwood a welcomed addition to a growing city known for its charm. The unpretentious, social atmosphere fosters familiarity and encourages customers to feel right at home at any time of day or night.
Sherwood is a youthful reinterpretation of a classic concept. An interplay between modern daily life and traditional neighbourhood institutions.
