Luxe Magazine Scoops the Newest Porta Via Redesign in the Palisades. Spoiler Alert: It’s Swoon-Worthy
Los Angeles based interior designer Sophie Goineau’s name has been buzzing more and more in high -end design circles, and her latest work at Porta Via Palisades only promises a brighter spotlight on her crisp eye and massive design talent. A recent feature in the pages of Luxe magazine hit the nail on the head, labelling her reimagining of this Palisades’ sister of the iconic Beverly Hills outpost as “utterly chic”. The space is so bright and welcoming, one glance at its custom Linea P International bar stools, and you’ll forget all about whichever comparatively basic bistro had once held the number one spot on your list of favorite places to lunch.
“The design-forward California eatery, a sister restaurant of Beverly Hills-based Porta Via, features a mix of influences ranging from French bistros to the coastal style of the Hamptons and Nantucket”. Interestingly, Goineau has merged the two in a venue that now speaks to a distinctly modern American style, one that she is inventing, one space at a time.
The first thing you’ll notice about this space is Goineau’s trademark indoor-outdoor streamlining, which allows for maximum natural light to enter. “The chevron white oak walls keep the atmosphere light and airy, and infuse an American coastal vibe. “On the East coast the restaurants all have wood walls,” says Goineau. “They use marina boat materials.” (A typically insightful French translation by the designer on a classic American motif). Goineau mentions that she was careful with her selection of materials, calling the metals and woods “noble materials” in her usual perspective that shows a thoughtful reverence to the details, as well as a space’s structural origins.
While the designer stuck to some of the classics, such as keeping the Parisian black and white of the floor tiles, “She created a twist on the quintessential style by placing Jewels Select porcelain tile by Mirage in stripes rather than the typical checkered design”. The effect is discreetly familiar, while charmingly inviting.
As a sly counterbalance to her modern twist on a classic French bistro, “classic style reigns supreme with the furnishings. “Respecting the core values of a bistro was important,” Goineau says. Dining chairs sourced from Design Within Reach are a 1920s style by Josef Hoffmann and Josef Frank for Thonet. The Pedrali black table bases with custom walnut-and-brass tops nod to a casual European elegance”.
But somehow, the standout finishing touch here is Goineau’s admitted nod to a more recent period. “She points to the custom bar stools, fabricated by Linea P International and upholstered in pink Elmo Nordic leather, that reference the country club style of the 1980s. “We all wore pink during the preppy period,” she laughs.
The teal-blue linen upholstery of the banquettes whisk your thoughts to the Mediterranean, grounding the overall design in its stylish take on a nautical theme – another nod to the school of prep - Nantucket and South Hamptons style.
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