Behind the design: an Aquarium Dinner with a sea glass palette

We love designing for a new space and this time it was the incredible Koral at Kempinski Bali, a restaurant set in an aquarium!

We were asked to design and decor for a dinner for 20 people. the client chose the Sea Glass theme which explored all shades of sea glass, from dark green to aqua blue. The space is bathed in a blue glow from the water, so we decided to lean into it. Existing design include pattern tiles floor and exposed brick walls: “The walls are made of red clay bricks, which were also used in the Majapahit empire. These bricks, along with the teak wood ceilings, perfectly frame the aquarium. The tegel tiles found on the floor are reminiscent of those used at the historic royal court.”

The florals included all hydrangea ‘coral reef’ centerpieces and mixed color linens with upcycled and sand-blown glass napkin rings. We used in-house Kempinski tableware.

The florals were created by Cosa Projects, using a mix of crystal and local Jenggala ceramic vases and vessels. The linens and chargers were supplied by The Host Table.

The set up was unique as we worked alongside the aquarium divers as they cleaned the enclosure and came eye to eye with the inhabitants of the tank, like the rays with leopard spots and the baby sharks. It was also the fastest set-up we’ve ever had, with only 1.5 hours available before guests arrived.

All photos by Arley Mardo.