“The founders of Bird and Company wanted a fun, sexy, comfortable space for their new Chinese American dumpling and dim sum restaurant, Lucky Cheetah. We aimed to create a space where diners could sit comfortably and get lost in time and space—envision a 1950s supper club vibe blended with the opulence of Monte Carlo.

“Given that the space is underground, we wanted it to feel textural and sumptuous. Pistol Pete Upholstery helped us cover the cozy built-in banquettes with a knockout velvet, floral-print Schumacher fabric. The pattern is somewhat feminine, so we paired it with a masculine House of Hackney cheetah print wallpaper for a playful twist.

“Since we picked a 1950s Monte Carlo vibe, we needed artwork that lends itself to that period. Slim Aarons is one of my favorite photographers—every one of his images evokes a feeling of playfulness, but they’re sexy and a bit modern at the same time. The photographs we chose blend naturally into the space and fuse it all together.

“We knew modern lighting was not a good fit for the restaurant, but I wanted something other than traditional lighting so it wouldn’t feel outdated. The Curry and Company three-tiered chandeliers we selected are a modern interpretation of a traditional shape, and the green glass and brass finish contrast beautifully with the old wooden beams on the ceiling.

“The bar was a big topic throughout the project because the Old Port Tavern was such a long-standing, well-known establishment. We kept the original bar’s shape but completely reimagined the space. The bar is this unique quartzite stone with pinks, browns, and greens—the light bounces off it in a million different ways and picks up all the colors in the space. A local craftsperson, Brian Sewell of Sewell Associates, designed the custom bar back to house the liquor and glassware. Between the beautiful inlay work, LED lighting, and antique glass, no detail was spared in making it spectacular.

“One of my favorite elements is the big cat carpet, which feels luxurious underfoot and has the charm of a vintage casino. In my mind, it’s one of the things that pulls the whole place together. At first, you think, ‘Wow, that’s really tacky,’ but it absolutely completes the space.

“The restaurant is a celebration of Chinese American fare, and we wanted to pay homage tastefully. After several concepts, we landed on using red as our primary color throughout the space, and it pops. Everything else was ultimately open to interpretation, and I believe we created a space unlike any other.”

—Susie Smith Coughlin, founder of Susie Smith Coughlin Design and Shop Le Marchande