Four local restaurants blend excellent cuisine and design

Eating out is not just about food. Music and service - especially - the atmosphere can or break a meal.

These new smart restaurants prove that the little things mean a lot in creating an atmosphere that enhances the menu and makes the dining experience unforgettable.

Friends know that if Mark Carragiolo is not designing restaurants, he will be a designer for a movie set. Hollywood's loss is Sarasota's gain and this is evident in its new establishment, Shore, a modern American dinner that floats above a retail clothing store in St. Armands Circle. Shore is a tribute to the Sarasota School of Architecture and the glory days of American design in the mid-century.

The most noticeable feature is the seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. At night, the ceiling recedes into the main dining area and the floor-to-ceiling glass walls open to the natural breezes and the feeling that guests are quietly floating over the hustle and bustle of the circle below. Chairs for recycled rice tables are Hans Wegner designs. B Harryia wire chairs are located in low banquets. Notice the George Nelson bowl and the bubble pendants, the stone piled on some walls, the concrete blocks on the others, and the linear polished wood panels polished on the rest.

The floor is a Caragiulo version of terrazzo - concrete with small stone and color-coated glass flakes. Above the heads of restaurants is the Caragiulo slope on the atomic metal pole floor lamps of the 1950s. "I designed it with Calder phones in mind and built them in Italy," Caragiulo said. "They float around and match candlesticks in another really old room. The two lamps on the bar are also vintage and their price is ridiculous. But they are so right for the place so it was worth it." Obsessed with getting the correct appearance of the restaurant owner, but he skilfully avoided Kitch. "I never wanted this space to be valuable. The goal is to rest with the true feeling of the place.

"It evokes Sarasota's architectural heritage and has much in common with some of the remaining homes on Lido Shores from that era." Shore's name comes from the retail store downstairs and the owner of that organization, Tom Leonard, is Caragiulo's partner. The menu is Florida friendly where the majority of ingredients are obtained locally. We expect fried oyster sliders, fish sandwiches, shrimp and lobster tacos, fried blue crab, local yellow-tail snapper, burgers, organic chicken, tuna kona, oysters and pasta.

"When people leave here, I want them to clearly remember the food and preparation as a unified experience they want again," said Carragiolo.

Walk in Half Shell Oyster House on Main Street in downtown Sarasota and it will appear in a frame of mind in New Orleans, from Oysters Bienville in the list (Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville founded New Orleans in 1718) to the shellfish - a shell wall in the bar. Gas lanterns are installed on brick walls, and black wrought iron is used to define the different seating areas, decorated with gilded mirrors and twenty or so Belle Epoque chandeliers that interior designer Kurt Lucas bought from antique stores and rescue yards throughout the south.

An experienced hospitality designer with 39 restaurants to date and three on the job, Kurt Lucas undoubtedly obtains the concept of mood and menu marriage to create a complete dining experience. ... smart interior designers know that the elements that are fashionable and practical are highly sought after. One of the best examples of elegant and diligent home fixtures is also one of the most overlooked: a ceiling fan. In 2014, more homeowners are realizing the potential of this classic technology not only on their comfort levels, but also on the aesthetic of interior design.

Not surprisingly, nearly 82 percent of American single-family homes have at least one ceiling fan to help keep cool in summer. Ceiling Fans, created by the Memphis based Hunter Fan Company in 1886, are a versatile and aesthetically pleasing addition to any space. But many homeowners don't realize how ceiling fan installation can save money while improving comfort and home design.

In addition to the customizable features and finishes available on ceiling fans today, homeowners who install ceiling fans enjoy:

* Energy saving by 45 percent. A typical home uses a form of cooling system with a density for about 125 days of the year. In eight hours a day for 125 days, central air in these homes costs about $ 207 per year. Using a ceiling fan under the same cooling conditions only costs $ 111. On average, you'll feel eight degrees cooler using a ceiling fan instead of just the air conditioner. Many fans now come with several LED light options as well. To get a better idea of ​​your energy savings, visit www.hunterfan.com/ energysavings.

* Variety of designs. With a little research, it is possible to find a design that fits every room and decoration