Design, furniture, expert

Although the kitchen might justifiably be regarded as the most important place in a restaurant, it would be a grave mistake to economise on the design of the guest area. Furniture is the most important element of the visual appearance of restaurants. Unfortunately this fact is often neglected. We have enlisted the help of two experts, the director of Formative Zrt. and the director of Kleno Trade Kft. to provide advice for restaurant owners. “ The guest area is not a piece of art, but a tool for making a profit” – says dr. László Gerlán, shareholder and director of Formative Zrt. – We provide a comprehensive service for our clients, which includes design and construction. In the opinion of Péter Klenovics, owner and managing director of Kleno Trade Kft, an expert should be contracted for designing the interior if possible, because this is usually the most cost effective solution. His company sells tables and chairs for both indoor and outdoor use and also manufactures complete furniture for catering businesses. By the 21st century, many designers have discarded the minimal style and turned to new ideas, like retro, or experimental design. However, these changes are not detectable in Hungary yet. Products of trend setting, leading companies appear in a few top places, but most restaurants use budget versions of such products. Interior design is a complex task. There isn’t really room for spontaneity, as a lot of experience, study and technical knowledge is required. Péter Klenovics visits international exhibitions regularly to keep himself informed of current trend. He mentions Horváth Cukrászda as an example of modern design trends. Hungarian restaurant owners are highly price-sensitive. Those who have already been in business successfully for some time are less reluctant to pay for quality, than those who are in the process of starting up. Expensive furniture is not enough. Sometimes, creativity can be a lot more useful than a very expensive piece of furniture. In the opinion of our experts, furniture sold by large retail chains for home use is not suitable for catering, where far more durable furniture is needed. This is why they work with specialised suppliers. Even when budgets are limited, expert should be employed. Owing to their experience, specialised suppliers can often give us practical ideas, or save us from irrational expenditure. In the opinion of Péter Klenovics, his clients often have a general idea of what they want, but his remarks are generally welcome. He often recommends acknowledged interior designers to clients. László Gerlán has a different attitude to consulting. He believes that expert and client should determine who the target group is together and work out the details accordingly, because a catering business is not a piece of art, but a tool for generating profit.