Próximo restaurant, NC
Proximo is a Spanish tapas restaurant in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The restaurant serves small plates and pintxos with a wide array of Spanish and Portuguese wines. Smink Studio tiles in a bespoke design adorn the walls of the open kitchen. Screen-printed in ginger, yellow and pink, these Toucan tiles evoke a mediterranean warmth that matches the food and ambience of the restaurant.
Many of the tiles (30x10cm / 12×4″ approx.) are double-printed, meaning that the two screen-prints are applied by hand to the same tile. By overlaying one colour on top of another, new shades and hues emerge while the overall design maintains a sense of unity and integrity.
The huge two-metre / six-foot wide cooker hood was a particular focus. Our client had initially planned to use natural stone but couldn’t find anything that met health department standards. We were able to design layout where the tiles on the hood blend into those on the wall behind and the transition is softened with bullnose edges: a bespoke solution that is unique, elegant and health-regulations compliant!
