occinteriordesign

Chaya Tea House

by: Kathy Guardado

 Growing up in Orange County and its fast development I have grown up with new upcoming design all around me. In order to keep up with the growing population and the never ending changing of trends many restaurant and local commercial building have been forced to remodel their businesses to accommodate for the heavy flow of traffic and the changing of building codes. A place that I am grateful for and that I feel I have grown with is this tiny, little tea house located in our city of Costa Mesa named Chaya.

Chaya is part tea house, part restaurant, part bar with ample seating for studying, and televisions if you are not. Prices are cheap and the menu is pretty extensive to suit your every eating desire. Throughout the time I started visiting this local Tea house I have seen it been remodeled three times. It has changed its interiors and exteriors in many ways, not only in their selection of furniture but in their selection of materials. 

When I first visited this location back in 2007, I could not help but notice the warm color of their wood floors. Chaya had just been open for no more than a few months so the condition of their floors was of high quality. As they grew as a business and in popularity their flow of traffic increased. Within 2 years that warm colored wood flow was no longer very welcoming. As shown in photo one Chaya now has a dark colored concrete floor. Concrete made to look like tile and in a darker color for over all sustainability and function. Although the look of the floor has a very rustic wear feel when seen up close it does seem to be in great condition and hold up for the amount of foot traffic that this floors sees. 

                      

They have also changed their walls to concrete giving the whole space a more rustic feel. Chaya not only changed the materials used on their building but they also changed their lighting. Now Chaya has rail lights that wall wash their white concrete walls giving them character and making them appealing to the customers’ eye.

            Another feature that the restaurant offers is a bamboo divider which divides the large space in two. One for the customer who would like to come in for a more traditional dinner in a more private restaurant feel vs the customer who comes in with their lap top to study or get some work done in a more casual and public setting. Bamboo is very durable so there is no sign of wear. The look also adds to the overall rustic shabui feel. Photo three shows you the other side of the restaurant.

                 The shades selected on this side of the room offers for optical natural light still allowing some coverage. These shades are also sustainable and complement the floor, walls and bamboo.  Reclaimed wood makes up the bar and tables throughout the restaurant. The durability of the materials chosen in their remodel is strong and the life cycle is high making this a very functional space. Chaya really reinvented themselves in a way that I feel will in the long run be more rewarding for them. Not only are they helping the environment by choosing sustainable materials that are environmental friendly but they also chose materials that are more durable than previous choices. Chaya also offers the community a place to come and study and work in a healthy environment by offering lap top stations and free internet to students.

                Their interiors are also lively and fun and pleasing to all ages making this an ageless design for all. I believe Chaya will not have to remodel their restaurant for many years. I am also glad I got to witness the transformation of such a wonderful space in my community.  I would recommend that if you are in the area to stop by and check out their unique interiors and positioning of personal space. It is very important that we recognize the changing trends in our community in order in incorporate it our own design. I also recommend you try the Teriyaki Chicken.