From Bethesda Magazine: Takeaways from these MoCo restaurants’ interior design
Draw inspiration from furniture, tiling and lighting in beautiful local eateries
By Carolyn Weber
May 7, 2026 3:00 p.m. | Updated: May 5, 2026 5:44 p.m.
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If you’ve ever eaten in a restaurant with beautiful interiors and wished your home looked and felt as good, you’re not alone.
Great food and a comfortable atmosphere that engages all the senses keep us coming back. The best spaces are carefully crafted to reflect what’s on the menu, and every detail—from wall color, to seating, to silverware—contributes to a purposeful ambience. We’re serving up four stylish local establishments and some key ingredients to replicate their looks with furniture, lighting, finishes and more.
Elegant Evening
Julii is a sophisticated French Mediterranean bistro at North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose designed by HapstakDemetriou+. Open and airy, it has herringbone-pattern wood floors, dramatic rope and pendant lighting, and rich green and gold accents.
Posh Perch
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The chic green velvet and brass seating at Julii is a standout. Get the look at home with the Elowen armless counter stool in the Morgan Contessa Moss color. Each is equipped with a clever brass handle on the back. $698 at Anthropologie, 4801 Bethesda Ave. (Bethesda Row), Bethesda, 240-345-9413, anthropologie.com
Tile Style
Take a cue from the Julii bar decor by running colorful tile all the way up the wall. The Hanami 2-by-10-inch glossy glazed ceramic wall tile, in the Forest color, is made in Spain. $23.34 per square foot at Architessa, 1170 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-744-8668, architessa.com
Golden Globe
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The Somerset pendant from Hinkley Lighting features a streamlined metal yoke and ring and an etched opal glass globe. It’s available in three lengths and multiple finishes, including Heritage Brass (shown). $119 to $499 at Ferguson Home, 800 E. Gude Drive, Rockville, 301-424-1393, fergusonhome.com
At Your Service
Sleek modern flatware gives tabletops an instant upgrade, especially in a bold gold color. The Zephyr 45-piece flatware set from Hampton Forge is stainless steel and dishwasher-safe. $259.99 at Bloomingdale’s, 5300 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, 240-744-3700, bloomingdales.com
Touch of Brass
Unique pieces such as this French Industrial shelving, made of brass tubing and tempered glass, add form and function to a polished kitchen or bar. The wall-mount shelves come in two sizes—30 or 40 inches wide. $3,795 to $4,295 at Williams Sonoma, 4824 Bethesda Ave. (Bethesda Row), Bethesda, 301-718-3071, williams-sonoma.com
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Coastal Fiesta
It’s always a party at Bartaco at Pike & Rose. It serves upscale street tacos in a lively atmosphere designed by RDstudio. Get the look with whitewashed walls, warm woods, rattan lighting, rustic tiles and oversize coastal prints.
Good Wood
The Atticus counter stool has an organic-shaped seat of sustainably harvested kiln-dried mango wood in a honey finish. It’s 24 inches high, and the base has an extra stretcher for durability and support. $199 at Pottery Barn, 4750 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-654-1598, potterybarn.com
Tile One On
Made in Spain, Merola’s Artisan Oldker 13-by-13-inch floor and wall tiles feature a blue-and-white matte finish with an aged patina for that imperfect, laid-back appearance. $11.82 per square foot at Home Depot, 15740 Shady Grove Road, Gaithersburg, 301-330-4900, homedepot.com
Open Weave
Basket pendants exude seaside charm. The Whit extra-large dome shade is made of natural wicker and hangs from a brass-tone chain. The shade measures 21¼ inches high by 30¾ inches wide, and diffuses soft light into the kitchen, dining room or foyer. $1,999 at Visual Comfort & Co., 7316 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 240-635-3264, visualcomfort.com
Pillow Talk
A bench in an informal dining space is a casual look, and throw pillows add comfort and an opportunity for color and patterns. The Yarra Stripe Fringe linen/cotton pillow cover in deep indigo is 24-by-16 inches. $69.95 at Crate & Barrel, 4820 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-364-6100, crateandbarrel.com
Photo Finish
Feel like you’re never far from the beach with this color image, titled “Just the Two of Us,” by photographer Summer Strauch. It’s 32½ inches wide by about 40½ inches high and comes complete with a simple white mat and frame.$898 at Serena & Lily, 7121 Bethesda Lane (Bethesda Row), Bethesda, 240-531-1839, serenandlily.com
Sung Tavern
The Hunter’s Hound in Chevy Chase is a cozy Irish pub. The atmosphere created by Benjamin Kay at Adorn Designs is inviting, with warm lighting, a textured ceiling, comfortable leather banquettes and a soothing color palette.
Moody Blue
Saturating a room with a deep paint color such as Stiffkey Blue (No. 281) on the walls and trim sets the tone for a dramatic space for entertaining. One gallon of flat eggshell paint is $165 at Farrow & Ball, 7118 Bethesda Lane (Bethesda Row), Bethesda, 202-479-6780, farrow-ball.com/us
Soft Glow
Multiple indirect lighting sources create a pleasing ambience, setting the tone for a relaxing meal. The Andreas wall sconce is refined and tasteful, with a brass finish, fluted glass shade, and a backplate that’s 13¼ inches high and 4½ inches wide. $500 at Arhaus, 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), Bethesda, 301-230-2973, arhaus.com
Luxe Lounge
A cushy leather banquette elevates any dining space. The Taite leather dining bench in Maynard Saddle (L8668) with a Northwood finish (945) is a generous 61 inches wide, 28 inches deep and 40 inches high. $3,350 at Ethan Allen, 1800 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-984-4360, ethanallen.com
Precious Metal
A tin ceiling finish, like the one at The Hunter’s Hound, adds vintage charm and interest overhead. These 2-foot-square stainless steel, surface-mount sheets from American Tin Ceilings are sold as a five-pack that covers 20 square feet. $85 at Lowe’s Home Improvement, 40 Market St., Gaithersburg, 301-208-0400, lowes.com
Cozy Cafe
Maman, located on Bethesda Row, is a French bakery and coffee shop with a welcoming rustic aesthetic designed by owner Elisa Marshall. People gather at long farm tables and sip cafe au lait from sweet blue-and-white floral porcelain cups.
True Blue
This flowery Burleigh Blue Calico Sandringham mug has a unique curvy shape. It’s made in England, holds 9.6 ounces, and is dishwasher- and microwave-safe. $50 at Sur La Table, 11874 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-230-1503, surlatable.com
Bon Buffet
A large, sturdy furniture piece is versatile for storage and serving. This reclaimed elm sideboard has four doors and two drawers and measures 59 inches wide, 15¾ inches deep and 33½ inches high. $2,863 at The Kellogg Collection, 10207 Old Georgetown Road (Shops at Wildwood), Bethesda, 301-347-6045, kelloggcollection.com
Gather Together
Inspired by early 19th-century farm tables, this new version has square posts joined by low stretchers. The top divides, exposing a storage compartment for two 20-inch leaves. Crafted from oak solids and veneers, it is 84 inches long by 40 inches wide. $5,985 at HomeWorks, 4920 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-652-4111, shophomeworks.com
Charming Chairs
Classic bistro chairs, reminiscent of a Parisian patisserie, bring a vintage vibe to a kitchen or dining room. They’re available in two distressed finishes: light walnut (shown) or blackwash. $399.98 for two at World Market, 12266 Rockville Pike (Federal Plaza), Rockville, 301-816-2480, worldmarket.com
This appears in the May/June 2026 issue of Bethesda Magazine.
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine