Robinson Brown Design in La Jolla was asked to renovate Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach. But how do you update a restaurant that’s been beloved by locals for 26 years without destroying its character?
The original location in an eight-restaurant chain in Southern California, the central coast and Phoenix, Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach needed a little facelift. At first there wasn’t a lot to be done. But once structural damage was discovered — it’s only natural in a marine climate — suddenly the project grew bigger than first intended.
“The initial plan was just to do new finishes and furniture, add some awnings and paint. But when they started to do some demo, they found that the walls had a lot of moisture and so it turned into more,” said Cynthia Brown of Robinson Brown Design. “I think they initially wanted to do less because they were worried about losing the charm.”
So Brown and company proceeded very carefully and respectfully on the multimillion- dollar renovation, which had been delayed because of the pandemic. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant reopened April 21 after a three-month closure, and Brown wants to assure locals that it’s still cozy and inviting.
A nautical touch was retained and the fish trophies and vintage photos that were always such a big part of the atmosphere were rehung on the walls. “All I really did is help the owner coordinate the frames,” Brown said.
Brown calls the decor “contemporary coastal casual.” The color palette is made up of neutrals and new paint, lighting and rearranged seating are part of a makeover at Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach that aimed to preserve the restaurant’s atmosphere.
accent tones of blue, green and gray. Look for some lively pops of blue and sea green in a kelp graphic wall covering.
New features include a soffit over the cook line as well as metal cladding in a light copper color for the hood. The refurbished fireplace will also have fresh metalwork in a pewter tone. LED lighting has been added throughout; some lights are set into Thai fisherman basket chandeliers.
The bar now has a Caesar stone top and a front fashioned from reclaimed walnut herringbone wood. The bathrooms have new sinks. Ceiling panels will fine tune the acoustics so diners can converse easily.
Seating has been reorganized, so instead of a collection of tables, there are comfy booths and banquettes as well as more space for private dining. Don’t forget to look down because even the flooring got a reboot. “We put it on a diagonal so it’s more dynamic and comes to life and kind of unifies the space nicely. And then we highlighted the diagonal by bringing in a darker accent,” Brown said.
Despite the changes, the restaurant still has that Bluewater Grill vibe, which was so important for Brown and her team to retain. On a visit last week she was pleased to hear that locals liked the gentle redo.
“I was standing in the entry and people were walking in and they didn’t know who I was or that I worked on it. And the reaction was ‘I’m so glad it’s still cozy.’ That’s the biggest compliment you can get because you can make a place hip and trendy but it doesn’t mean it will succeed or people will like it.”
Brown said she is eager to invite regulars and new customers in to see the restaurant’s new look. “It’s Bluewater Grill, but it’s updated: clean, light, fresh and still cozy.”