For Beth Donner, Arlo Kitchen + Bar was a project several decades in the making—both in collaboration and concept. The Long Island-based designer has worked with Standard Hospitality Group for a handful of projects, so when the company was looking to open an elevated-yet-accessible restaurant in Northport, New York, enlisting Donner to handle the aesthetics was the obvious choice. When it came to creating a place that catered to all the senses, she drew inspiration from Empire State institutions like the Rainbow Room and Delmonico’s to create an old-fashioned supper club with a forward-thinking twist.
“The goal was to marry vintage with a modern aesthetic,” Donner says. “We were really trying to bring in the feeling of that the 1950s and 60s supper club vibe where you’d expect to walk into Frank Sinatra or Sophia Loren.”
The challenge, however, was to create a cohesive atmosphere that spans across Arlo’s spacious, multi-level footprint—all without appearing one-note. To start, Donner deftly bridged the gap between old and new—and added plenty of visual appeal—with a curated color palette. “There’s a lot of this cohesiveness that pulls you in all over the place,” Donner adds. “What we needed to create is intimate spaces so people would really enjoy going from [area] to [area] and checking them out.”
Step inside the Arlo and you’ll immediately spot the reception area, which boasts a cool-toned wallcovering and wooden accents, both of which offer a sneak peek into the space’s storied color scheme. While Arlo boasts a predominately neutral palette, the Hunter green baby grand piano and riveted Phillip Jeffries wallcovering in the upstairs bar add a “warm and cozy” atmosphere.
“A lot of pieces like the flooring and the wall coverings have a vintage vibe, but they’re totally brand-new,” Donner adds. “We went into the past and found old patterns; it feels modern and retro at the same time.”
Of course, color isn’t the only thematic thread woven into Arlo’s expansive landscape. Donner explains that the shapes seen in the downstairs bar’s bulbous shelving are cleverly mimicked in the racetrack ovals upstairs, which are complete with inset wallcoverings and round, crystal-cut sconces. Finished with biophilic touches that feel particularly on-point in 2023—a live tree here, greenhouse-inspired skylights there—Arlo is an ode to the past that feels distinctly timeless.
In fact, it’s that multisensory experience that has made Arlo a local treasure. “Every week, I’ll have someone bring it up when I’m out and about,” Donner laughs. “It feels like I’m a celebrity in Long Island, which is very interesting. I’ll have people call and ask, ‘Can I get a reservation?’”
Beth Donner, Beth Donner Design; Andrew Affa, Standard Hospitality Group; Kerriann Ferrari, Beth Donner Design; Steve Squitero, Standard Hospitality Group.
Photography by Brian Berkowitz.
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