British designer Luke Edward Hall has transformed the Deux Gares Express restaurant in Paris into a warm and inviting space that seamlessly blends British and French interior design elements. The designer used a carefully curated mix of antique and custom-made furniture, trompe-l'oeil marble effects, and hessian wallpaper to create an atmosphere where visitors can "feel very at home" while enjoying classic French cuisine.

Located adjacent to the Les Deux Gares hotel, which was also designed by Hall, the restaurant was intentionally given a distinctly different aesthetic from the hotel's existing in-house restaurant. While the other dining establishment draws inspiration from traditional French bistros and art deco styling, Deux Gares Express embraces a more relaxed 1960s and 1970s vibe. "The sofas and armchairs hint at this, as does the hessian wallpaper," Hall explained. "Still, I always love an eclectic mix! I wanted to make a really warm and inviting space, somewhere for hotel guests and passing visitors alike to relax and while away time over a jambon beurre or ice cream sundae."

The restaurant is operated by the same restaurateurs who run the Les Deux Gares hotel restaurant, Jonathan Schweizer and Frédéric Lesire, and focuses on serving classic French dishes. However, the interior design represents a thoughtful fusion of British and French design sensibilities, with each cultural influence represented through specific furniture pieces and design elements.

The British influence is most prominently displayed through a custom-made dresser that serves as a focal point of the space, filled with what Hall describes as "charming clutter." "I think British design is all about the mix – a mix of colors, patterns, and an eclectic approach to collecting," Hall said. "Think also of the dresser we had made for the cafe – this feels very English, and it is in fact based on an antique piece of English furniture. We've filled it with books and board games, plates and pots. Clutter. Clutter feels very British! But to me, clutter makes a house a home. And as I say, I want visitors to feel very at home at Deux Gares Express."

The French design influence is equally prominent, centered around a stunning antique table that Hall personally sourced from a French monastery. This piece serves as the restaurant's centerpiece, around which guests gather for meals and conversation. "Over the years, I have always made it a priority to include French antiques and pieces at the hotel," Hall explained. The French aesthetic is further reinforced through carefully selected wallpaper, particularly in the restaurant's restroom, which features a favorite French design originally dating from 1803.

Hall's creative use of materials and artistic techniques adds another layer of sophistication to the space. The designer collaborated with artist Pauline Leyravaud to create a striking trompe-l'oeil ceiling painted to resemble yellow marble. "I love trompe-l'oeil," Hall said. "Why use real marble when you can paint it and make a much better and bolder impression? It's about doing things that are unexpected, unusual and, of course, fun." This faux marble ceiling creates a dramatic contrast with the vivid geometric pattern of the floor, which incorporates the restaurant's signature color palette.

The color scheme throughout Deux Gares Express reflects Hall's bold approach to interior design, featuring a sunny palette dominated by brown, green, and yellow hues. The bar area is painted in a striking sunflower yellow that immediately captures visitors' attention. "Green and yellow for me are very good friends, and I threw lots of brown into the mix to ground these colors," Hall explained. "I really love brown – it's a wonderful neutral, a million times warmer and easier on the eye than the much more popular gray."

The restaurant's flooring features a vivid geometric pattern that reinforces the 1960s and 1970s aesthetic while incorporating the space's signature green, brown, and yellow color palette. This patterned floor serves as another nod to the era that inspired the overall design concept, creating visual interest while maintaining the warm and welcoming atmosphere Hall sought to achieve.

Beyond the visual elements, Hall's design philosophy for Deux Gares Express centers on creating a sense of community and comfort. The hessian wallpaper adds a tactile, inviting quality to the space, while the carefully arranged furniture encourages social interaction. "For me, restaurants are all about conviviality," Hall concluded. "Friendliness and liveliness. I love the idea of friends and family gathering around this table, like they would at home!"

The Deux Gares Express project represents Hall's broader design philosophy of combining magical elements with location-specific touches. "My interior design projects always need to combine a feeling of magic with a sense that they are rooted in their locations," he noted. This approach has resulted in a space that feels both distinctly Parisian and unmistakably influenced by British design sensibilities.

The restaurant joins a growing number of innovative hospitality openings in Paris, including a Seoul-inspired cafe by Uchronia and a bar that draws inspiration from 1930s tobacconists. The project showcases how contemporary designers are finding new ways to honor traditional design elements while creating spaces that feel fresh and relevant to modern diners seeking authentic experiences in historic European cities.