We’ve posted before about West Marin restaurant Sir and Star, located in the old Olema Inn. The roadhouse-style restaurant inspired us to sleuth out the key ingredients of its stripped down, Shaker-like look (taxidermy included). For more sources (like the exterior paint color and wall sconces), see our post: A Restaurant That Channels “The Birds,” West Marin Style.
Above: Black ceilings and ornithological taxidermy in the front dining room. Above: A waiter’s dark gray vest strikes just the right note of formality. Above: And Kraft paper channels an appealing informality. Above: Traditional flatware and understated dinnerware, in black.
Steal This Look
Above: The ideal chair for this Shaker-influenced setting would be George Nakashima’s Straight-Backed Chair, a reintroduction of the 1946 design made for Knoll. The chair is made from solid walnut with hickory spindles for $874 from Design Within Reach. For a more rustic and affordable option, try Pottery Barn’s Benchwright Dining Chair, for $299. Above: The 15-inch wide Kraft Paper Roll is $23.89 from Staples. See how other restaurants like San Francisco’s Bar Agricole have used Kraft paper for a similar purpose in Tabletop: Kraft Paper as Table Runner. Above: Rough Linen’s 24-Inch Square Napkins are made from Orkney and smooth linen and available in five colors, including white (shown); $24 each, directly from Rough Linen. Above: From Heath Ceramic’s original Couple line designed in the 1940s, the rimless Coupe Dinner Plate in Onyx is $34 each. For a similar shape to the plates at Sir and Star (but in a different glaze), Heath’s Rim Dinner Plate is available for $40 each. Above: Crate & Barrel’s simple Halsted Flatware is stainless steel with a mirrored finish for $39.95 for the 5-piece place setting. Above: Sir and Star’s drinking glasses, made from recycled bottles destined for landfills, are from Bottlehood. Unfortunately, the company is no longer in business. Instead, try the Recycled Glassware line from Hawkins NY, starting at $6 each. Wine Punts, made from used wine bottles, are also a great option; $28 for a set of 4 at Purible. Above: Williams Sonoma’s Hammered Water Pitcher has an antique appeal; $31.96. Above: When Julie made a pilgrimage out to Sir and Star, she found herself fixated on the waitstaff uniforms: the Filson Mackinaw Wool Vest is available in charcoal for $150. Made in the US.
Above: Sir and Star owner Margaret Grade wears Rough Linen’s Pinafore Apron; available in five shades for $85 each. Above: Source an array of taxidermy birds from studios such as Paxton Gate in San Francisco and Artistic Compositions in Bridgeport, Alabama.
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