Planning the Right Furniture Solution for a Busy Restaurant | FIAP Paris, France
The right furniture starts with understanding the space. When FIAP Paris set out to completely renew its restaurant furniture, choosing the right chairs and tables was only part of the decision. The team also needed to consider how the space would work, how many guests it needed to accommodate, how the furniture would be arranged and how materials, colours and finishes could reflect the style of the venue.
Located in Paris’s 14th arrondissement, FIAP is an international accommodation and meeting centre welcoming individuals, groups and conference delegates from around the world. Its facilities combine accommodation with extensive meeting and event spaces and a varied catering offer, making its restaurant an important part of the overall guest experience.
Burgess worked with the FIAP team throughout the selection process, providing samples to help visualise different combinations, followed by larger material samples as the final specification took shape. Layout planning also helped establish the quantity and arrangement of furniture required, making effective use of the available space while meeting the practical needs of a restaurant serving conference groups.
The completed scheme brought together 248 Evosa 08/6 side chairs, upholstered in Gabriel Step Melange fabric with Gun Metal frames, and 26 A-Fold round tables with Madison Walnut HPL tops. The mix of complementary upholstery tones and warm timber-effect table surfaces helped create a relaxed, contemporary environment while providing the comfort, durability and flexibility required for everyday use.
We spoke to Emilie Honegger, Operations Manager, about the thinking behind the refurbishment, how samples and layout planning helped shape the final specification and her experience working with Burgess.
Q&A with Emilie Honegger, Operations Manager
Why did you choose Burgess Furniture for your project?
We chose Burgess, a company I had discovered during a previous role at a major hotel group. It seemed natural to turn to this supplier, known for the quality and durability of its furniture, when renovating our restaurant, which caters to conference groups.
We were looking for new seating and tables that reflected the venue’s identity while ensuring comfort and quality. Burgess Furniture won us over with an offering that perfectly aligned with our design and functional requirements. Our contact person immediately understood our needs and proactively suggested solutions that best suited our budget and operational constraints.
How would you describe your experience working with Burgess?
Our experience was very positive. We felt well-supported, receiving relevant proposals and recommendations whenever we had doubts or questions.
What did you appreciate most about the product or service?
We appreciated being able to receive samples of all the materials (fabrics, chair legs, table tops, chair frames). This helped us better visualize the final look, even when we were changing materials. Receiving larger samples during the final selection stage also helped us refine and finalize our choice.
We also valued the layout planning service, which allowed us to determine exactly how many tables and chairs were needed for the size of our restaurant as part of the complete furniture renewal.
Would you recommend Burgess to others? If so, why?
Yes, without hesitation, for the quality of their products, their professionalism, and the quality of their support. We would not hesitate to use their services again.
From first ideas to the right final choice
Choosing new furniture involves more than finding a chair or table you like. From exploring materials and finishes to reviewing samples and planning how furniture will work within the available space, Burgess helps clients make informed decisions and arrive at the right specification for their venue.
Talk to our team about planning the right furniture solution for your hospitality, restaurant or event space. Contact us at +44 (0)33 0333 9258 or hello@burgessfurniture.com.