Cass Calder Smith Architecture + Interiors brought in texture and warmth to combine the styles of ancient China and the West at the Lily on Clement Restaurant.

LILY is a 49-seat Vietnamese restaurant on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond neighborhood in San Francisco. Lily combines a traditional Vietnamese menu with a modern chic yet classic design.

Drawing on inspiration from the Shikumen style of Shanghai and the 1920’s era of East meets West, the restaurant exudes texture and stories. Decorative metal screens cover the entire dining room ceiling featuring four different customized panel designs. Underfoot, terracotta bricks draw you into the shotgun dining room. The tabletops are made of natural soapstone and have a subtle gleam and depth. Walnut barstools and chairs are reminiscent of traditional Asian motifs. A large mural above the banquette depicts the Qingming Festival – an important day when one shows respect to one’s ancestors, bringing to the forefront the restaurant’s concept to homage to the owners and their heritage.

Below the mural, a tufted banquette in cordovan-colored leather runs the length of the room, ending at a large round family table. A long, chiseled stone bar and rippling counter run the opposite length of the dining room, flanking the open kitchen. Behind the bar counter, a large wall display of apothecary drawers and antique mirrors highlight the liquor bottles and provide a space for creative mixology. The intricate light fixtures running the length of the bar are reminiscent of woven lanterns and give a unique light quality, transporting guests to an opium den of old.

Design: Cass Calder Smith Architecture + Interiors Photography: Michael David Rose

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