The Art of Atmosphere: Inside a Stunning Restaurant Design

Restauranteur Jessica Kim doesn’t hide the humble origins of Harumi Sushi recently featured in Cambria Style magazine. “Our first restaurant was like a small bento box in the middle of nowhere, but now we’re a staple,” she says, rattling off the Phoenix- and Scottsdale-based restaurant brands she’s taken over from her parents. “That kind of growth takes a lot of hard work: just putting your head down and making sure you do common things uncommonly well.”

As Kim continues to grow the business, she’s committed to the same two foundational values that her parents swore by: quality and affordability. They’re core to Harumi Sushi’s recent expansion into downtown Phoenix, a project headed up by designer Dala Al-Fuwaires of House of Form. 

Kim and Al-Fuwaires sought to create a space that was elevated but without hiking prices or alienating their loyal, but eclectic, clientele. Kim acknowledges that though her family has created a well-known brand, Americans’ taste in Japanese food has matured, and their standards are higher.

“You can’t overcharge just because you have a pretty plate full of bad-quality fish,” she says. “It’s about so much more than the food: the ambience, vibe, level of music, the right type of music, lighting, temperature, the placement of the kitchen and serving station. We wanted to think through every single detail.” 

Like with great sushi, Harumi’s interior design is edited down to the basics of quality and presentation. The Japanese design principle wabi-sabi is core, with imperfections and asymmetry on full display. Though it looks haphazard, like the all-new restaurant just casually takes up a prehistoric space, that kind of design isn’t easy to pull off.

For instance, Al-Fuwaires talked to 11 subcontractors before Glass Granite Group (G3) agreed to create a mirror detail she had in mind. “It’s an earthy space, with black stone bricks, and I wanted to do something really funky—the natural outline of the brick would become the form of the mirror,” Al-Fuwaires explains. G3 used a laser templating system to scan the opening, ensuring perfect alignment with the natural stone edge. The laser data was then transferred to a waterjet, which was used to precision-cut the glass. The edges were then hand-polished to ensure a flawless finish.

The serving surfaces throughout Harumi Sushi are topped with quartz—Cambria’s Brittanicca Gold Warm in a matte finish—and is paired with flagstone, warm woods, and mixed metals. Bover, Mooielight, Rich Brilliant Willing, Lumens, and Kelly Wearstler light fixtures add a bit of drama and softness to the space. 

“I knew exactly what I wanted: something earthy, that was magnificent in its simplicity. Grandeur, but pared down. Simple but beautiful. Elegant. Neutral,” Kim says. Of the choice to go with Cambria quartz surfaces, she says it all just worked perfectly. “To anyone considering Cambria, I’d give this advice: do not skimp on good quality. It will save you more money in the long-term. In the beginning, I told Dala I wanted traditional earth tones, but quality. We chose, intentionally, something that will go the long-haul.”

Designer Dala Al-Fuwaires of Phoenix-based House of Form takes a “go big or go home” approach to design. House of Form is known for its concept-heavy hospitality design, and the team took things to a new level with the recent expansion of Harumi Sushi into downtown Phoenix. We connected with Al-Fuwaires to get a few of her thoughts on today’s design trends and how quartz is part of her thoughtful material selection process.

Are there any design trends you feel are overrated?
I really dislike the concept of Instagram walls. They limit design and thought to one area, when I believe an entire space should be instagrammable and beg to be captured—by sight and phone.

What’s one design rule you love breaking, and why?
Symmetry is a natural human behavior, but breaking away and creating asymmetry creates interest. I love introducing that and moving the eye in a different and unexpected way.

What’s the vibe in your dream dinner party space?
I host a lot of dinners! Tablescape is what I’m most excited about, beyond the menu. I get really experimental with mixing and matching, layering all the things you don’t expect on a table. Maximalism is a challenge I love: taking seemingly unrelated patterns and textures and creating something that’s interesting to everyone.

What main factors influence your choice of quartz surfaces over other material options in a project?
We try not to pigeon-hole ourselves up front. Rather, we start with a big vision, then seek out materials that fit what we’re looking for. Quartz, in a food and beverage environment, is simply the most resilient. Spills, heat, cold … you name it, it can take it! It will last a lifetime.

Are there any creative applications of quartz that you’ve experimented with?
Right now, I love backlighting it. 

What design strategies do you use to ensure the quartz surfaces you select complement other materials in a space?
I like to think that our designs are timeless and that we’re not designing within a time capsule or era, which allows us to take risks. And I think it’s about the quantity of a specific application. Anything that’s in mass quantities, I’ll veer more neutral so it has longevity. Then I incorporate bolder colors and patterns in smaller doses.

How do you approach selecting the color and finish of quartz surfaces to suit different design aesthetics?
Cambria stands out with having surfaces that feel more like natural stone; there are very interesting marbling and color options that give it more depth. From there, here are a few considerations:

• I choose colors that complement the broader palette while adding depth and contrast. Neutral tones often provide versatility, but I also explore dramatic patterns for statement moments.
• Durability and maintenance needs are key! I ensure the selection aligns with how the surface will be used.
• I always evaluate how lighting interacts with the surface, as it can dramatically affect how the color and finish are perceived. Since Harumi has a darker, moodier feel, a lighter color in a dark space appeared more medium-toned but still provided enough contrast.