This New Restaurant in Arizona References Italian Modernism

Classic red sauce joints conjure up images of countryside murals, black-and-white family photos, and of course, checkered tablecloths. Customers today fondly recall these spots filled with homespun charm, but now favor an easy glamour rather than overwrought decoration. For il Bracco, the designers at Maison Interiors looked to Italian Modernism for inspiration to provide guests with an elevated dining experience that’s aspirational yet still approachable.

A modern restaurant reception area with wooden furniture, a sculptural art piece on the desk, a fan-shaped wall art, glass doors, and a bar with barstools in the background.

Located in the resort destination of Scottsdale, Arizona, studio co-founders Mary Lu Quick and Mary Bryan collaborated with restaurant group Western Addition on the project, with an emphasis on the outdoor lifestyle favored by the desert city’s residents. “We wanted it to have an effortless, vacation feel, but to also be a place where guests can dress up for dinner,” says Quick.

A modern café interior with wooden ceiling, green chairs, round tables, and large windows; a person walks past seating area near a tree outside.

A restaurant interior with wooden furniture, two empty booth seats, set tableware, a candle on the table, and soft lighting.

The duo combined an array of materials in the bi-level space, paired for maximum style and durability in high-traffic areas. The greeter stand, made of cork, adds texture that mirrors the mosaic-esque flecks in the floor. Sliding glass doors open out onto the patio, where diners can enjoy a meal after a round of golf.

Modern restaurant interior with wooden tables, teal upholstered booths, ambient lighting, and a view of the open kitchen in the background.

A modern restaurant interior with wood-paneled walls, leather booths, dim lighting, and a group of people conversing in the background.

Walnut and white oak offer warmth and just enough contrast, including a patchwork arrangement on the back wall. Cream-colored brick has a sun-washed quality that complements dark wood tabletops. The leather booths are detailed with refined piping that is reminiscent of an impeccably tailored suit.

A restaurant interior with wooden furniture, two empty booth seats, set tableware, a candle on the table, and soft lighting.

A server in uniform sets a table in a modern restaurant with wooden decor, booth seating, and lit candles.

Polished chrome elements are a nod to the vintage Italian boats that dot Lake Como. The palette of sage-green tones and rich browns is punctuated by yellow, which surrounds the dining room in a sepia-infused softness.

A team of chefs works in a modern, stainless steel restaurant kitchen, with servers moving in the foreground and plates of food on the counter.

Chefs in a restaurant kitchen prepare and plate food under warm lighting, with shelves of ingredients and kitchen equipment visible in the background.

Several chefs work in a professional kitchen, preparing dishes under warm overhead lighting, with shelves and cooking equipment visible in the background.

The restroom vestibule is a surprising spot that channels 1970s Italian chic. An interplay of travertine and Calacatta marble is pure luxe underfoot. Vintage metal hardware on doors is meant to showcase the patina of age, like treasured heirlooms. Square ceramic tiles in a cola tint wrap the interior of this area in an immersive sheen.

A dimly lit hallway with wood-paneled walls, a closed wooden door, two closets, and a tall, cylindrical metallic trash bin on a patterned tile floor.

A dimly lit hallway with wood-paneled walls, marble-patterned tile floor, a metallic cylinder, and a partially open door revealing another tiled room.

A restroom with brown tiled walls, a stone countertop with two sinks, large mirrors, wooden doors, and patterned tile flooring.

With a blend of modern and nostalgic touches, il Bracco has a timeless appeal that invites patrons to stay and savor. “These layering moments, such as one would find in home, connect the different spaces to create this refined environment,” Bryan notes.

Outdoor restaurant seating area with wooden ceiling, cream brick walls, tables set with yellow flowers, wicker chairs, and large white umbrellas. A sculptural metal figure stands in the foreground.

Outdoor patio with wooden ceiling, wicker chairs, round tables, a brick fireplace, and potted plants, set in a sunny, modern courtyard.

Outdoor patio seating area with round wooden tables, wicker and white chairs, large umbrellas, and decorative candles; street and buildings visible in the background.

Small round wooden table with two red cups and saucers, surrounded by woven chairs on a tiled floor in an outdoor seating area.

A modern restaurant with outdoor seating and a sign reading "Il Bracco" at sunset, featuring a tree and landscaped area in the foreground.

To see this and other works by the studio, visit maisoninteriorsny.com. Or to explore the establishment’s other locations, visit ilbraccorestaurant.com.

Photography by Lacey Land.

Anna Zappia is a New York City-based writer and editor with a passion for textiles, and she can often be found at a fashion exhibit or shopping for more books. Anna writes the Friday Five column, as well as commercial content.

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