Modern cafe counter with plants and a blurred person in the background.

Justa Pasta Phase 1

Interior Designer: Casework
Photographer: Carly Diaz

  • Justa Pasta came to Owen Gabbert, LLC asking for a full refresh and revamp of their restaurant, but it came with a tight timeline: the entire remodel needed to be complete within a quick three-week shutdown. We accepted the challenge, and we’re happy we did because the final result is a beautiful restaurant that’s as fresh as the handmade pastas being served up on the daily. 

    To start, we engaged Casework, a Portland-based full-service interior architecture and design firm who we felt would help bring the right tone and aesthetic to the project. Working collaboratively, we wiped the slate clean, taking nearly all furniture away, getting rid of all remaining light fixtures from the original buildout 20 years ago, and removing all built-in casework. Left with just the sheetrock and structure of the building, we first refinished the floor, retiled kitchens and eating areas, added new furniture and casework throughout, and repainted the walls.

    One of the biggest elements of this project was ensuring that the remodel of Justa Pasta improved the overall flow of the experience for both the restaurant staff and the customers who would eventually dine in the new space. Working with Casework, we blended form and function in both the build and the design elements of the final interior. We think Casework said it beautifully in their recent blog post about the collaboration: “At Casework, our goal for design is to not only be beautiful but also intuitive. We want to inform the customer without overwhelming them with signage so they can make the realization on their own.

    One way we achieved this was to open up the area completely. We pushed the once centrally located wine shelf to the wall. It's a beautiful backdrop and one of the first things you see when you walk in the restaurant! The large island helps to create a natural separation. This separation pushes people into a line for ordering and still leaves room for staff to easily deliver plates of food without a million "excuse me's" at a busy lunch service or roped off sections.”

    We believe that working with the right partners can help a good project turn into one that’s outstanding, and we’re certain that in this case, working with Casework helped Justa Pasta to reinvent itself in a way that is new and fresh, but still familiar to longstanding customers.

Interior view of a modern restaurant with a bar counter, wine shelves, and decorative plants.
Interior of a modern restaurant with a chalkboard menu on the wall, wine bottles on a shelf, and a table with various canned and bottled products, a potted plant, and books.
Interior of a modern restaurant with round wooden tables, black chairs, minimal decor, and large windows letting in natural light.
Interior of a modern dining space with wooden tables, black chairs, a wine glass, a wine bottle, and small vases with flowers, near a large window with black frames and a white wall.
Interior of a modern cafe with wooden counter, black stools, hanging globe pendant lights, a white vase with a large Monstera leaf, and a wall clock showing the time as 2:00.
A minimalist white vase with green leaves and dried brown flowers on a wooden table in a room with wooden walls and a window.
A wine rack with multiple shelves filled with various bottles of red wine, positioned under two white wall-mounted lamps.
A black metal and wood shelving unit in a restaurant with various food and drink items, including bottles of wine, canned goods, and jars. A white vase with greenery and a loaf of bread are on the top shelf, with a chalkboard menu on the wall behind.
A modern cafe or restaurant interior with a white counter, a potted Monstera plant, and a blurred woman in black serving drinks. The background shows a bar area with wine bottles and glassware, large windows, black ceiling lights, and framed artwork
Empty restaurant dining area with wooden tables, black chairs, white vases with small plants, framed black-and-white photos on white walls, and copper pendant lights hanging from a dark ceiling.
A dining table set with a glass of red wine and a bottle of wine, in a modern restaurant with mirrors on the wall, black chairs around the table, and copper pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.
Interior of a minimalist cafe or restaurant with black chairs, wooden tables, a brown leather bench, and framed photographs on a white wall. Two mirrors reflect hanging copper pendant lights and large windows with black frames are visible in the back
A white plate of kale salad topped with shredded carrots, cheese, and purple cabbage on a wooden table. A fork and knife rest on the edges of the plate. To the right, there is a glass of red wine.
Man cooking in a commercial kitchen with stove, pots, and plates.
Two plates of salad, a glass of white wine, and a glass of red wine on a wooden table against a wooden wall.
Two glasses of red wine on a wooden table with plates of salad and a dish with vegetables in the background, against a wooden wall.
Person holding uncooked fettuccine pasta strands
Top-down view of a wooden table with two plates of food, two glasses of wine, and hands holding forks. One plate has green pasta with nuts and spices, and the other has a seafood pasta with clams, cherry tomatoes, and herbs.
Someone pouring red wine into a wine glass on a wooden table with a plate of food in the background.
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