36 DIGS.NET
| 9.18.2020
P R O F I L E | M A R I S S A Z A J A C K C R E AT I V E
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PHOTOGRAPHS:
COURTESY
OF
JENNIFER
CHONG
/
PORTRAIT
BY
LU
TAPP
Marissa Zajack creates a dazzling, color-rich
environment in L.A. restaurant Red Herring.
A Feast for the Eye
L
ocated in a bustling area of Downtown Los
Angeles, Red Herring restaurant and bar is
filled with energy. "I have been friends with
the owners Dave and Alexis Woodall for years,"
multidisciplinary designer Marissa Zajack says.
"They would always call on me for design advice.
When they signed the lease, they showed me the
space and it was a blank canvas with so much
potential. I knew their style and the vibe they wanted,
and they knew what I would bring to the table."
Zajack spent hours researching, and sourcing artists
and makers to bring her vision to life.
With geometric patterns, curves, brass details
and rich materials such as velvet and marble, the
2,000-square-foot space feels luxurious. "I wanted
the color palette to be a mix of bold jewel tones and
soft pastels," Zajack explains. "I thought the back
wall of the restaurant should have texture to give it
dimension, so I chose a plaster finish and went with
a blue-green custom color that was inspired by a
handbag of mine. The walls and ceiling are Benjamin
Moore Winter Sky, which is a white with the lightest
of pink hue. In the restroom, we used Dunn-Edwards
Spanish Peanut, which is a burnt sienna
that is warm and inviting. I also bleached
alder wood to make it look light and
rosy." Classic Thonet 209 chairs and
multi-pendant lights by Louis Weisdorf
combine with many pieces custom
designed by Zajack and eye-catching
flora and fauna-inspired wallpaper mural
by Mike Willcox. "I wanted to create an
environment that felt rooted in the art
deco California aesthetic," Zajack says.
"Coming from the world of film, I love the
idea of being transported into another
time and place." zajack.com
INTERIOR
DESIGNER
MARISSA ZAJACK
WANTED THIS L.A.
RESTAURANT TO
FEEL LUXURIOUS
AND ROOTED IN
THE ART DECO
CALIFORNIA
AESTHETIC.
