With Creative Director, Darrah Ferrari Wahlstedt
As Le Colonial, the iconic French-Vietnamese brand, continues its expansion with a new restaurant opening in Cherry Creek, Colorado following openings in Delray Beach and Naples, Florida, the restaurants are garnering acclaim for not only the culinary program, but for the design, having been named the most beautiful restaurant interiors in the world by Veranda Magazine.
Darrah Ferrari Wahlstedt is the Creative Director for Le Colonial restaurants, handling all design elements for its eight locations, including furniture, florals, decor, plates, lighting, and more. Each Le Colonial location is uniquely designed to transport guests to another era and time within main dining rooms, verandas, terraces, private dining areas and lounges. Guests can expect a signature setting incorporating artisan wrought iron and tile elements, period photography, lush greenery, leather banquettes and mahogany millwork.
Darrah grew up in Milan, Italy surrounded by history, elegance and fashion, with parents and grandparents in the fashion and design industries. Darrah spent time studying in Switzerland and living in Paris, before eventually settling down in New York City. She began her career working for a designer in a public relations role, where her flair for creativity helped her excel. Darrah was introduced to the restaurant industry by her husband, Rick Wahlstedt, an established Restaurateur, responsible for the creation of some of the United States’ most successful and innovative culinary concepts, including Le Colonial. In 2020, Darrah began consulting on the design elements at select Le Colonial restaurants. Today, Darrah handles all design elements at each Le Colonial restaurant, which now total eight locations.
To curate each location’s design, Darrah draws inspiration from her extensive research of Vietnam. For example, decorating the spaces with indigenous flowers, like fresh orchids and water lilies, incorporating historic photography, and artwork that references Vietnamese culture and nature.
While all Le Colonial restaurants contain key elements that make them instantly recognizable, each carries a distinctive identity, which is, in part, based on its geographical location. For example, Le Colonial locations in Delray Beach and Naples, Florida contain certain touches, like coral sculptures, beachy components and bookshelves lined with Floridian literature. While the new Cherry Creek location in Denver, Colorado has subtle design elements that reference the Rocky Mountains, skiing and more.
Darrah also works closely with Le Colonial’s architect, Mark Knauer. Alongside Knauer, Darrah helps select furniture for each space. She is responsible for some of Le Colonial’s signature design elements, such as the sweetheart tables, which have undeniably elevated the romantic ambiance of the restaurant’s locations, offering an intimate, secluded space where couples can escape the bustle of the dining room. Additionally, Darrah has played a key role in designing the lush landscapes in front of restaurants where permitted, enhancing the overall aesthetic and creating inviting outdoor spaces.
She is also responsible for reimagining the company’s logo in 2023 and redesigning the menus, breathing new life into Le Colonial’s brand identity, and enhancing the overall guest experience.
Over the past five years, Darrah’s keen attention to detail has been instrumental in shaping and curating the Le Colonial brand. Her thoughtful design choices and unwavering dedication have played a pivotal role in the restaurant’s continued success, making her an invaluable part of the Le Colonial team. As Le Colonial continues to expand, design will undoubtedly remain an integral part of the brand.
About Le Colonial
Le Colonial is a celebration of the seductive spirit and vivid flavors reminiscent of Saigon in the 1920s. With locations in Chicago, Houston, Atlanta and Lake Forest, IL, the famed Vietnamese restaurant launched over three decades ago by celebrated restaurateurs Rick Wahlstedt and Joe King to raves by countless American critics, celebrities and tastemakers in New York. Under the direction of acclaimed Vietnamese chef and cookbook author, Nicole Routhier, along with culinary director Hassan Obaye, the culinary team balances classic Vietnamese recipes and today’s health-conscious preferences, bringing the freshest, locally sourced vegetables and premium seafood and meats to life though an artful use of herbs and spices.
