Dynamik Space founder, Melanie Corey-Ferrini is seeing more and more first-time restaurant and business owners despite the shaky economic climate. According to Corey-Ferrini, who launched her full-service design studio in 2000, many new owners are taking the leap because of the “why not?” factor.

“My company has seen a rise in clients who are new restaurant owners or want to revamp what they already have,” she said. “I think a lot of people feel they have nothing to lose. Many have been laid off and have always dreamed of owning their own business or starting a restaurant.”

Dynamik was recently called in to help refresh the interior public space of the Coast Hotel in Bellevue, located on the corner of 116th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Eighth Street. Corey-Ferrini and her design team gave the chain hotel a very boutique feel with soft color lighting, metal accents, acrylic artwork, green elements and an overall fun vibe.

“The public space in Coast Hotel (in Bellevue) hadn’t been remodeled since it was built in 1976 and they knew they needed a change,” Corey-Ferrini explained. “Instead of selling the hotel, we came in here and gave the place a face lift with a very personal touch. The idea was to engage people to spend time in the lobby and public spaces.”

In the case of Dynamik’s client Indi Bite, located at the Crossroads Bellevue Mall, the company was approached with a brand new concept by a first-time restaurant owner.

“Sometimes a client will come to us with their own ideas and other times we will draw inspiration from the menu and the location. In the case of Indi Bite, we looked through books of artwork from India, studied the herbs and flavors and the culture.”

The finished design includes lively colors, bright lighting and vibrant glasswork, making this food court eatery stand out from the sea of others.

“To be successful it is important to stand out and not resemble just another chain,” she explained. “People like the one-of-a-kind, custom feel. It makes the entire experience more personal.”

Dynamik’s latest project was the completion of the concept behind the new Stir Martini and Raw Bar in the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. The owner, Matt Bomberger, reached out to Corey-Ferrini and her team to help him capture an edgy design with a Northwest twist for his new venture. The Dynamik team used inspiration from the Pacific Northwest and the ocean, from the driftwood artwork to the deep purple lighting.

“Many Bellevue businesses have this thought that if they don’t fit into a perfect box or match the look of Bellevue, they won’t be successful. There are a lot of people who come to Bellevue who want something a little different,” Corey-Ferrini said. “Some people are hesitant about edgier design and new trends like the metal work we have used in the Coast Hotel redesign and in Stir.”

Still, according to Corey-Ferrini, Dynamik will continue to push the envelope in Bellevue.

“We are trying to messy things up a little bit, create a little inspired chaos,” she added with a laugh.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.

To learn more on Dynamik Space, visit http://www.dynamikspace.com/.