Located on the outer fringes of Sydney’s Inner West, Burwood is a suburb steeped in multicultural heritage. A succinct, yet eclectic row of eateries, pubs and retail stores line Burwood Road in both directions, terminating at the local Westfield.

The constant churn of the Burwood Road strip see’s an ever changing face to this lively Sydney suburb, yet very little alternative is offered to the traditional “cheap eat’ nature of the area. Chavela aims to change this, with a splash of eclectic modernity, offering a modestly priced menu in a setting that has been influenced by rustic restaurants around the globe.

The previous space was in dire need of some serious love and attention, with changes required to every single surface front of  house and significant alterations required to back of house areas. On a shoestring budget, and a tight deadline in which to turn around the 60 square metre refurbishment, attention was placed on achieving a comfortable, textural and eclectic canvas, from which further refinement could be achieved over the course of the Chavela legacy.

It was imperative however that the venue was engaging as soon as it’s doors opened and as such the palette employs subtle contrasts between matte & gloss surfaces and highlights are emphasised in copper tones.

As with all Matt Woods Design Projects, there is a heavy focus on the use of sustainable materials with FSC certified plywood used as table tops, recycled fence pailings forming the bar front, recycled blackbutt bar top, bamboo flooring, Low VOC & VOC free paints throughout, and LED feature lighting. The design team has also managed to salvage yet another old terrace door, however this one has remained on it’s hinges, fulfilling its intended purpose.