Audrey Smit of This Little Street worked with Chef Mona Lee to create a unique, inspiring environment for our guests. Smit developed a fresh, vibrant color palette that mirrors Lulu’s colorful dishes, and infused the Palestinian roots and California upbringing that influence all of Chef Mona’s cuisine into every room of our new Solano location. Lush velvet seating, Arabian-inspired mirrors, beautiful tile patterns, gold accents, Tatreez pattern details, rattan accents, vintage glassware and old family photographs were carefully combined to give space a soulful yet fresh Middle Eastern vibe. Smit also designed custom wallpapers and artwork, and hand-painted two oversized, whimsical murals. The first mural features the purples figs emblematic of the original Lulu location, and the second mural located in the main entrance of the restaurant features giant Matilija poppies - which Smit purposefully used as a symbol for the restaurant. While poppies are symbols of both Palestine and California, the Matilija poppy is a California native with giant blooms resembling sunny-side up eggs.
Audrey Smit is the founder of This Little Street, a design company with her colorful + joyful aesthetic. She works as an interior designer for residential and commercial clients, as well as a muralist and surface pattern designer to create customer wallpapers and fabrics for private clients and brands such as Ikea, Alice & Ames. Audrey is also the co-author + illustrator of the Lily Huckleberry series. Originally from France, Audrey has lived around the world and is now based in Berkeley, California with her four silly, adventurous little girls who give her a good run for her money.