Don't Tell Dad restaurant and bakery features moments of mischief

Newly opened restaurant Don't Tell Dad in Queen's Park, west London, is filled with playful details including secret drawers, mirrors that wrap around corners and a tongue-in-cheek textile artwork.

Daisy Peat, founder and creative director of private members' club The Cultivist, worked with Ruben Everett of architecture firm Nothing is Not Nothing to design the interior for owner Daniel Land, who also founded fast-food chain Coco di Mama.

Don't Tell Dad was named in tribute to Land's late sister Lesley, using a phrase that symbolises the secret mischief the siblings got up to as children.

The interior design aims to capture this spirit, with fun touches dotted amongst the otherwise relaxed and comfortable dining spaces.

"We landed on a high/low concept for the brand aesthetic — a blend of elegance and refinement with a playful, relaxed and slightly irreverent edge," explained Peat.

"We wanted the space to feel special, but never stiff or overworked. It needed to be thoughtfully finished, but also warm, bold and a little mischievous," she told Dezeen.

As a close friend of Land, Peat initially came on board to advise on the restaurant branding. She ended up taking charge of the interior styling, with Everett responsible for the architectural work.

The first thing diners see when they arrive is an illuminated sign, spelling out the restaurant name in Lesley's handwriting.

Once inside, the next thing to draw the eye is a tapestry by local textile artist Martha Hussey, which is filled with humorous references to the history and culture of the Queen's Park area.

Instead of being hung from the wall, this artwork is set into the surface of a table.

"We wanted to incorporate elements of playfulness, so Daisy came up with the idea of enjoying your dinner on top of the artwork," Land told Dezeen.

"We were introduced to Martha and immediately hit it off," he said. "She's local and we all shared a similar sense of humour – something I hope comes across in the piece."

Don't Tell Dad operates as both a bakery and a restaurant, with different areas for each.

In the restaurant, dining spaces are divided into two zones.

One one side is a more relaxed space, featuring banquettes upholstered in green velvet corduroy and midcentury-style chairs.

On the opposite side is a row of seating booths reminiscent of railway carriages. These face the kitchen and a copper-fronted bar, with swivel stools that are hidden away by day and folded out in the evenings.

Other details riff on the concept of "hide and seek", with concealed drawers and recesses providing space for storing cutlery and menus.

Wrap-around mirrors feature throughout, allowing diners to look up at their reflections. They alternate with matching curved frames, which surround wall lamps.

"The moulded frames were a play and a nod to Victorian decoration – noting that there are no cornices and only a few decorated skirting details elsewhere," Everett said.

Marble tables, mottled glass screens and patterned tilework complete the design.

"Tiles are a big feature," added Peat. "We used a mix of colours, shapes and patterns, not just for practicality, but to bring a real playfulness and energy into the space."

"That mix of pattern and texture adds a cheeky, slightly rebellious edge that's very true to the brand. It doesn't take itself too seriously."

Don't Tell Dad opened in January. Other newly opened London restaurants with interesting interiors include Lina Stores Shoreditch and Kricket in Canary Wharf.

The photography is courtesy of Don't Tell Dad.

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