Live Twice by Hui Designs is an intimate cocktail bar that takes inspiration from the mid-century modern era in Japan.

The bar offers a unique experience that combines the best of vintage American and Japanese design elements.

Photography by Lauryn Ishak

Words courtesy of Hui Designs

Live Twice by Hui Designs is an intimate cocktail bar that takes inspiration from the mid-century modern era in Japan.

The bar offers a unique experience that combines the best of vintage American and Japanese design elements.

Photography by Lauryn Ishak

Words courtesy of Hui Designs

Live Twice is an intimate cocktail bar that takes inspiration from the mid-century modern era in Japan. The bar offers a unique experience that combines the best of vintage American and Japanese design elements. The narrow and long space has been cleverly designed to create a cosy and intimate atmosphere. To enhance this feeling, alcoves have been deliberately added to the bar. The bar is named after Nancy Sinatra's theme song to the 1967 James Bond film, You Only Live Twice.

The design of Live Twice draws heavily on the retro-American-Japanese vibe of both the Bond movie and the TV-series Mad Men. The interiors are lined with warm, inviting plywood, which creates a pared-down and minimalist aesthetic. The bar is lightly appointed with vintage mid-century modern furniture, including a classic Akari Light Sculpture, vintage yellow Saarinen stools, two original buttery-soft Falcon armchairs, and Giancarlo Piretti's signature Alky chairs. These carefully selected pieces of furniture add to the unique atmosphere of the bar.

The Bond movie and the TV-series Mad Man were used for reference: the setting has retro-American-Japanese vibe.

Siew Hui Lim is the brainchild behind Hui Designs and has over 18 years of International interior design experience. Hui has worked on a wide range of projects including restaurants, bar, high end residential and hotel spaces.

Hui Designs Instagram: @huidesigns

Hui Designs Website: huidesigns.squarespace.com


Related Content

Mellow Mushrooms by Jorge Suárez-Kilzi

Jorge Suárez-Kilzi was born in Venezuela to immigrant parents of Spanish and Syrian descent. His collection of works is signed under his mother’s last name, Kilzi, which is also often used to describe a person who works with plaster and chalk - unconsciously leading Jorge down a path he was destined for. 

The Neptune by Hui Designs

Hui Designs designed the 70-seat Neptune restaurant with a friendly, neighbourhood atmosphere inspired by Melbourne's suburban sidewalk cafes.