he history of One Hanover Square is rich, colorful and almost three centuries old. During its lifetime, the building has been a family residence, the New York Cotton Exchange and a private club for overseas merchants and traders. Now, with the opening of Bayard's restaurant, a new chapter is being written for both the land-marked building and its stunning interior. Meant to invoke the history of One Hanover Square, the design of Bayard's respects the integrity of the architecture, while gracefully incorporating elegant modern elements.

Few designers faced a more imposing task than Doris Nieves of NWI Design, who oversaw the complete restoration of the interior. In order to "dress" Bayard's restaurant, it was necessary to first "undress" it, peeling back layers of paint and history to expose the structure's magnificent original architecture. What was revealed includes room after room containing intricate design details, pine floors and priceless nautical artwork.

On the first floor, Bayard's lounge, painted in a deep hue of historical marine blue, displays a mahogany bar - back lit, mirrored and softly curved like the body of a ship - one of many subtle ways the restaurant's seafaring theme is carried out. A perfect rendition of a clipper ship suspended behind the bar compliments the bars' rounded form.

 
Above: The dramatic foyer of Bayard's is a visitor's first look at the extensive restoration that the building has undergone.
 
Above: Detail of the luxurious mahogany double staircase, carefully carved and finished with brass railings.

Leading to the dining room on the second floor is what was perhaps Nieves' greatest discovery - hidden beneath layers of enamel paint she found a luxurious mahogany double staircase, carefully carved and gloriously finished with brass details.

The dramatic entrance to the dining room is ringed by a double-height atrium and an octagonal skylight from which the owners have hung a large model ship, which seems to sail through the air. The dining rooms flow effortlessly into each other, reminding guests that Bayard's was built as a private home. The idea is reinforced with other noteworthy features -- fireplaces and mahogany plank floors that are interspersed with oriental design carpets in russet, pomegranate and hunter green. The Windsor period chairs in the dining rooms were also discovered during the renovation. Once again, after being stripped of layers of black enamel paint, mahogany wood was revealed and restored to its natural beauty. Candlelight yellow walls and wheat colored silk striped drapery retains the room's natural brightness during the day, and adds to the luminosity in the evening.

 
Above: A perfect rendition of a clipper ship suspended behind the bar compliments the bar's rounded form.
 
Above: The original masthead of the clipper ship "Glory of the Seas" built in 1854 towers majestically over the grand staircase.

Each corner of Bayard's displays one of many treasure uncovered during the renovation, from nautical paintings by Buttersworth and Lai-Sung, to ship models, to a majestic ship figurehead from "The Glory of the Seas," which overlooks the dining room entrance and stairway.

The third floor of Bayard's houses unique banquet rooms of varying sizes that can accommodate an intimate party of 15 in a fire-lit parlor, or a gathering of 180 people in the grand "Marine Room." The latter, painted a characteristic sea green, is stylishly ringed by nautical rope molding and lit by Victorian chandeliers adorned with silver seashells. Whether in the main dining room, the lounge, or a private room, Bayard's design invokes the building's historical roots in a warm and elegant setting.

 
Above: This 19th century painting of the clipper ship "The Black Prince" adorns Marine Room, one of our private dining rooms.