What kind of restaurant?

Specialty Burgers and WI Craft Beer

yes, I am working on a mural. I still need a base color though.

yes there is an empty lot next to the building

Do you have plans/style chosen for the interior already? What vibe do you want to create?

If you have not settled on a direction for style yet, I would take the top brick and pattern detail of the exterior as your inspiration. It has character and is special.

Therefore, whoever installed the stacked stone below, made a mistake.

I am recommending you paint the sandstone on the bottom and the side brick wall the same color: RED. The color red is associated with burgers & beer, is known to stimulate the appetite and is classic.

Find the shade of red you LOVE - use it on the exterior and carry it inside as well. Check out these suggestions: Heritage Red, Raspberry Truffle, Caliente, Impressionist Ruby or Dutch Tulip. I think my first choice for you is Caliente AF 290.

Good Luck with your new venture!

I agree completely that the sandstone was a mistake! I will check out the reds! Thanks!

I was playing around a lot with the blues and greys, much like that Beverley suggested. What are those colors Beverley?

The color is nothing specific. Just something I created on the computer.

Here's another trying to match the upper brick

I think I would go with something edgy. Paint it all Tricorn black and the trim Stone Lion or Canyon Clay.

I think you need to talk to the muralist to see what is going to be painted before you deciding on a base color where we have them the artist paints the entire wall by the time the mural is finished

I would match the brick color on the sandstone and have that color be the background for the mural as well.

Paint the door black.

Approach it from the inside - out for a congruent result.

The color needs to be consistent with your branding- I would work with a graphic artist, muralist, and interior designer to determine your brand before choosing any colors. I do agree with what others have said that the stacked stone should be the same color as whatever you pick for the side.

Grover's brick red isn't bad, but if you want to avoid painting the stone, I'd find a shade of tan from it that approximately matches the inset pattern in the brick portion -- that is, a tan. It would surely go fine with both parts and be a plenty neutral background for a mural.

I hope the OP let's us in on his "concept" real soon! ;)

Thank you all so much! I am located in a tourist town in northern WI. I don't want the vibe to be to Rustic and "woodsy". I need it to be unique and "small town." There are too many great examples of traditional northwoods taverns that I just cant compete with. So I have to be different while not giving off a city vibe. I have decided to go with the murals. and the front this is what I have come up with so far

I am strongly considering removing the stone on the bottom! You are all on to something

ok Matthew thanks for the much needed additional info! Have the murals been designed yet? If so, that would dictate your decisions moving forward. Please share them and the name of your restaurant so we can brainstorm with you some more!

oops - seeing the post card now. So: Retro/Nature

What is the name of your restaurant?

The name of the restaurant is "The Craftsman." Think old woodworking tools, wooden clamps and hand carved. The name was going to be Brass Tacks, but I was told that sounded to uninviting and I had trouble finding a theme that matched.

I am removing the sandstone underneath the awning and thinking about putting wooden pillars with multicolored stone bases. Although I would love some more ideas...

yeah i suppose the postcard really doesn't fit my theme. I am a half block off the main shopping district st, and I guess just want something loud to pull attention toward my building. and I think tourist would love taking pictures next to it.

If I removed the sandstone pillars..... I am pretty confident that I could fashion Some faux wooden pillars out of a 2 x 18 in the front, and a 2x6 around the side to give it depth.

I just want to tickle that man under the armpit. I bet he would make people remember your place.

I live in Kenosha, WI - we have a few vintage postcard murals here that I think are really cool.

Here are a few murals from this corner of the state ...

postcard 1

postcard 2

Modern Apothecary

tavern mural

Man / burly / do you want women to drink and eat also... just saying. :) I bet it's beautiful there, and you have canoeing and tubing... good 'luck'...

Mural with Eagle River seems nice.

Maybe muralist could re-interpret it for your use: the 'I' could be a tall mug of beer. The A an a-frame house, etc......

Could the V become an eagle and spread wings ...

so that each letter doesn't contain a photo- scene [like the postcard has] - more simply and maybe more modern, the letter's shape is a WI/ local feature....