People & Purpose
Inspired by the flame-forward allure of Spanish steakhouses—and the kitchens of sister concepts Candente, the Pit Room, and 1751—Michael Sambrooks’ latest project centers its menu around live fire, local bounty, and global grilling techniques. We partnered with Michael to bring the restaurant to life—first naming it, then developing a system as compelling as the restaurant’s driving vision, and as striking as its interiors.
Services
- Naming & Verbal Identity
- Visual Identity
- Writing
- Website Design
- Print System
- Signage
- Brand Guidelines
Partners
- AvroKO
- Kudos NYC
- Julie Soefer
- Jenn Duncan
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Inspired by the structure of a traditional andiron (a fixture that holds wood burning in a fireplace), the monogram echoes the letterforms of the logo and sits nicely in small branding moments.
The logo leans on typeface Metropola, which balances the modern qualities of a sans serif with the heritage of a classic serif. The endpoints of each letterform spur to create a wrought edge, reminiscent of ironwork. Loosened letter spacing and a customized “R” add elements of levity to soften its tone.
To round out the system of marks, the ampersand lockup was developed as a tertiary identifier.
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While conceptually fire-forward, the name is subtly sexy, elevated, even tidy in tonality—nodding to the aesthetic of the restaurant’s 4,500 square foot space designed by AvroKO. Andiron resides in a historic building between Houston’s River Oaks and Montrose neighborhoods and boasts a dining room for 100 guests, a lounge area for intimate gatherings, a sprawling, ivy-clad terrace, and two bars serving classic cocktails.
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In defiance of the traditional steakhouse, Andiron offers larger plates and a series of smaller portions to allow for more tastings and with them, more conversation. It’s a brand with quiet confidence that makes its way into verbal and visual expressions.
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A custom ice cube was created using the monogram.
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Throughout the system, verbiage was kept brief and highly considered. The sensory nature of Andiron—from the low lighting throughout the space to the froth atop a shaken cocktail to the seasoned char of steaks straight out of the kitchen to the materiality of the menus—speaks for itself.
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Edited descriptors and evocative photography come together to shape a web experience that is enticing yet uncomplicated.
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