Where West Coast lightness meets Nordic simplicity, a young chef shapes space with the same instinct he brings to the plate. Look inside the COVE restaurant in New York City, where Layers Douglas flooring underscores its breezy, homely feel.
Restaurant – New York City, USA
Interior design by head chef and restaurant owner Flynn McGarry
Photographer: Sean Davidson
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Layers Douglas Classic
Thickness: 19 mm. / US 0.7".
Width: 300mm. / US 11.8".
Lengths: 2-5 m / US 6' 67" – 16' 5"
Finish: Light Oil
Flynn McGarry, owner and head chef at COVE
Tucked into a concrete building in New York City, COVE is an exercise in balance: between continents, disciplines and materials. Designed by Flynn McGarry—the owner and the restaurant’s head chef—the interior translates a deeply personal narrative into an architectural language rooted in craft, tactility and calm.
McGarry designed the project's interior himself, drawing on his upbringing in California and his professional training in Scandinavia. The result is a space that feels airy yet grounded, pared-back yet warm. A soft, sun-washed palette nods to the Californian coast, while fixtures and furniture lean unmistakably Nordic in their clarity. At the centre of this dialogue sits Douglas fir.
Dinesen Layers, Douglas Classic
The floor is the engineered Layers Douglas Classic, finished with Light Oil. Technically, the Layers system was the ideal solution: the restaurant is in a concrete building where installing a traditional subfloor was not possible. Conceptually, it was just as precise. Douglas fir is a shared material memory for McGarry. Ubiquitous in California and resurfacing in Denmark, it became a natural bridge between the two design cultures, informing the project.
The wide planks bring visual calm and a sense of connection, allowing the architecture, furniture and food to coexist without competition. The Light Oil finish enhances the grain while preserving a natural, pale expression. An honest surface designed to age gracefully under daily use.
There is a clear parallel between the interior and the kitchen. McGarry’s cooking philosophy centres on finding beauty in nature and respecting raw ingredients, an approach mirrored in the choice of materials and finishes throughout the space.
At COVE, design and cuisine speak the same language: Understated confidence, material honesty, and deep consideration.
