For restaurants and hotels, design isn’t just aesthetic — it's an essential part of the guest experience. Strategic design choices like tin accents can elevate your brand, create memorable spaces, and stand up to the heavy wear and tear of the hospitality industry. Today, we're spotlighting two standout restaurants and one boutique hotel that have used tin in unexpected ways to create refined, coastal-inspired settings that feel anything but ordinary. 

Principles of Modern Coastal Design 

Before we dive into our featured spaces, it's important to understand what defines modern coastal design today. Modern coastal interiors move beyond nautical themes and seashell motifs, favoring a cleaner, more sophisticated approach. Core principles include: 

• Natural Light: Emphasizing open, airy spaces that maximize sunlight. 
• Neutral Color Palettes: Soft whites, beiges, and muted blues reflecting sand and sea. 
• Textural Variety: Mixing elements like natural woods, linens, and metals to create visual interest. 
• Minimalist Aesthetics: Clean lines and uncluttered layouts that evoke serenity. 
• Organic Materials: Incorporating sustainable, natural materials to anchor spaces to their environment. 

Why Tin Accents Are Ideal for Hospitality Spaces 

For hospitality environments, material choices must be both beautiful and practical. Tin offers several key advantages: 

• Durability: Tin tiles and accents resist wear and tear, making them perfect for high-traffic restaurants, hotel lobbies, and lounges. 
• Ease of Maintenance: Tin surfaces are easy to clean and maintain, reducing long-term upkeep costs. 
• Acoustic Benefits: Tin can subtly improve sound control, enhancing guest comfort. 
• Customizability: With endless finishes and patterns available, tin allows brands to create a unique, memorable design that stands out. 

With these principles and advantages in mind, let's explore how tin accents have been masterfully used to elevate three coastal-inspired spaces. 

Pattern #1 in Custom Color

Speaks Clam Bar | Sarasota, FL 

Speaks Clam Bar is where "old-world Italian" meets "modern coastal". Instead of leaning into the typical seashell decor and beachy colors, Speaks Clam Bar infused its space with an air of sophisticated nostalgia—and tin played a major role. 

The ceiling features custom-painted tin tiles in a muted, salt-kissed blue palette that echos the gentle patina of ocean-side architecture without feeling clichéd. The reflective texture of the tin enhances the natural light pouring in, giving the entire space a breezy openness that still feels polished and urban. 

Hospitality Tip: Use muted, reflective tin finishes to enhance natural light and create an upscale, welcoming atmosphere that encourages longer stays. 

Read the Full Article about Speak Clam Bar

Interested in a custom color on your tin panels? Get in touch with a representative to learn more about the process. Or, order color samples of your favorites. 

Pattern #30 in Royal Gold

Crow's Nest Restaurant & Marina | Venice, FL 

A beloved institution since 1976, Crow's Nest recently embraced a design refresh that blends its maritime legacy with upscale flair. Here, tin accents play a supporting but critical role. 

The dining room's tin ceiling—richly embossed and finished in a deep, nautical-inspired hue—adds a layer of depth and heritage to the room. It contrasts beautifully with weathered woods and crisp linens, giving the space a cozy, ship-cabin feel that's sophisticated, not kitschy. 

Hospitality Tip: Pair richly colored tin ceilings with natural materials like wood and linen to create cozy, inviting dining spaces that honor tradition while feeling elevated. 

Read the Full Article about Crow’s Nest

Pattern #2 in Silver Washed White

Venice V Hotel | Venice Beach, CA 

Venice V Hotel embodies California cool with an elevated twist. Set steps away from the Pacific, the boutique hotel channels the eclectic spirit of Venice Beach while avoiding the surfer-cliché trap—and tin details are a big part of that strategy. 

In the hotel's communal areas, tin ceiling tiles with a sleek metallic finish introduce an unexpected texture. The design team opted for minimalist, modern patterns that hint at vintage charm without veering into retro kitsch. Combined with concrete floors, bohemian textiles, and curated art pieces, the tin brings a grounded sophistication that feels perfectly at home by the water. 

Hospitality Tip: Select minimalist tin patterns with modern finishes to complement eclectic interiors, creating spaces that feel both stylish and timeless.

Read the Full Article about Venice V Hotel

Elevate Your Coastal Hospitality Space with Tin 

These three spaces prove that tin isn't just for traditional, turn-of-the-century designs—it's a powerful tool for modern coastal hospitality interiors too. Whether through custom color treatments, dramatic textural contrasts, or sleek metallic finishes, tin can transform restaurants and hotels into sophisticated sanctuaries without sacrificing their connection to the sea. 

Ready to bring a refined coastal look to your next hospitality project? Explore American Tin Ceilings’ full range of tin tiles, finishes, and custom options—and create a space your guests will never forget.