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Harvest Table, a farm-to-table restaurant in Austin’s East Side, needed a sign that captured their ethos: honest food, crafted with care. A hand-painted hanging blade sign with botanical motifs — rustic, warm, and unmistakably artisanal.
Project Background
Harvest Table sits in a converted 1920s warehouse in Austin’s rapidly developing East Side. The chef-owner, a James Beard semifinalist, wanted the signage to echo the restaurant’s culinary philosophy — seasonal, local, crafted by hand. “A sign made by machine would be dishonest to what we serve,” he insisted.
Design Concept & Branding
The centerpiece is a custom double-sided hanging blade sign: wrought iron bracket, painted metal panel in forest green with hand-painted cream lettering. A hand-painted botanical illustration of a wheat stalk and tomato vine wraps around the bottom edge. The forest green was mixed to match the restaurant’s interior banquette fabric.
Material Selection & Fabrication
The sign panel is 16-gauge steel, sandblasted, primed with rust-inhibiting marine primer, and finished with two coats of automotive-grade enamel. The lettering was hand-painted using 1-Shot lettering enamel. The wrought iron bracket was custom-forged to match the building’s existing ironwork.
Installation Process
Installing on a historic building required city historic preservation office coordination. The bracket was anchored into mortar joints to preserve the facade. A locking mechanism prevents swing in high wind. Installation took two days.
Results & Impact
The sign has become one of the most photographed storefronts in East Austin. First-year revenue exceeded projections by 28%. Over 40% of first-time customers discovered the restaurant by walking past the sign.
| Client | Harvest Table Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Location | East Side, Austin, TX |
| Dimensions | 4 ft (W) x 3 ft (H) – double-sided |
| Materials | Hand-painted steel, wrought iron bracket, galvanized chain |
| Installation | Hanging blade with historic preservation-approved bracket |
| Timeline | 5 weeks plus 2 days installation |
| Budget | $11,500 |
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