Txikito is a Chelsea restaurant that serves contemporary interpretations of traditional Basque cuisine. Its design synthesizes this approach through the use of rustic materials in conjunction with a contemporary spatial sensibility. The use of timber for structural and facade elements throughout Basque vernacular architecture inspired the use of wood as the primary design material. Rather than individual load bearing elements, wood is reinterpreted as a monolithic interior envelope. Assembled from reclaimed barn-wood planks, wood becomes a tactile surface and screen. It conveys warmth and rusticity through a contemporary language. The material and color palette reinforces the spatial continuity, but creates focal points of color and texture. The rear wall is plastered a vibrant blue typical to the Basque region. It is a textural and visual counterpoint to the wood and reaffirms the Basque connection to both land and ocean.