Ipanema | Brazilian-Inspired Hospitality Design by Bolt Builds

Ipanema, located in Midtown Manhattan, is a hospitality project that redefines the Brazilian dining experience through a modern New York lens. Bolt Builds, a design, build, and custom fabrication studio based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, oversaw every phase of this project, from schematic design and renderings to fabrication, finishing, and installation, ensuring a cohesive vision at every stage.

The process began with Bolt’s design team developing a mood board that encapsulates the brand identity and a flow analysis of the way guests and staff will move through the space. After that, detailed models and photorealistic renderings are created, allowing the client to preview how the space would come alive through lighting, material choices, and architectural flow. These designs moved seamlessly into production at Bolt’s in-house fabrication facility, where the team prototyped unconventional millwork and tested new fabrication methods before moving into full-scale production.

Custom-built elements that define the restaurant’s identity include CNC-milled woodwork, woven rope ceilings, patterned terrazzo flooring, brass inlays, and bespoke lighting fixtures. Because design, prototyping, and fabrication all happened under one roof, the transition from concept to construction was both efficient and precise, eliminating the gaps that often occur between designers and contractors.

The result of Ipanema is an interior that feels immersive, rhythmic, and distinctly Brazilian, yet rooted in Manhattan’s modern energy. By uniting design, fabrication, and construction under one roof, Bolt Builds delivered a hospitality project that embodies a sensory paradise while evoking the fluid beauty of the Amazon River.

Project Management

Interior Design

Architecture (Coordination)

Engineering (Coordination)

Kitchen Design

Permit Acquisition

Construction Management

FFE Sourcing

Custom Fabrication

Lighting Design

Ipanema NYC

Agency of Record | A Sleek, Full-Service Interior by Bolt Builds



Located in Midtown Manhattan NYC, Agency of Record is a meticulously executed 3,000 sq ft interior completed in just 11 months. Bolt Builds, a Brooklyn-based design-build-fabrication studio, masterfully handled everything, from interior design, lighting design, rendering, and FF&E sourcing to custom fabrication and full-service construction.

Agency of Record is a cocktail lounge and restaurant nestled in the heart of the historic Renwick Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. An ode to the Mad Men era, the project is designed through the lens of the golden age of advertising and the old-school glamour of New York City, setting the scene to capture the essence of mid-century New York with a playful twist. Fit for an indulgent midday martini, the space is also designed for dancing the night away. With a fully equipped DJ booth and state-of-the-art sound system; every moment is a celebration of the eclectic spirit.

The Bolt Team carved out the space with moody intimate corners and lounge-like atmosphere. The design philosophy revolved around the tactile and the personal. Through layered patterns and meticulously selected textures, including rich cut velvets, fluted glass, decorative fringe, custom lighting, and millwork fabricated in Bolt’s workshop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn; every element was carefully selected and serves as a testament to their commitment to crafting an experience where comforting nostalgia is greeted with a contemporary touch.

Agency of Record highlights Bolt’s capacity to harmonize design innovation with practical execution. As a licensed general contractor and utilizing their in-house fabrication team, Bolt Builds ensures high-quality craftsmanship and seamless integration at every stage, from dynamic lighting to bespoke elements.

Full Service Design & Build