Modern, Joyful Commercial Bathroom Design in San Francisco

At Farming Hope, the mission has always extended far beyond food. Founded by two graduate students with a vision of nourishing both people and possibility, their work is rooted in a few powerful beliefs: food is a human right, everyone deserves to be needed, and neither food nor human potential should go to waste.

When Executive Directors Haley Nielsen and Andie Sobrepeña reached out, we were excited to partner with a team so deeply committed to their community.

As a commercial interior design studio in San Francisco, we approach every project with one core question:

How can design elevate both experience and purpose?

Farming Hope is a busy non-profit culinary and hospitality apprenticeship program, food pantry, and event space rolled into one holistic space in pursuit of lasting social change in our community. They empower folks experiencing major barriers to employment to grow and cook food to sustain themselves and their communities. 

For this restaurant and event space bathroom, that question became:

How can we transform an overlooked space into one that supports the mission and leaves a lasting impression on every guest—day to night?

The Design: Reimagining the Commercial Bathroom Experience

Bathrooms are some of the most frequently used spaces in hospitality environments, yet they are often treated as purely functional.

For this project, we saw an opportunity to do more.

We transformed two small, dark restrooms into a unified, all-gender restroom layout, designed for comfort, privacy, and accessibility. Fully enclosed stalls create a sense of security, while the shared space remains open and easy to navigate.

The space includes:

• ADA-compliant stalls and hand-washing stations

• A custom changing table with integrated storage for staff

• Durable, high-performance materials suited for heavy daily use

This is what we believe restaurant and hospitality bathroom design should be: efficient and thoughtfully considered.

The Finishes: Color, Energy, and Durability

Rather than defaulting to neutrals, we leaned into color as a way to shape experience.

A bold green patterned wallcovering wraps the space, evoking growth and vitality—a subtle nod to Farming Hope’s roots in nourishment and renewal.

Green subway tile grounds the design with texture and durability, while warm orange lighting introduces contrast and a sense of play.

The result is a palette that feels:

• Energetic, but calm

• Joyful, but grounded

• Distinct, yet easy to maintain

Every material was selected not just for how it looks, but for how it performs in this high-traffic commercial environment.

The Result: Design That Supports Mission and Experience

This project goes beyond aesthetics.

It reflects a belief that even the most utilitarian spaces can communicate care.

Farming Hope’s work is centered on creating opportunity—through food, training, and community. This bathroom becomes an extension of that philosophy: a place where design supports well-being, where details matter, and where no part of the guest experience is overlooked.

By investing in a space like this, they send a clear message:

Everyone who enters here matters.

See the full project here.

Thinking About Your Own Space?

Whether you're designing a restaurant, workplace, or hospitality environment, bathrooms are one of the most impactful—and often underestimated—opportunities to shape how people feel in your space.

At Rose Design, we approach commercial bathroom design as an extension of your brand, your operations, and your values.

Partners: James Hill Architect, Cookline Construction

Photography: Bradley Knipstein