Two Blocks East is the name of the masterful partnership formed by Lee Katzoff and Rozhia Tabnak. They are the geniuses behind the designs of many different restaurants, including Il Mulino Uptown and Trattoria Il Mulino. The two women met when Lee hired Rozhia for a job in 2010 and it did not take them long before they formed a partnership. The two share a similar eye and a passion for design. As we were speaking to them, it also became clear that they had a great respect for each other. While Lee is considered the foundation of the business, it is Rozhia who is able to bring her background from fashion, styling and interior design to the table. When they come together, magic happens and ideas become reality. As they described it, "We finish each other’s sentences when it comes to creating.”
Since Lee’s husband is Jerry Katzoff, a partner in the Il Mulino group, their first project was logically to bring their personal touch to each of the restaurants. Rozhia and her team had already created a logo for Il Mulino Prime, so she was familiar with the vibe that the Katzoffs were after. The two women agreed that the food had to be the central focus, then the service, and that the design should tie everything together without being directly noticeable. They also aimed to reflect the personality of the surrounding neighborhood.
Rozhia told us about her creative methods, which struck a chord with the Manhattan Sideways team for obvious reasons: whenever she is in a new place, she hops on a bike and travels to the local mom-and-pop places. She gets to know a city by exploring and observing the landscape. Rozhia went on to explain that her inspiration has come to her by traversing the Brooklyn Bridge, studying concrete structures, and other exterior intricacies that seem to capture her attention and, in the case of Il Mulino Trattoria, translate into the “Industrial Chic” design of the restaurant.
The two women's work does not end with a simple “look” or “theme,” however. They maintain the integrity of their design through all aspects of the dining experience, so that guests can feel their vision “with all of their senses.” Rozhia described the experience as a “symphony,” where every element of the restaurant joins together like music. The women plan every possible detail, from traffic flow, to lighting possibilities, to the uniforms and accessories of the servers - as Lee noted, “We don’t simply collage things together.”
Rozhia and Lee have many other projects on the horizon: they are customizing a bedroom for a child in the Hamptons, planning an Il Mulino in Mexico City, and branding a school. Branding is a huge strength of theirs – Lee referred to them as the “Branding Gestapo.” Part of this exercise includes a new high gloss magazine project, which will not only feature Il Mulino, but will publicize the art and culture of the city.
