Custom Color Acoustic Panels for Restaurants: Zasu in New Orleans

• Project: Custom color panels & exact-size cuts for trim
• Address: 127 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
• Facility Type: Boutique restaurant & bar
• Client: Zasu Restaurant
• Objective: Reduce echo & preserve design intent
• Scope: Field visit, color match, print, fabricate & install

Zasu’s intimate dining room was experiencing the classic “small, lively space” problem—hardwood flooring, painted drywall, and a hard ceiling that amplified clatter, conversations, and glassware noise. Staff fatigue and table-to-table spillover were increasing as service picked up, especially at peak hours. The owner wanted a measurable acoustic improvement without compromising the restaurant’s distinctive color palette and millwork details.

Commercial Acoustics recommended custom color acoustic art panels—printed to match Zasu’s exact paint tone and cut to fit within the decorative trim fields. This approach avoided visual clutter while delivering meaningful acoustic absorption where it was needed most.

• Issue: Reverberation from hard surfaces causing excessive echo
• Goal: Preserve the restaurant’s visual design while improving acoustics
• Constraint: Limited wall space & precise color-matching requirements

Restaurants often struggle to balance atmosphere with comfort. Zasu’s modern décor featured layered trim work and custom paint finishes that couldn’t simply be covered with standard fabric panels. The challenge was to tame reverberation while keeping the walls true to the designer’s intent.

By analyzing the dining room’s geometry and surface finishes, our team identified key reflection points contributing to excessive noise. Measurements showed high reverberation times during service, making conversation difficult and overall noise levels fatiguing, which reinforced the need for a custom color acoustic panel solution that would reduce echo without disrupting the restaurant’s interior design.

• Design: Custom dye-sublimated prints matched to paint samples
• Performance: NRC up to 1.0 for superior sound absorption
• Turnaround: Delivered in under 30 days from site visit to install

Using our dye-sublimation printer, Commercial Acoustics produced custom color acoustic art panels that absorb sound without clogging the fabric’s pores. The process ensured accurate color reproduction directly from Zasu’s paint specifications—right down to the leftover paint can reference.

Each panel was precision-cut to fit between existing trim sections, giving the installation a seamless, built-in appearance. After a quick sample approval process, the project moved to production and was completed in less than a month. The result was a quiet, balanced dining environment where guests could enjoy their meals and conversations comfortably—without the distracting background echo that previously filled the space.

• Visual Integration: Panels matched to Zasu’s custom color palette
• Acoustic Performance: Noticeable echo reduction & clearer speech
• Client Satisfaction: Improved comfort without design compromise

This project highlights how color and sound can coexist through tailored acoustic design. Zasu’s team reported immediate improvements in the room’s sound quality and customer experience. The staff found the space easier to work in, and diners appreciated the more relaxed ambiance.

By blending visual design with performance, each custom color acoustic panel became part of the restaurant’s overall aesthetic rather than a visible afterthought. This approach demonstrates how acoustic solutions can be fully customized to complement any color scheme—delivering both acoustic comfort and cohesive design continuity.

Custom color acoustic panels offer architects and interior designers a way to solve acoustic issues without altering their aesthetic vision. Whether matching trim, molding, or exact wall tones, Commercial Acoustics delivers a flexible approach that merges visual harmony with acoustic precision.

Our ability to print, fabricate, and install custom acoustic solutions ensures every project—like Zasu in New Orleans—sounds as good as it looks. To explore how custom color acoustic art panels can enhance your next restaurant or hospitality project, contact Commercial Acoustics for expert consultation.