Blue Cactus

Located in Ottawa’s popular Byward Market area, the Blue Cactus combines casual daytime ambience and vibrant evening atmosphere for a unique dining experience. Looking to modernize their existing interior design, and as a large, open space with floor-to-ceiling windows, the Blue Cactus required lighting that would add a soft glow and offer a kick of drama to its refined décor.

The restaurant’s lighting was carefully selected to add a whimsical and airy feel to the rich adobe and brick tones, balancing the restaurant’s earthy Southwest design style. Bloom Lighting Group created eight custom oversize cloud-like fixtures to make a statement over the bar. Seven of the pendants are composed of a cluster of stainless-steel branches with 63 small acrylic diffuser bulbs per luminaire. Four of the pendants feature yellow diffusers, while the remaining three have white diffusers to vary the lighting tone and provide visual interest. 

In the lounge, a dramatic custom pendant contrasts against the area’s dark bar tables and rustic ceramic floor tiles. Divided into concentric layers, the luminaire echoes the stainless steel branch-like forms of the seven above-bar pendants.