Planning a complete renovation and then deciding to design the space all on your own, especially a space loved by so many people, is an immense undertaking. This is exactly what Karen Sobocinski made up her mind to do with the kitchen and dining area at The Loft at Soby’s. Those who know Karen probably weren’t surprised by her eagerness to take on such a task. An innovative thinker and a creative individual with a flair for decor, Sobocinski, a business development consultant, looked at all her options and then decided to go with her heart in the planning of the space.
Soby’s New South Cuisine is one of Greenville’s most popular establishments. Known for its famous shrimp and grits, She-crab soup, and sumptuous desserts, the restaurant celebrates its twenty-fourth birthday this year. And though it’s been around for twenty years, the Loft is more of a hidden gem. Perched above the former Soby’s on the Side, it’s a popular destination for those celebrating milestone birthdays, weddings, receptions, and other important occasions, checking the boxes for most any type of event request. The Loft, which boasts a kitchen, dining room, living room, two bars, two bedrooms, and a rooftop event space, has also hosted dignitaries and celebrities passing through the area.
Karen and her husband, Carl Sobocinski, founder and president of Table 301 Restaurant Group, agreed that the loft could use a refresh, and they agreed that they would keep the same footprint but give the space a cosmetic facelift. A key decision was doing everything “all at once.” Furniture and other accessories were ordered so they would arrive before demolition on the space began.
Redesigning a Hidden Gem
Karen was intentional about staying true to the age of the building and wanted to mix an Old World feel with an art deco twist. After demolition was complete, the renovation started with the cabinets; she decided on a wood finish with brass hardware throughout, including a metal mesh curio feature.
Sobocinski grew up in Miami and her family is of Cuban descent, and she was intentional about choosing some decor that reflected that. This can be felt throughout the loft in spaces including the kitchen bar, which features antique mirrors and brass drum pendant lighting as well as a display of china that was once owned by her grandmother in Cuba.
A visit to the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, California, was the inspiration for the collection of copper vintage molds that are displayed on the back wall in the kitchen—a feature Sobocinski plans on expanding over time.
She is particularly fond of The Loft’s dining room area, which you enter through large sliding barn doors hung on brass hardware. The space seats up to forty people and is adorned with rose-colored channeled velvet banquette seating that circles the room.
In the midst of planning, Karen knew she wanted the chef’s table to be the star of the kitchen. The island table retains the shape of the famous Soby’s O and boasts a marble top. With the renovation, the table now has added room for bar stools and a bronze metallic base featuring picket-shaped tile. Tucked inside the chef’s table are sectioned-off areas focused on optimizing storage, with space for chafing dishes, platters, and other kitchen essentials.
The faucets were also designed with intention; it was very important to Sobocinski to use faucets that would capture each chef’s mark on the kitchen. She chose an unlacquered brass that will develop a patina over time. The faucets are made by Waterstone and are the same ones that are used at The White House in Washington, D.C.
Karen Sobocinski says her goal for the renovation was to design a space that would make each guest feel at home while also allowing them to enjoy an up-close and personal experience with the chef. The Loft is a jewel in the Table 301 family and one with many unique facets to explore.
