This new brick and mortar restaurant and bar from chef Kristi Brown and Damon Bomar of That Brown Girl Cooks! resides on the main floor of the new Liberty Bank Building. Communion is a manifestation of the community that Chef Kristi Brown has been building for some time. The space conveys the approachable, welcoming, and community-oriented sentiment for which Chef Kristi has become known. At the same time, the design includes pops of bright colors and luminescent materials that introduce a level of sophistication and polish. The restaurant combines cozy tufted leather banquette seating with slick touches like copper-plated bar top and ceiling tiles and bright teal accents inspired by bar manager Damon Bomar’s favorite jazz clubs in Atlanta and Washington D.C. The result is an approachably swank environment designed to foster community.
COMMUNION RESTAURANT & BAR
Communion's mission of "fostering a sense of closeness that attends a sense of belonging through culinary exploration" is expressed through the design.
Particular emphasis is given to the concept of the restaurant being home which is literally expressed in elements such as a floor inlay just inside the entrance which reads “I Am Home,” and more subtly in the oversized bar chairs which were selected for comfort and to encourage patrons to linger.
The design emphasizes transparency, embracing the restaurant’s corner location with wrap-around windows allowing passersby to see through to the grab-and-go market just inside the entrance as well as the dining area, bar, and open kitchen. Low-height banquettes, a large live-edge wood community table, and counter seating create opportunities for casual conversation and connection, which for Chef Kristi, is just as important as the lovingly prepared food and handcrafted cocktails being served.
MATTER OF TASTE
COMMUNION RESTAURANT & BAR
“Before we even named our new restaurant, we knew we wanted a communal table,” says Kristi Brown, acclaimed Seattle chef and founder of the beloved culinary brand That Brown Girl Cooks!. It was only fitting that the new eatery, which Brown and her son, Damon Bomar, opened in Seattle’s Central District, be called Communion. The duo serves up soul food in a sophisticated yet down-home setting inside the Liberty Bank Building, a development that honors the neighborhood’s African American roots. With the help of designers Michelle Linden and Angela Tam of Atelier Drome, Communion’s warm, welcoming aesthetic combines cozy tufted leather banquette seating with slick touches like copper-plated ceiling tiles and bright teal accents inspired by Bomar’s favorite jazz clubs in Atlanta and D.C. The result is an approachably swank environment designed to foster community. “Cooking brings people together,” says Brown. “But it’s a big responsibility. People are hungry for more than just food.” communionseattle.com
- Luxe Interiors + Design, Pacific Northwest, March 2021
DESIGN CONCEPT
Location
Central District | Seattle, Washington
DATE OF COMPLETION
2020
CONTRACTOR
PHOTOGRAPHER
PRESS