Modernist design sensibilities meet thriving '90s metropolis in the newest California Café Bar & Grill, located in the stylish Buckhead district of Atlanta, GA. Open since June 21, 1996, the restaurant boasts a distinctive design that is uniquely appropriate for this major Southern city.

Engstrom Design Group, in a joint venture with To Design, provided interior design services for the 13,000-square-foot, two-story space. Inspired by the design aesthetic of the 1950s, the interior is defined by bold lines, bright colors and modern decorative elements crafted from industrial materials.

The design team took a playful, dynamic approach to the '50's maxims such as "form follows function," and "ornament is crime," creating a space that is both whimsical and sophisticated. During this post-war period, industrial advances and a sense of the coming Machine Age fueled a renaissance in art and architecture.

Interior elements, such as the inventive soffits that curve and zigzag throughout the restaurant, serve a decorative and important functional purpose. Besides shaping the space, the soffits provide visual excitement and help draw patrons into the room.

Consistent with Modernist ideas, dividers -- not walls -- are used to define the activity areas within the open, pavilion-like space. Custom screen elements, crafted from raw steel and Italian blown glass, separate the lounge from the main dining areas and divide both private dining rooms and booths.

Furnishings and fixtures contribute to the impression of a 1950's living room. Bentwood dining chairs were inspired by the Modernist design team of Charles and Ray Eames. Mondrian-inspired geometric patterns find their way onto windows, service stations, dishes and the pizza oven. Cosmopolitan, '50s-style wainscotting combines mahogany, maple and aluminum channeling. Space-age light fixtures are covered with colorful shades of frosted glass.

The design emphasizes a couple of entertaining focal points. Large, Calder-inspired mobiles, made from colorful panels of sandblasted plexiglas, float above the main dining room and the foyer. The restaurant's exposed kitchens -- synonymous with California cuisine -- are integrated into every aspect of the design and can be viewed from every seat.

The 400-seat space incorporates a sidewalk patio and upstairs terrace as well as private dining rooms. California Café's food is an electic fusion of American, Asian and Italian influences, focused on the fresh, seasonal food of the region.

Related Articles » Good Design Is Good Customer Service » How Interior Design Improves Productivity » A New Experience for Home Offices » Design team creates new statement in a familiar place. » Art Deco Echo » What Does a Designer Actually Do? » Eco Design Matters: What's Green? » No More Great American Lunch Hours » Design for Disability » Understanding Disabilities