In the Bay Area, Michael Brennan has been designing fine dining restaurants for decades, including Fleur de Lys, Cliff House, Zero Zero, Baker & Banker, Bruno’s and many more. Since his first project painting murals for Pat Kuleto at the wonderscape of now-closed Farallon, Brennan, a trained painter, refuses to rely on a set color palette when designing a restaurant. “That is the last question for me,” he says. “I figure out all the other details first — architecture, lighting, how things are laid out — and make sure it works before I make decisions about anything.” From the guest’s perspective, that often means lighting is higher in the design hierarchy than color. “You have to light the atmosphere, make people look in and say ‘wow, I want to be in that space,’ Brennan confirms. Lighting is a big part of a restaurant’s unique experience — people need to look good in the restaurant, and Brennan wants women to look great in the bathroom mirror, too. But when it is time to consider the color palette, Brennan searches for harmony. He starts with a trim color, usually something dark, and then figures out the food. “You can get away with brighter colors in some spaces,” Brennan says. “You want colors with the same tone — I try to keep things exciting and harmonic.” It is a delicate balancing act. Subtle yet highly effective techniques deliver messages to denizens of social media
and the types of eaters a restaurant wants to attract. “Colors must be comforting first and foremost — there is not necessarily any one color that is wrong to use in a restaurant, but some colors do lend themselves to a more pleasant experience (which is important when the appetite should be stimulated),” says Reed. Blue, for example, is said to be relaxing, promoting a sense of calm in diners, much like the feeling one gets when near the ocean. Brown is thought to convey a down-to-earth message and a strong sense of security. Green signals abundance and health. Dark tones are often used to convey coziness or to make a space feel more intimate while lighter colors make a more welcoming. “In general, colors of natural elements and colors found in nature give us an association with food that is healthy and delicious to eat,” Reed adds. Balancing the psychological implications of color to make guests feel comfortable and hungry is a key element in restaurant design. “Since everyone is different, people perceive and interpret colors differently,” Reed says. “Perception of color can vary greatly depending on surrounding shades and hues as well as the color temperature of the light hitting it. Also, color blindness is a thing,” Reed remarks. Here is how design influence the eating experience at some Bay Area restaurants.
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ANTHONY PARKS,EMILIO SALEHI/EQUAL PARTS MEDIA (KAIYO); COURTESY OF DUE WEST, OLEMA HOUSE
Inspired by the ancient palaces of China and led by Mr. Zhongxuan Hong, HHD Hong Kong Eastern Holiday International Design chose a mix of green and blue for iChina’s interiors. “The green that is used is the color of the precious jade that the owner loves and the designer took inspiration,” Hong wrote in an email. “The blue is influenced by the painting “A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains,” gifted to Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) by the renowned court painter Wang XiMeng. Aiming for a feeling of refined elegance, the team created iChina’s signature color palette of green and gold with red toned accents for added warmth and style which nods to Chinese tradition and culture. From there, an Art Deco design aesthetic balances clean lines with geometric shapes — look at the grand lighting fixtures or the turquoise blue leather walls and crystal pillars, or the detailed lanterns in the form of ancient Chinese architectural buildings. But does it make you want to eat? “The design pulls from iconic landscapes, grand palaces, and the artistic excellence of imperial China,” Hong wrote. “A reflective water ripple ceiling resembling a mirage in the stars [among other details] is meant to create a sense of endless prosperity and a luxurious yet welcoming atmosphere.” I’ll take that as a “yes.”
JIUBA/COURTESY OF ICHINA
iChina | Green and Blue