Project Spotlight: Confab Kitchen & Bar

All photos by Morgan Nowland

Confab Kitchen + Bar is the kind of restaurant that feels instantly familiar yet carefully considered. Located in Brookhaven, the neighborhood gathering spot brings together elevated European American fare, a welcoming bar culture, and an interior that balances sophistication with approachability. For NBA, the project was built on the firm’s experience in restaurant design, applying technical expertise and a clear understanding of operations to create an environment that supports both craft and guest experience.

From the outset, Confab was envisioned as a place for conversation. The name itself references casual dialogue, a meaning that shaped not only the brand but the spatial intent. The client and longtime Atlanta restaurateur, Doug Gross, brought decades of experience and a clear sense of what had worked in past concepts. What he needed was a space that could evolve with him, support a versatile menu, and feel equally appropriate for families, regulars, and first-time diners.

That vision came to life in a 3,500 square foot restaurant paired with a 1,000 square foot patio designed to extend the dining experience. That indoor-outdoor connection became central to the overall concept, reinforcing the idea of movement and gathering.

Early studies leaned toward a more refined, formal aesthetic, influenced by the client’s culinary background and polished menu presentation, but as conversations evolved, the team recalibrated to better reflect how the restaurant would function day to day. “As a team, we kept coming back to balance,” said Melissa Borrmann, NCIDQ, Director of Interior Design. “We wanted the space to feel elevated, but still approachable. It needed to support the food and the experience without feeling intimidating. The goal was to create a place where someone could stop in casually at the bar or settle in for a full dinner with family.”

That balance is evident in the material palette. Akitee Lewis-White, Interior Designer, described the approach as intentional contrast. “Every material was chosen to speak to its opposite,” she said. “You have refined elements like marble paired with raw brick, straight lines offset by curves. Repeating those shapes and tones throughout the space is what makes it feel cohesive rather than busy.”

The bar itself anchors the restaurant, both visually and operationally. Designed to accommodate waiting patrons, social gatherings, and indoor outdoor service, it became the organizational heart of the space. A curved blue tile bar front creates a tactile focal point, one that required both creativity and technical problem solving to bring to life. The detail reflects NBA’s ability to carry a strong design concept through construction without losing feasibility. Recognizing that not every guest prefers bar height seating, the team prioritized a range of seating options to support comfort and flexibility. The result is an environment where guests can feel at ease, whether stopping in briefly or settling in for the evening.

Behind the scenes, flow and functionality were equally critical. Because the project began within a cold dark shell, NBA had flexibility in locating plumbing, restrooms and service areas. That freedom allowed the team to align design intent with operational efficiency from the start.

Sr. Project Manager Gretchen Lotz-Szatmary worked closely with the design team to coordinate space planning, kitchen layout, and service circulation. The kitchen, compact by necessity, was carefully organized to support efficiency, with clear loops for staff movement and dual-use zones that maximized every square foot.

“It was a lot of problem solving,” Lotz-Szatmary said. “There were columns to work around, equipment coordination, and budget considerations, but the end result supports the way the restaurant actually operates day to day.”

In the dining room, performance continued to shape design decisions with ceiling acoustics becoming one of the most subtle, yet impactful, features in Confab. Rather than leaving the plenum fully exposed, the team introduced dropped ’clouds’ over key seating areas to absorb sound and create a more comfortable dining environment. Dimmable lighting zones also allow the atmosphere to shift from daytime brightness to evening intimacy, reinforcing Confab’s role as an all-day neighborhood destination.

“We talked a lot about restaurants where you can’t hear or see the person next to you,” Lotz-Szatmary said. “That was something we wanted to avoid. The ceiling planes help manage sound while also bringing the scale of the space down to something more human.”

At the entry, a large mural acts as both a visual anchor and a conversation starter, aligning with the restaurant’s name and purpose. The piece, created by local muralist Killamari, adds personality and reinforces the idea that the space itself is a backdrop for dialogue, food, and community

Throughout the entire process, early coordination and collaboration with vendors were essential. For the NBA team, it was a reminder that listening closely to clients and guiding them through unfamiliar decisions is just as critical as the design itself. That shared trust and collaboration ultimately shaped a space that feels cohesive and every detail carefully considered.

At its core, Confab Kitchen + Bar succeeds because it understands its audience. It fits naturally into Brookhaven’s dining landscape without duplicating what already exists. Rather than chasing trends, the space feels intentional and timeless, designed to evolve alongside its menu and neighborhood. The result reflects a belief that great interiors are rooted in conversation, collaboration, and careful attention to how people truly use space, where design and everyday life come together one conversation at a time.

Project Team:

Client: Confab Kitchen & Bar
Interior Designer: Niles Bolton Associates
MEP Engineer: Sales O’Brien
General Contractor: Rand Construction Corporation
Muralist: Killamari
Photographer: Morgan Nowland Photography