Kinfolk
by David Anthony Chenault

Situated at The Wharf in Washington, D.C., Kinfolk Restaurant emerges as a contemporary rendition of a whiskey bar, specializing in Southern Comfort cuisine. The driving force behind its captivating interior is the  interior designer, David Anthony Chenault. The establishment, strategically positioned along the bustling waterfront of The Wharf, adheres to a distinct design directive: to craft an inviting and tranquil ambiance that seamlessly encapsulates the novel amalgamation of a whiskey bar and the comfort-laden culinary offerings synonymous with the Southern United States.

The restaurant’s location, boasting panoramic, floor-to-ceiling windows that unveil scenic waterfront vistas, necessitated a design approach characterized by modernity, informality, comfort, openness, cleanliness, and a touch of drama. David Anthony Chenault deftly orchestrated these elements by incorporating vintage nuances reinterpreted through a judicious fusion of wood, copper, and cast iron tones.

Notably, authentic materials form the bedrock of the design, with all furniture crafted from wood and accented by a medley of zinc, copper, and heated metal sheets. A pivotal aesthetic feature is the bar top, a contemporary reinterpretation of a whiskey barrel, complemented by walls enveloped in heated metal sheets to achieve a distinguished “cast-iron” appearance.

What distinguishes this design is its organic flow, characterized by a harmonious integration of warm, nature-inspired tones. Visually accessible and imbued with a restrained flair, Kinfolk Restaurant, under the discerning guidance of David Anthony Chenault, succeeds in delivering a space that exudes comfort while maintaining an overall scale that is both refined and captivating.