Top NY Restaurant Designer on Setting a Memorable Scene

By Laura Neilson
July 26, 2011

Most New Yorkers may not know Jason Volenec by name, but many would recognize his interior design work, specifically throughout some of the city's most fashionable restaurants and watering holes: La Esquina, Lure Fishbar, Socarrat Paella Bar and Allen & Delancey (now shuttered, but still remembered for its moody and romantic décor) were all among the eateries designed by the talented interior decorator, along with and L.A.’s theater-like Café Was.

Cafe Was

Eateries designed by Jason Volenec: Cafe Was

Utterly diverse in interior design, each of these spots has amassed as much attention for its décor as they have for what’s coming out of the kitchen. And yet the man behind such fantastically varied backdrops often remains a rather quiet player. Volenec began his career on the west coast, designing video sets for acts such Cypress Hill and Snoop Dogg. Taking inspiration from the design ethos of architect Morris Lapidus, Volenec explains that each of his design projects are an attempt to create a more permanent theatrical environment—settings where perhaps "everyday people" can become the actors in a scene. Indeed, it seems Volenec never really abandoned the title "set designer."

Though his finished interior design projects do become fixed “sets” of sorts, Volenec is constantly switching things up. Los Angeles’ Café Was channels Old Hollywood with its grand balconies, lush draperies, and vintage wallpapers. It’s truly an epic masterpiece in scale and design. On the other end of the spectrum, Volenec made the most of the petite and narrow space (almost miniscule by comparison) at New York’s Socarrat Paella bar with rows upon rows of cupboards. Blending form and function, the storage units add a dose of whimsy to the scene as they extend as far upward as the ceiling.

The Best Chocolate Cake In The World

The Best Chocolate Cake In The World

Volenec tells us his current fascination is with “cheapness”—an element that couldn’t be further away from the grandeur of Café Was. But that’s exactly what makes him so accomplished in his craft.

The Inside Source: How has your design aesthetic evolved over time?

Jason Volenec: I try not to impose my will on a space. I try to let the project, the space, the program govern the narrative, so I struggle with the idea of having a recognizable “style” in my work. That said, it is true that there’s occasionally a certain cross-contamination from project to project—generally at a client’s request, which I completely understand.

The Inside Source: Would you say there are any signature trademarks in your design style, then?

Jason Volenec: I do tend to have an obsession with doors.

The Inside Source: When you walk into a room or space, what’s the first thing that catches your eye

Jason Volenec: I’m mostly interested in the overall composition of a space and its object relationships. I am rarely interested in a single object, as most musicians would rarely be interested in a single note.

The Inside Source: Who are some of your favorite artists or interior designers?

Jason Volenec: This week, I’m inspired by Alexander Brodsky.

The Inside Source: What kind of emerging interior design trends have you noticed lately?

Jason Volenec: My favorite thing right now is “cheapness.” I walked by a storefront the other day that was decorated with masking tape on the window. It seemed like the cheapest solution possible and that excited me. A smart guy once claimed that expensive materials are to be used only when you run out of ideas. I try to use this as a creativity gauge.

Socarrat

Socarrat

The Inside Source: So are there any interior designs trends that you’re over?

Jason Volenec: Edison bulbs and spaces that pretend they’ve been there forever.

The Inside Source: Do you shop for vintage items? Where?

Jason Volenec: I occasionally use eBay for furniture and light fixtures. Right now I’m on the lookout for Milo Baughman bar stools and a Sciolari chandelier.

The Inside Source: Is there an ultimate design piece that you’re forever searching for?

Jason Volenec: Yes, a bone from Le Corbusier’s bone collection.

right: Allen & Delancey

(images courtesy Jason Volenec)

Restaurant Designer Jason Volenec's Predictably Unpredictable eBay Picks

Brodsky & Utkin Book

A collection of etchings by Alexander Brodsky and Ilya Utkin, two main figures of Russian’s “Paper Architects” artistic movement.
Le Corbusier Swivel Chair

(buy it now price, $695)

A classic piece by the renowned contemporary designer—one that’s not too much of an investment, either.
Milo Baughman Bar Stools

(buy it now price, $3,200)

With their brass footrests and substantial shape, these lush stools are glamorous and sturdy at once.
1960s Sciolari Modernist Gold White Chandelier

(buy it now price, $634.77)

Sciolari chandeliers can be sleek and minimalist...
Sciolari Chrome Chandelier

(buy it now price, $750)

.... lush and extravagant
Sciolari Glass Rod Swizzle Sticks Chandelier

(buy it now price, $798.89)

... and decadent.