Sunny Village Cafe - Chicago, IL

Opening September 2024, this Jefferson Park Children’s Playground Café is set to be a vibrant addition to the community. Located in the heart of Jefferson Park, this unique café combines a retro aesthetic with vivid, playful elements, offering a space where children can play freely while parents relax and enjoy a welcoming atmosphere.

Design Concept and Inspiration:

Our design journey for the café began with a retro mood board and a powerful 1960s-inspired graphic theme. This vision shaped every element of the interior, from the bold color palette to the unique materials chosen, creating a lively yet comfortable environment for all visitors.

Key Features:

Bar Area: The café features a bar area designed with warm, natural elements that are soft to the touch. The bar is accentuated with vibrant, colorful tiles that add a pop of color, seamlessly blending with the overall décor. Inspired by a local vendor, we used unique, off-ground tile designs to create a vertical display wall, continuing the dynamic tile pattern from the bar to the ground for a cohesive, eye-catching look.

Playground Area: Safety and style go hand in hand in the playground area, which is enclosed by a custom-designed fence from a German manufacturer. This structure ensures safety and durability while maintaining a soft, child-friendly surface. The fence's design integrates seamlessly with the café’s aesthetic, offering a semi-private feel that enhances the space’s functionality and appeal.

Seating Area: Adjacent to the bar, the seating area features plush, vivid corduroy fabric upholstery that adds softness and warmth to the wooden elements of the décor. This space invites guests to relax and enjoy the cozy ambiance while keeping an eye on their little ones in the playground.

ADA-Compliant Bathrooms: At the back of the café, two ADA-compliant bathrooms showcase our creative design approach. Collaborating closely with our clients, we incorporated colorful grout and created a custom-made design using tiles that extend from the floors up to a statement wall. Each bathroom is uniquely designed, featuring vibrant sinks that add a playful touch, perfectly complementing the café’s overall graphic theme.

Our team at Perpetuum Designs had a wonderful time bringing this project to life. Every element has been thoughtfully selected to complement the overall space, creating an inviting, family-friendly environment that we’re excited to share with the community.  

For more information on the Jefferson Park Children’s Playground Café and our other projects, explore our website and follow us on social media.  

Year Completed: 2024

Director of Hospitality Design: Cristiana Crin

Project Manager: George Papazov

Renderings: Christian Pires

Photo: Bogdan Nastase