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From
Concept to Design
By Laura Birns |
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The
Bar
The
concept for this built-in bar was to make it appear to
be a piece of free-standing furniture/sculpture. The shape
allows people enough room to lean, sit, and stand with
one another. A perfect environment for good communication
was created.
Environmentally
sustainable materials were used: glass, granite, solid
maple, solid wengi, and bronzed metal. The intersecting
French Curved glass balances out the two wengi pillars.
The glass counter is frosted on the underside to disguise
fingerprints and spots. The glass detail on the face of
the bar is back sprayed to conceal equipment that is located
on the inside of the bar. The glass inserts match the
bar's upper cabinets. The back-sprayed color matches the
wall.
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There
are drawers and an under mount refrigerator on the "work"
side of the bar, with a channel to conceal the electrical
needs (on left side of bar). The opposite side of this
space has a sink and two under counter wine refrigerators.
The side windows in this area pop out so and inside/outside
bar can be created when the owners do outside entertainment.
There is a counter outside of the window made of the same
granite used inside. I had total involvement in space
planning, design, specifying all materials, equipment,
furnishings and finishes. |
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Space Design Challenge
Walls
are intentional barriers. Open Space is a challenge to create
zones that flow so naturally into each other that no matter
which direction approached, you are always at the beginning.
Properly defined space is likened to a linked bracelet.
Each link is connected, yet is also separate and complete
within itself.
This
remodel/addition allows space to be defined by materials
and color. The same materials are used throughout, however,
different materials are emphasized in each area. |
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It
is an inside/outside project. The exposed beams and butterfly
roof allow this space to soar. The ten-foot door opening
brings the inside out to the newly enlarged backyard. The
windows at the bar pop out to an exterior bar counter extension.
This
space rocks. It is designed to party. |
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The
fireplace face is chipped limestone with a slate seat. Slate
is in the entry and also runs into the halls and formal
dining area. The coloration of the limestone is carried
through by the granite counter. The TV cabinet is maple.
The flooring is split bamboo. The bar is Maple and Wengi
with a sandblasted glass sit-up counter and granite work
surface. There is bronze trim. The bronze trim is repeated
in the legs of the banquette and the light valance on top
of the cabinetry that runs throughout the space. Bronze
accents create a high and low (Base and valence) in this
project. The upper bar cabinets are stainless steel and
glass. The desk is Wengi and Maple, with glass accent (LEFT).
The upholstered banquette (the serpentine, as I call it)
is made of Maple and Wengi. It has bronze legs. |
The
kitchen cabinetry is a combination of maple, amethyst painted
lowers and stainless steel and glass uppers. The cabinets
have a bronze valence o top. A specialty stainless perforated
metal drawer bank was designed to add something different. |
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The
turquoise and amethyst glass mosaic tile, used for the back
splash, helps to carry the coloration throughout the space.
It is mimed again with the amethyst pillows on the rust-colored
sofa. The sofa has maple legs with bronze caps.
There
is a latte bar connected to the pantry (RIGHT). The glass
block wall of the dining room can be seen. It curves into
the space. The cool light at this bar is of a copper coil
with beads. |
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The
walls are terra cotta and periwinkle. Warm and cool. The
down sofa has terra cotta chenille, rattan fabric on the
back with periwinkle pillows.
The
furniture, including the bar, bar stools, sofa, all cabinetry,
desk, banquette, and side table are custom designed, by
myself, specifically for this project. The materials are
environmentally sustainable. |
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