Boutique Design - December 2019 - 46

2 0 19 G O L D K E Y AWA R D S

BEST RESTAURANT CASUAL DINING
WINNER

HEROIC DELI AND
WINE BAR
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
THE DESIGN FIRM: Preen, Los Angeles
THE MUSE: Serve up a small but mighty multi-layered design

concept that can be as satisfying as a lunchtime sandwich spot
offering wine on call as it is as a night-out destination for chef
Barbara Pollastrini's large communal wine dinners. Slice and
dice the limited footprint to accommodate casual deli dining
on the left wing and more traditional service at the high-format
common table in the garden-like setting of the right wing.
THE MAGIC: Spice it up. Blonde wood is the staple that unites
the various elements in the deli. However, it's anything but a
white-bread solution. The wood tables, chairs and counters
are rounded in unexpected, organic shapes. Cool, simple and
modern, it's the perfect counterpoint to the lush softness and
bold look of the wine garden. Wallpaper trees and an expansive
live hanging garden overhead sum up the Mount Olympus meets
Hanging Gardens of Babylon vibe. The heroic scale of the rolled
bowtie chef 's table keeps the experience consistent.
THE MAVERICK MOVE: An unexpected connection. A bloodred fixture arches from the upper deli dining down to crown the
server station on the main floor. The jolt of color in the otherwise
neutral deli and the fixture's 3-in. tubular steel suspension cable
make sure patrons look up. "The design occurs by super-imposition and mirroring, by the reach of one object, one material into
another dimension," says Alexis Readinger, founder and principal
designer. "It was an unusual way to unify the ground floor with
an upper space that could easily be overlooked-the common
bond that unites the two areas."
THE MESSAGE: It's good to think vertically. A hand-muraled
ceiling with an indigo background and representations of the
zodiac and other stars visually (and psychologically) expand the
garden room. A floor-to-ceiling metallic fixture punctured with
gold-toned lightning bolts turns a simple solution for masking
the back kitchen into a soaring artwork.

OWNER/OPERATOR: Jeffrey Merrihue, Santa Monica; DESIGN FIRM: Preen, Inc., Los Angeles: Alexis
Readinger, founder, principal designer; Guillem Camps, architect, designer; PURCHASING COMPANY:
Preen, Inc., Los Angeles; GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Wolf Construction, Clovis, California; DESIGN
CONSULTANT: John Barlow, LightGreen, Los Angeles [lighting design]; ART & ACCESSORIES: Renée
Fox; FABRICS: United Leather; FLOORCOVERINGS: Kaswell Flooring Systems; FURNITURE: Angel
City Woodshop; Danish Design Store; LIGHTING: Clarté Lighting; Hans Duus Blacksmith; Optic Arts;
SURFACING MATERIALS: Kaswell Flooring Systems; Texston Industries; WALLCOVERINGS: Rebel
Walls; West General Acoustic; OTHER: Rolling Greens Nursery

boutiquedesign.com DECEMBER 2019

BR ANDON BARRÉ

SOURCES

http://www.boutiquedesign.com

Boutique Design - December 2019

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