Boutique Design - April 2014 - 32

PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS:

OWNER/DESIGN/PURCHASING
COMPANY/TABLES

Urban Kitchen Group
ARCHITECT

Mark Bausback
GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Hawkins Construction
SPECIALTY DESIGN
CONSULTANTS

Finishing Touch Millwork
Tazz Lighting
Orness Design Group (kitchen
design)
AUDIO/VISUAL

Mood

CONCRETE FLOORING

Shelby & Sons Concrete
James Habiejch Concrete
Polishing
FURNITURE

Bend
Mixture
Restoration Hardware
Urban Kitchen Group
LIGHTING

Restoration Hardware
Tazz Lighting
Urban Kitchen Group
TABLETOP

Trimark Economy

4 A 2,000-sq.-ft.
second-floor covered
dining garden offers
a mix of seating:
hanging rattan chairs,
benches, banquettes
and bar stools.

Natural and industrial materials-concrete
floors, steel beams and wood shelving-evoke the
newest CuCiNa's modern kitchen-meets-historic
farmhouse feel, but Borkum's theatrical touches
really bring the design to life. "The design is all about
storytelling, creating individual areas with unique
stories so that people see something new every time
they come back," Borkum says.
in keeping with that strategy, the retail area near
the entrance features an eclectic variety of fixtures,
furnishings and unique SoCal décor items that are
showcased throughout the restaurant's design. For
example, patrons who like the faux-leather and
burlap coffee sack armchairs, servingware or antler
chandeliers can order them on-site or online.
Wine is displayed on maple and steel shelving
units that curve along the walls from the retail
space toward the central dining hub, where guests
can sit at the bar, the charcuterie station or one of
two 20-seat communal tables complemented with
metal and wood barstools. "it's high energy-it gets
crazy on the weekends," Borkum notes.
To emphasize the 30-foot-high ceiling, Borkum
included several unique design features overhead.
a 20-foot-tall mural by local graffiti artist Tocayo
wraps around a soffit above the charcuterie station.
32

boutiquedesign.com APRIL 2014

a central steel, wood, and glass staircase gets a
playful touch with 400 miniature collectible toy
horses dangling from cables. above the bar, globes
hang from oversized hooks and tiered chandeliers
are suspended from a steel i-beam.
Behind the staircase, a semi-private dining table
has seating for up to 14. Blue wire mesh chairs with
cushions add a homey feel, while a steel mesh
structure above the table houses lighting and
displays colorful merchandise.
The glass-wrapped patio space at the restaurant's
front provides a subdued counterpoint to the central
dining area, with a lowered 9-ft. maple plywood
ceiling and full-height windows. Banquette seats and
pillows abound, while Borkum's custom-designed
faux-leather chairs backed with coffee sack fabric are
in keeping with her "reuse/recycle/repurpose" ethos.
Similarly, light fixtures are reclaimed wire shades
that splay out from the center of the dropped ceiling,
which cleverly houses the building's mechanicals.
upstairs, slatted wood surrounds the open-air
garden patio with oversized window openings. The
eclectic space features a mix of seating, including
couches, hanging rattan chairs, benches and orange
barstools. as a bonus, Borkum says, "We use all of
the produce we grow there-including lemon, limes,

SIGNAGE/GRAPHICS

Stanford Sign & Awning
WALL COVERINGS

Chico Sales
Steel Detail
Tocayo Graffiti Artist
For a full list of participants,
go to boutiquedesign.com

kumquats and herbs-for cocktails and food prep."
architect Mark Bausback, who is part of the
team that has worked on every CuCiNa project to
date, describes Borkum as "an artist who uses the
building as her canvas," moving things around and
adding elements as she sees fit. "Tracy scouts L.a.
flea markets and pulls things together even before
she knows where everything will go. She just has an
eye for what will work," he says.
That means even a trip to the bathroom is an
experience. Borkum's idea for a wishing wall-where
diners can write down their desires-has been so
well received that she's putting it in the next
CuCiNa enoteca, which is set to open this summer
in Newport Beach, Calif.
"it's really all about offering people something
more than a meal, giving them a takeaway from the
experience," she says.
Since its opening last fall, the 285-seat CuCiNa
enoteca Del Mar seems to have carved out a place
for itself in San Diego's highly competitive restaurant scene. "it's always ambitious to open a big
restaurant, but it's been full every day," Borkum
says. "it's about making sure guests have the
trifecta-great food, great service and a great experience-and that's always been our mission." 

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Boutique Design - April 2014

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