The Story
Our client asked us to design a dynamic space for his new bubble tea shop in heart of Capitol Hill. We wanted the shop to fit seamlessly into the vibrant surrounding community. Our approach was to give it more of a modern touch but still use bright colors that come to mind when you think about “bubble tea.” The main challenge was directing customers toward the shop’s point of sale, which was located below the street level. Customers would enter from the street level, walk across the seating area, and down the stairs to place their order at the counter. We knew we had to grab their attention, so we created a bold statement piece for the point of sale counter. Using modern detailing we created a slanted walnut wood trellis to draw attention from afar and stained the front of the bar and the logo backdrop with a brilliant blue. To grab the attention of passersby, we commissioned a local artist to create an Instagram-able art piece that would encourage people to share photos with their friends. We also worked in some sustainability by using beetle kill pine for the flooring at the street level entrance.
We always have fun working with commercial clients because business owners want to push the envelope to get their space noticed. The common issue on any project is a limited budget and this project is an example of how we can get creative with cost savings. We decided to use Ikea butcher block tabletops, used picture frames on the accent wall to create an organic texture. We also strategized to create the look of a large wood beam simply using 2x6 boards and sandwiching track lighting between two boards where we could hand relatively affordable pendant lights that utilized LED bulbs. In the end we were able to work within the client’s budget, saving money with creative solutions.
Project designed and completed while Ryan was an Associate at Board & Vellum.
Design Team: Ryan Adanalian, Jeff Sandler, Katie Mallory
Contractor: GMD Custom
Art (Rocket Man): Electric Coffin
Photographer: John G Wilbanks, Photography, Inc.
Location: Seattle, WA
Environment
Climate Zone:
4C, Marine
Ecoregion (EPA):
2f Central Puget Lowland
