on the design process and Lara’s experience working with Ian
I needed someplace to store the liquor. We had done some remodeling and had 2 blank wall spaces I thought would suit but didn’t really know what type of furniture would be attractive and serve this purpose. Should it be a bookshelf, a stack of shelves with closed and open spaces? I left it up to Ian, with whom I had now done several projects and trusted him to solve the problem. Hopefully within budget. If he had an aesthetic in mind, we didn’t discuss it initially and all early planning seemed dictated by structural considerations. He quickly dismissed the idea of a bookcase or shelf-like structure and wanted the support for the booze boxes (they were christened such from the beginning) to come from suspension. I know I learned a lot about construction and remember there were some interesting challenges to his design. However, I am embarrassed to admit I can’t adequately explain these challenges since I have failed to retain some of his teaching. There was quite a bit of teaching.
We did choose the veneer together. Or rather, he showed me the veneer he had chosen, and I agreed it would look great. He also decided early in the design process the legs should be blackened and the top of the boxes should be treated in a way that allowed easy cleanup mixing drinks. I wish I could remember how he decided a treated zinc layer applied to the wood would serve this purpose, but it is a gorgeous design element that indeed provides for easy cleanup. Yes, that’s right. We have hand-made wood furniture that we regularly douse with sticky, wet fixings. And it looks pristine after wiping with a damp cloth. It’s beautiful and practical and completely unique. It did not, however, come in on budget. Ian felt so guilty, he offered to design my next project free of charge. Now, if I can just convince my husband I need to do more work on the house…