RIFT OAK STORAGE CLOSET AND BAR:

The Space: A compact, square, windowless entry space located adjacent to a multi-purpose room. This space initially housed the clients’ home office.

The Need: Cabinetry to house a dry bar, linens, bedding, clothes and other items requiring deep storage in order to make better use of this underutilized space which will serve as the entryway for a newly designed home office and library (see Rift Oak Home Office).

The Solution: The first thing one sees upon entering this entry space is a large built-in Rift Oak cabinet covering the entire wall. This multi-purpose cabinet contains pull-out shelves for deep storage, large drawers for linens and blankets, a full height closet with two clothes rods, and an internally lit dry bar for the occasional entertaining of guests in the adjacent library/guestroom. The new cabinet gives this small space “personality” and a purpose. Its details match that of the cabinetry and wood in the adjacent home office thereby providing an aesthetic cohesiveness to these newly redesigned areas. InHouse also consulted on the lighting design, electrical work and colors.

The Space: A kitchen.

The Need: A piece of furniture for a high-end kitchen that was to serve as a side desk and a storage unit for recipe cards and general files. The Client did not want the piece to look like a desk but rather like, "a piece of furniture".

The Solution: An attractive, compact, sideboard with file drawers, divided drawers for file cards and general drawers for miscellaneous storage. A pullout"bread board" on top serves as an occasional desk surface. Stained maple, solids and veneers.

Photo: F5

CONTEMPORARY MODULAR WALL UNIT

The Space: A bedroom in a loft containing a bed and makeshift desk area. The room lacked an organized closet and adequate storage for both clothes and files.

The Need: To organize the room to allow for a home office/bedroom with adequate space for a computer, general storage, clothes, files and numerous VCR tapes (the client is in the arts and has numerous footage of his work). The room was not large but had high ceilings. The client did not want the design to look like a library nor did he want large, heavy pieces built in but expressed an interest in a contemporary "high tech" look.

The Solution: InHouse designed a "floating" wall system suspended from iron brackets which span from wall to ceiling. The numerous storage units are of various sizes and depths to accommodate different uses and are placed so that there is a lot of open space between them. The idea was to create an interesting pattern of wall hung storage units; some with doors, some with metal backs, some shallow and some deep in order to create visual "rhythm" on the main wall. White washed Birch cabinetry with brushed steel aluminum accents on drawer and door fronts.

The Space: an existing closet in a dining room.

The Need: an attractive cabinet that would allow the Clients to display their glassware, serve drinks and food, and store kitchen items and linens. It was to serve as the focal point of the dining room.

The Solution: InHouse ripped out the entire closet and created a stunning cabinet/bar which was visually integrated with the wall to its left. The cabinet was designed to take advantage of the fact that it is located next to a hallway and could therefore be seen (and utilized) from the right side as well as from the front. Using two tone rift oak, both solids and veneers, a very linear design evolved with some strong horizontal elements repeated throughout the cabinet. Handmade wooden knobs on the lower drawers and cabinets provided additional drama and “movement”. The solution integrated lighting. The cabinetry, accessed from two directions, maximizes storage capacity and gives the adjacent hallway some “personality”. All lower cabinets had pull out shelves for easy accessibility of stored goods. A pebbled copper backsplash which surrounds the bar area was created to mimic copper accents which existed in other rooms of the home.

The Space: A room with insufficient closet and storage space.

The Need: A tall free standing cabinet to house supplies. The Client wanted the design to be somewhat sculptural considering the cabinet’s anticipated girth.

The Solution: A contemporary taupe-colored oak armoire which appears to be three boxes stacked vertically on a base but is actually a single unit with two doors and adjustable shelves inside. The door handles are actually recessed cubes sculpted out of each box.


Photo: F9 Cabinet doors open

The Need: A sofa side table which needed to act both as a pedestal for a sculpture as well as a table for occasional use as a surface for food and drinks when the client is entertaining. The table would be primarily viewed from the left side when approaching and from the front when in the seating area of the room so it needed to look interesting from both angles. The room was not a big one so the design could not look overwhelming or too substantial

The Solution: A simple contemporary design consisting of a rectilinear cherry pedestal which is dramatically bisected by a 3/4" clear glass shelf on three sides. The specified height was intended to best display the piece of sculpture from various points in the room as well as to relate to the adjacent sofa arm. The glass shelf cantilevers into the room at an easily accessible height and acts as a small entertaining surface or a repository for a magazine or book. The most dramatic views of the table are from the front and left side per the Client’s wishes.
Photo: E15

The Solution: A storage cabinet with two shallow drawers for desk supplies on top as well as sufficient space in the body of the cabinet for the wine and dishes behind doors with frosted glass panels. A "floating" glass top and tapered wooden legs further "lighten" this piece. The unit was built out of cherry veneers and solids and stained to match the dining room table.
Photo: E16

The Space: A wall in a living room between a window and French doors.

The Need: A wall unit which was to house books, a piece of sculpture, numerous CDs and display the Client’s ceramic vase to its best advantage. The Client did not want the pieces to overwhelm the space and wanted a bit of a Mondrian look in the main storage piece with openings of different sizes. She was leaning towards an overall Asian aesthetic, though.

The Solution: A three piece two tone mahogany sectional which provides storage for books and CDs while highlighting the Client’s sculpture and pottery. Each piece could stand alone should the client move. Together, they form a rhythmic answer to the Client’s storage and display needs as they portray a horizontal and vertical design approach to the problem. The CDs are stored in internally divided drawers. The sculpture is housed in a lit niche which is adjustable in size should the client want to highlight another object. The pottery vase sits on a base cabinet which was specifically sized to complement the vase’s proportions.

The Space: A highly visible den in a new home right off the main entry.

The Need: A wall of shelves to create a library. The client wanted a more contemporary feel and felt the wall should definitely give the room some personality.

The Solution: The furniture which is to inhabit the space is mahogany. InHouse decided to make the built-in shelves recede by painting them. We knew that the books themselves would end up providing sufficient visual interest. The shelving unit’s personality derives from its unusual stepped cornice which is penetrated by the thick vertical elements which define the individual shelf compartments. Most shelves are adjustable for maximum flexibility.

The Space: A wall in a living room between a window and French doors.

The Need: A wall unit which was to house books, a piece of sculpture, numerous CDs and display the Client’s ceramic vase to its best advantage. The Client did not want the pieces to overwhelm the space and wanted a bit of a Mondrian look in the main storage piece with openings of different sizes. She was leaning towards an overall Asian aesthetic, though.

The Solution: A three piece two tone mahogany sectional which provides storage for books and CDs while highlighting the Client’s sculpture and pottery. Each piece could stand alone should the client move. Together, they form a rhythmic answer to the Client’s storage and display needs as they portray a horizontal and vertical design approach to the problem. The CDs are stored in internally divided drawers. The sculpture is housed in a lit niche which is adjustable in size should the client want to highlight another object. The pottery vase sits on a base cabinet which was specifically sized to complement the vase’s proportions.

The Space: A large second floor hallway in a Victorian home with 10’-0" ceilings. The space was between two windows, adjacent to the top of the stairs. Any piece of furniture would be viewed on three sides: from the front, adjacent rooms and the top of the stairs as one ascends into the hall.

The Need: The client wanted to give this space some personality. He wanted a place to display his books and store some miscellaneous items and was intrigued by the idea of a library in the hall.

The Solution: A built-in, over-scaled book and storage cabinet in walnut. The cabinet, which sits between the two windows, is designed to have adjustable open shelves on the sides as well as the front of the unit so it would "read" well from any angle. It is anchored by a large base which protrudes into the room in a bay-like manner, providing ample storage. Design elements playfully reflect upon traditional Victorian elements found elsewhere in the home.