TI for a Wine Bar on Capitol Hill
Footprint Wine Tap
A sustainable wine bar on Capitol Hill with a modern rustic vibe.
Reflective of Footprint Wine Tap’s sustainable values, our goal at the start of this project was to utilize as much as possible of what the former tenant, a beer garden, left behind. The beautiful copper-clad back-of-house area and the bar taps were welcome components we wanted to highlight.
The challenge was how to integrate a dose of the Old World aesthetics that are often hallmarks of traditional wine cellars. Between the very modern feel of the copper cladding and the all-concrete-and-storefront-window typical commercial space, the room felt impersonal.
To begin to personalize and humanize the space, we added high-contrast elm wood, a reclaimed banquette, and pops of green that will dovetail with the copper as it ages into its own green patina. Among the collection of new furniture for the space, we included a few copper pieces to help the new and existing blend together.
Honest Finishes
The concrete floors and exposed ductwork create a highly urban and modern feel, while leaning on paint for accents keeps the project approachable. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Honest Finishes
The concrete floors and exposed ductwork create a highly urban and modern feel, while leaning on paint for accents keeps the project approachable. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
People Watching
Bar seating along the storefront not only provides fruitful people-watching views, but easily lets passersby see the venue’s offerings. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
People Watching
Bar seating along the storefront not only provides fruitful people-watching views, but easily lets passersby see the venue’s offerings. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Small Accents
Small details, like this crystal planetarium, bring a touch of the natural world to the urban space. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Small Accents
Small details, like this crystal planetarium, bring a touch of the natural world to the urban space. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Another challenge was the odd shape of the existing space, featuring multiple angles coming together in not-entirely-intuitive ways. To solve this, we created two custom angled tables — one low, and one bar height — to reorient the space to be parallel the sidewalk, and create a comfortable proportion of space around the bar. Footprint Wine Tap’s proprietor was very hands-on with painting and a lot of decorative elements that bring the space together — including the reclaimed piano — and he even headlined the hand-cutting and installation of the reclaimed wine bottles that clad the face of the bar, which will fill out as more bottles are salvaged.
Complementary Palette
The drama of the existing copper paneling of the bar is offset with soothing blue-greens. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Complementary Palette
The drama of the existing copper paneling of the bar is offset with soothing blue-greens. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Future Patina
Copper chairs continue the copper theme of the bar, and will develop a blue-green patina over time. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Future Patina
Copper chairs continue the copper theme of the bar, and will develop a blue-green patina over time. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Upcycling
A backdrop of wine bottles under the bar fills in as bottles are upcycled into the decor. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Upcycling
A backdrop of wine bottles under the bar fills in as bottles are upcycled into the decor. Footprint Wine Tap | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Notes & Credits
Integrated Design by Board & Vellum.
General Contracting by Marian Built.
Logo Mural by Sarah Robbins.
Photography by Tina Witherspoon.
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