he design challenges we faced when redeveloping the property were steep when it came to the size and importance of Adelaide Hall, the multi-room complexity of Little Bird Lounge, and the radical removal of the false Facade. But the greatest design challenge when it came to starting with a total disaster was what we refer to as the Tiger Room.
Before
We name all of our dressing rooms after the wall paper that dominates them. What would become the Tiger Room was the basement mechanical room of the church. The air conditioning units and a narrow staircase to Little Bird Lounge consumed much of the space. Jugs of bleach were scattered all about, the purpose of which we will never know. Primitive paintings on the wall completed a spooky Silence of the Lambs atmosphere.
Issues & Plan
There were too many issues to list when it came to the mechanical room. Low ceilings, old mechanical units and the green walls with strange paintings were just a start. The limestone rock foundation was crumbling. The room was undesirable by every measure.
Many couples want a groom's room and the location of this room - on the opposite end of the building and on a separate floor from the bride's dressing room with its own entryway - made it ideal for this purpose. The cave reference, of course, is made often. Brenda gave me free reign to design the space, probably because she thought it too far gone.
A primary challenge was to make the room appealing enough so that groomsmen would want to stay and hang out in the space. Only the size of the room lended itself to that goal.
After
We removed the ceiling, exposing the trussing for a greater perception of height. The cave feel was augmented with the predominant use of black and using light to wash the stone walls. The jungle tiger wallpaper added whimsy. Comfortable seating, pool table and other diversions, television, wifi, and client-controlled music were disgned to attract and hold groomsmen. Restoration of the rock foundation walls, concrete floors and removal of the staircase redefined the size and feel of the space.
Today, groomsmen will often dress and eat lunch in the room, which we think is the ultimate validation of the design.
