The Design Studio
Edmonton Guest House
Smokehouse and Restaurant
We stand behind the facts: the way your space makes you feel highly impacts the way you work. Our full-service commercial design services are meant to enhance your vision, while we take care of all the details that turn it into a place where you can grow into, monetize with, and express freely. Commercial design doesn't have to be basic. Through our commercial design, we highlight beauty and functionality so your business can exude inspiration, collaboration, inclusion, creativity, and personality.
We design and create spaces that promote employee wellness, performance, and morale. We take the logistics away from you so you can focus on what you do best, while we design and deliver the rest. We understand the importance of brand representation and, together, we design work environments that reflect the organizational image of your company.
Artwork and accessories, budgeting, color consulting, consultations, custom cabinetry, custom furniture and upholstery, custom window treatments, design concept development and drawings, facility analysis, feasibility studies, finishes, flooring, furniture specification, kitchen and bath design, lighting plans and design, new construction, noise control, project management, renovation, selection of lighting and plumbing fixtures, site surveys, space planning, spatial branding, storage strategies and solutions, workplace design.
The Studio space for Ellen Walker Design Group was conceived for business growth and to be a comfortable and professional space to meet clients in. As well, I wanted to create an inspiring and fun space to work in. I really wanted to design and build a studio that felt unique, professional, comfortable, inviting, and that inspired creativity.
This 12,000 square foot space was designed with healing, restoration and comfort at its core. With 8 guest suites and their own accompanying bath suites, the Edmonton Guest House simultaneously has both a residential space and a hospitality component for guests to live, eat, rest and heal. Designed as a reprieve from cancer treatment, both patients and their families live with volunteers who spend their days filling the halls with laughter and making the home hospitable and cozy. The community based home is a place to gather and heal together; sharing both in collective struggles and the joys, all while in this warm and inviting space.
The owner of the restaurant was looking to rebrand his outdated 5600 sq ft Mexican themed restaurant into a 'Smokehouse' vibe featuring a new interior with a new menu.
During the research and design phase we reimagined the space to reflect a new look and vibe to fulfill the owner's desire. We imagined a casual, industrial feel. The restaurant was completely gutted and the space was divided into a new casual family dining section and a Bar/Lounge section. Using a combination of reclaimed wood materials, brick, new millwork, vintage and industrial materials, booths, tables, chairs (furniture, wall accent pieces and a wine feature wall, we were able to successfully update the entire interior according to the mandate required). Large Mirrors were used to reflect light and enhance the industrial feel. Above the booths for the bar/lounge area, we suspended industrial style wooden wheels with exposed bulb pendants through the spokes to provide a unique and cozier feeling while sitting in the booth. In the restaurant area, we used reclaimed wood and built ladders above the booths along the windows with light pendants dropped over each booth table.
We worked with a Salvage company for the extensive use of reclaimed wood materials throughout. Screen dividers between the restaurant and lounge area were originally from a cattle fence. The wood was rubbed smooth and shiny from cattle rubbing up against it. The extensive use of old style brick was used to resurface the walls for an industrial feel.Unique industrial lighting pendants and fixtures were used throughout to add to the aesthetic. An original fireplace was removed and a wall of old white peeling reclaimed wood shrouded the original structure to provide raised banquette seating. A complete old building on a homestead was dismantled particularly for this project along with fir from old grain elevators.
Once planning details were finalized, the restaurant was completely renovated and furnished within a month and open for business as a newly branded restaurant. The owner did not want to lose any downtime for business. The entire restaurant was completed in one month. The owner was able to remain open by hoarding off the two areas and completing and keeping one area open for business at a time. In the end the owner only lost two days of business due to washrooms needing to be closed for renovations as well. This project kept us hopping with lots of questions, verification of details, and site visits in order to keep the fast pace moving forward and meeting the timeline.
We completed the entire project on time. We had numerous feedback from customers who have frequented the establishment on the whole feel and look - they were thrilled with the results. The owner was also very happy with the turnout and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked on such a complex, but beautiful project.
ESC Project Management
Alberta Art Installation
