Distinct Settings
The street-facing Dining Room greets visitors with sleek forms and rich textures. Inspired by English greenhouses, the Study serves as a coffee shop by day, filling the large, open-plan building with natural light. At night, the Study is an extension of the Cedar Tavern with glowing openings to the adjacent courtyard and rooftop bar. The Cedar Tavern showcases the historic mahogany bar and low lounge seating, which fosters communal conversation.
Dining Room: To deliver on the owner’s desire for a more intimate space, the Dining Room features a lowered, coffered ceiling that sets the tone upon entry. The mahogany wood wall panels nod to the historic bar and take inspiration from mid-century modern design but with an Art Nouveau twist, bringing a modern take on old contemporary furniture and wall paneling. Velvet upholstery covers central and perimeter banquette seating. A large, central banquette accommodates large groups while remaining flexible enough to separate out for smaller parties. Ample banquette seating was chosen to foster the notion of the place as ideal for gathering, thinking, drinking and dining.
Cedar Tavern: Based on size alone, the Cedar Tavern bar’s presence is impressive, notwithstanding its 150-year history of notable patronage. Brown and oxblood tufted leather sofas surround coffee tables in a lounge configuration to promote gathering and conversations beyond the bar. Vibrant blue barstools with brass tacks contrast with the mahogany bar while gold and purple ottomans are arranged throughout to enliven darker, rich tones. Brass serves to unify all spaces and is showcased in custom-designed and -fabricated light fixtures that surround the columns. Exposed steel beams support the additional weight of the new rooftop patio.
The ground-level Private Bar and Cannon Room, accessible from a nondescript service door, are hidden from sight directly behind the Cedar Tavern. This arrangement creates a speakeasy vibe well suited for private events with a direct connection to the kitchen.
The Study: To create an appropriately light-filled Study, the ceiling height was increased and the roof was opened to showcase the new addition of an extended steel skylight monitor above. The monitor adds visual lightness to the space while maintaining the structural integrity. The Study’s furnishings take cues from Cedar Tavern, albeit in simplified forms so as not to detract from the light-filled steel structure. Carefully curated books, curios and plants adorn the walls creating a sense of a lived-in space. Custom-designed and -fabricated wall sconces continue the industrial character of the steel and utilize heat-sink fins to create the unique style of the lights.
The Study shares a glass wall with the outdoor patio, creating a clear visual connection through while adding to the lightness of the space. The Dining Room and Cedar Tavern sit on both ends of the Study and are connected via large glass doors allowing guests to see through the spaces and view the variety of atmospheres.
Subtle threads link the distinct spaces, though each offers guests a different version of the Eberly experience. The interplay between the Dining Room, Study, and Cedar Tavern is key to changing the mood between spaces, producing varied dining experiences and options that work together to create an overall rich experience.
PHOTOS: MERRICK ALES
Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: Clayton & Little; Paul Clayton, principal; Sam Manning, project architect
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Mickie Spencer
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: ICON Design + Build, (512) 825-5574
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: JM Structural Engineering, (512) 505-8533
MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Bay & Associates Inc.
CIVIL ENGINEER: Longaro & Clarke Consulting Engineers
STEEL WORK (STUDY): Steel House MFG
Materials
CERAMIC GREEN TILES, CERAMIC WALL TILE: Pratt & Larson
TEXTURED CONCRETE TILE BAND, CONCRETE PENDANT LIGHTS, AND CONCRETE TABLETOPS AND COUNTERTOPS: Paul Oglesby
ACOUSTIC CEILING PANELS: Tectum from Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions
VERTICAL PLATFORM LIFT: Garaventa Lift
CUSTOM MAHOGANY WALL PANELS: ICON Design + Build, (512) 825-5574
CUSTOM GLASS AND STEEL DOORS: ICON Design + Build
CUSTOM MONITOR/SKYLIGHT: Steel House MFG
CUSTOM LIGHTING: Mickie Spencer
WINDOWS: Salvaged from offsite and restored existing windows
CUSTOM PLASTER: KMC Paint Design, (646) 322-1736
FURNITURE, MILLWORK: Michael Yates Design
CUSTOM SIGNAGE: Evan Voyles, The Neon Jungle