2017’S DESIGN AWARDS

Our annual awards celebrate the very best in architecture and interior design.

Rhode Island Monthly | September 29, 2017 | Courtney Coelho

Commercial Interior Design

GOLD: Smokin’ Hot

Our jurors’ mouths were watering after eyeing the interior transformation of Durk’s Bar-B-Q on Thayer Street, and it wasn’t just all the talk about smoked meat. Using wood as the primary material, designer Libby Slader created a space that transports diners to the deep South and clearly communicates what’s for dinner. Eye-catching features like the red and black signage, the plywood grid in the front dining area and the wall of whiskey — complete with a library ladder to reach the tallest shelf — behind the bar in the rear add interest without going overboard. Our jurors appreciated the smart and consistent use of inexpensive materials and the well-composed layout that beckons diners inside almost as much as the menu.

Interior Designer: Libby Slader Interior Design, Providence
Contractor: Stem Contracting and Design, Lincoln
Millwork Contractor: Jutras Woodworking, Greenville
Artwork: Mark Freedman and James Reynolds
Signage and Menus: Providence Painted Signs
Photographer: Nat Rea