Down Time Drinks
Kiambu, Nairobi · 2022
A private bar room in Kiambu where the walls, ceiling and joinery are all held in the same dark charcoal tone, so the room reads as a single contained atmosphere. A full bar cabinet runs along one wall — glass shelves for spirits and champagne, suspended wine glasses, horizontal wine rack slots and a glazed wine cooler with brass hardware below. The herringbone hardwood parquet floor and a brown Chesterfield sofa provide the warmth. Three framed artworks, each lit by a black wall sconce, do the work of decoration.
The Brief
Design a private bar and relaxation room in Kiambu — dark and contained in atmosphere, with a fully fitted bar cabinet for spirits, wine and glassware, a Chesterfield sofa, and wall space for a personal art collection.
Our Approach
The decision to use the same dark charcoal tone across walls, ceiling and joinery eliminates the visual boundaries between surfaces and makes the room feel like one settled envelope. The bar cabinet was designed as a piece of furniture as much as storage — with glass display shelves lit from within, suspended glassware, and a wine rack that presents the bottles horizontally as part of the room's composition. The herringbone parquet introduces warmth underfoot that counters the darkness of the walls without breaking the overall register.
Interested in a similar project?
Tell us about your brief and we'll set up a conversation.
