Tucked behind a formal dining room lies a speakeasy, designed to delight by Sandra Cannon Interior Design
Ann and Stewart Johnson’s home in Spartanburg underwent nearly a complete renovation a year ago. It included reconfiguring a laundry space near the primary bed and bath on the main floor. Today, it is the home’s speakeasy.
Designer Sandra Cannon determined a plan of action for the install, from the disguised door in a wall of the dining room to custom built furnishing and cabinetry and luxury finishes, with a nod to a deep forest motif.
It all started with Ann wanting a place for her geode collection, and Cannon says it became the jumping-off point for the lounge. Envisioned as a spot to sit with a friend and have a good conversation or a drink with Stewart, the room is designed around an exquisite wet bar. Cannon describes it as “a gathering space with a special experience.”
Bringing an In-Home Watering Hole to Life
A series of wallcoverings just out from Osborne and Little were forest-inspired, with an intimacy and richness of feeling that Cannon liked. “In the end, we covered everything up to the antechamber, which leads to the private rooms of the home.”
Custom cabinetry by C2C Cabinets was painted the same rich hue, which also cloaks the secret door from the dining room. Norman Pulliam, president of Dunbar Construction, found the correct hinges, allowing the sectioned wall to swing 180 degrees. Each side of the clandestine entry boasts matching paper and millwork.
The ceiling was painted for a darker, richer, more intimate experience, explains Cannon. “We were trying to control the feeling in there. When you darken a ceiling to coordinate with a wall color, you’re creating the opportunity to feel 360 degrees of the environment.”
Sheets of aged brass adorn a modern light fixture. Cannon calls it a good juxtaposition with the more traditional aspects of the space. It is something the homeowners immediately loved. “It is dramatic but understated,” says Johnson, “and the space is a tucked-away speakeasy that use to be a laundry closet!”
Photography by Forrest Clonts.
