Variant Collaborative

Working cafe by day ➡️ lively destination for drinks, dates, and more by night This Chicago cafe and bar aims to provide an exciting location for the hybrid Chicago employee to work and play. With the primary focus of the cafe being a multi-functional location where people can work, a group of friends can meet for drinks, and casual dates can take place, Variant Collaborative had to tactfully consider how to fit these spatial needs into a tight floor plan. Here’s how they did it: ➡️ ARCHITECTURE: the designers allowed the architectural elements of the building to inform design decisions and help stretch the limited project budget ➡️ INSPIRING ELEMENTS: the existing ornamental soffit inspired the location and shape of the bar, while the original black-and-white checkered floor tile provided a flair reminiscent of traditional American diners ➡️ SEATING: they strategically balanced loose seating with dining tables, bar seating, and a central banquette with integrated power ➡️ PLATFORM SPACE: the existing platform was refinished and became the primary location for the large sofas and lounge chairs, with the change in height that the platform provides naturally delineating the more casual section from the work occurring at the banquette Congratulations to our 2023 Design Excellence Award Winner for Restaurant Design, Variant Collaborative 🎉 🏆 Variant Collaborative 👏 Danielle Vevea 👏 Ashley Raynor, IIDA 👏 Lauren Young 📸 Wade Hall #asidillinois #designimpactslives #hospitalitydesign #restaurantdesign #restaurantinteriors

If there's one thing we know from the 20th anniversary of our Celebration of Design, it's that our ASID Illinois members are at the forefront of design impacting lives 👏 Join us in congratulating our 2023 Design Excellence Award Winners for Commercial and Residential spaces: 🏆 Contract Under 3,000 SF: Searl Lamaster Howe Architects 🏆 Contract 3,000-10,000 SF: Tom Stringer Design Partners 🏆 Contract Over 10,000 SF: Eckenhoff Saunders 🏆 Healthcare: HDR 🏆 Restaurant: Variant Collaborative 🏆 Contract by Small Firm: Brianne Bishop Design 🏆 Kitchen: Michael Abrams Interiors 🏆 Kitchen by Small Firm: Elizabeth Scott Design Group 🏆 Bath: ABLAZE Design Group (The ABL Group) 🏆 Bath by Small Firm: Katharine Andrews Interiors 🏆 Residence Over 3,000 SF: Frank Ponterio 🥇 Resident Over 3,000 SF Honorable Mention: Tom Stringer Design Partners 🏆 Residence Under 3,000 SF: Brianne Bishop Design 🏆 Residence by Small Firm: Inhabit Interiors, Inc 🏆 Universal Design: Mature Transitions by Design 🏆 Wild Card Residential Space: Healing Environments 🏆 Showcase Space: ABLAZE Design Group (The ABL Group) 🏆 Outdoor Space: Michelle's Interiors 🏆 Living Room/Family Room Design: Brianne Bishop Design 🏆 Dining Room Design: Michael Abrams Interiors 🏆 Bedroom Design: Dual Concept Design 🏆 Foyers and Hallways: INTERIORS BY MARY SUSAN, INC. 🏆 Kids Bedrooms and Playrooms: Emily Millman Design Stay tuned for part 2 of our award announcement for our Specialty, Product, Student, and Member winners 👀 #designexcellenceawards #interiordesign #awardwinningdesign #designimpactslives #asidillinois

Because "luxury" and "undergraduate" are now bedfellows LV Collective