The Private Bar @ Aotea, completed in 2023 by Simone van der Plas Interior Design, is a stunning project that perfectly blends modern design with functionality. Designed for her esteemed clients this private bar showcases an impressive collection of glassware and collectibles, housed within custom joinery and suspended shelving. The use of stone wall cladding and black aluminium glazed doors adds a touch of elegance to the space.

The ridged pattern on the black joinery, along with extensive Hafele LED lighting, creates a sophisticated atmosphere that is both inviting and luxurious. The attention to detail in this project is evident in every aspect, from the choice of materials to the layout of the space. The Private Bar @ Aotea is a testament to the expertise and creativity of Simone van der Plas Interior Design in transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones.

With the Client’s wife having a collection of wine glasses, glass sculptures, bowls and sculputures etc collected from around the world over the years, my clients had a conundrum – how to store these items in one place rather than contained within multiple dated glass cabinets? How to incorporate their collection of liquers, whisky and wine? How to display these items cohesively in a modern way? The clients liked the idea of softly lit cabinetry with black framed doors but couldn't envisage a resulting design. 

Their dining room was overly large for the size of their furniture and with a large blank wall of nothingness apart from ugly display cabinets and out of scale artwork I devised the idea of a custom designed bar. The Private Bar @ Aotea was conceptualised to address the challenge of integrating a diverse collection of glassware, liquors and wines into a cohesive, modern and totally unique display within the client’s large dining area. Plumbing constraints ruled out a sink installation. The design, illustrated through hand-drawn concept sketches, digital sample boards and the design was finalised after sample materials were supplied and signed off. The resulting design featured softly lit copper coloured high gloss joinery with black framed aluminium glazed doors coupled with black shelving, providing storage for glassware and liquor. A pull out tall hidden storage Dispensa unit was fitted next to the tall wine fridge. Calacatta Marble look porcelain benchtop and wall cladding added a luxe feel to the bar whilst providing a practical material to cope with spills.  

Materials were meticulously selected, comprising high gloss Cuzco D’Oro copper coloured joinery, Trimtek aluminium Doors with clear glass inserts and marble like Neolith Calacatta porcelain in a tactile Silk finish. Slatted lacquered joinery added structure, height and texture, concealing hidden storage compartments. Matching slatted black joinery formed a bulkhead tight to the ceiling to add height and scale to the installation whilst disguising the unlevel ceiling, cabling and existing holes. The combination of materials offered a sophisticated, luxurious yet practical solution such as stain-proof and robust qualities. 

The lighting scheme utilised hidden wifi driven Hafele LED lighting profiles angled to softly illuminate the Cuzco D’Oro board and highlight the stone wall cladding while avoiding direct glare. Despite the absence of plumbing, the design achieved a sophistacted result, delighting the clients with its functionality and aesthetic appeal. 

The combination of high gloss semi-3D effect copper coloured joinery with matte silk finish stone coupled with the intensity of black slatted joinery illuminated by warm dimmable LED lighting adds to the drama of the space. It has added style to a somewhat flat and boring under-utilised space.