Finally after more then three years we are finally putting the shovel to the ground on our commercial lot in town. The location is perfect as you can't miss it as you drive thru town and it really begs for something to happen. And now the day has come.
We decided on using found objects, reclaimed wood, recycled local materials and the natural shade of a couple large trees to provide a relaxing spot on the main drag of town overlooking the beach. The bar, for example, is made of local riverstones held in large steel baskets commonly used for land retention and road construction. The main dining area is found on a raised terrace surrounding the large trees that provide a cool shade and a gentle breeze from the ocean. You have a view of the Caribbean sea from all corners of the space which is really nice.
The terrace itself is constructed from a rare redish colored hardwood that was salvaged from a fallen tree in the area.
The tables and chairs are made from the wood of an old abandoned house that stood on one of our other properties (see photo). We dismantled the house piece by piece and used the walls to make chairs and the tables are the old windows and doors. It really gives the furniture patina and tells a story. The structural beams from the house are used in the support of the terrace deck. The old tin roof now gives shelter to our nightwatch. We even salvaged an old wooden love seat left in the old shack to be refinished and put to use again in the restaurant.
We are hoping to be open by September in order to be in good shape by the time the world renowned Jaques Favre regatta arrives in November ( http://www.jacques-vabre.com/en/s03_news/s03p02_detail_actu.php?news=1223&back_mode=accueil ) bringing some 1000 contestants and collaborators from 13 countries on 62 competing crafts, 62 support vessels and some 350 journalists to our corner of Costa Rica. They have previously sailed to Brazil and Colombia along the old coffee routes but for the next four competitions their destination is Costa Rica. An opportunity that can't be missed and another reason to celebrate.
We started construction only two weeks ago on the kitchen and office - which are being topped off this week- an incredible speed for a caribbean beach town. We drove to the port city of Puerto Limon friday to get some tiles at El Mundo de la Ceramica (world of tiles) and found the tile for the kitchen and bathrooms. They had every tacky tile you have ever seen in the world and of course with the perfect boarder to boot! Yes, here is where you find what will not sell anywhere else. Well after the salesman showed us the "BEST" we wondered through every stack and pile and found some pretty interesting stuff, for the floors some large tiles that look like concrete and the kitchen walls a off white with satin finish and for the bathroom walls a tile that kinda looks like bamboo streaks in a very light off green tint, it all came together pretty nice and we all felt content driving back knowing that we accomplished all that we set out to do in only one trip. Ask anybody and they will tell you that rarely happens around here.
Sunday we took the day off and enjoyed Sangrias all day long. Ahh this is what Caribbean living is all about.
We decided on using found objects, reclaimed wood, recycled local materials and the natural shade of a couple large trees to provide a relaxing spot on the main drag of town overlooking the beach. The bar, for example, is made of local riverstones held in large steel baskets commonly used for land retention and road construction. The main dining area is found on a raised terrace surrounding the large trees that provide a cool shade and a gentle breeze from the ocean. You have a view of the Caribbean sea from all corners of the space which is really nice.
The terrace itself is constructed from a rare redish colored hardwood that was salvaged from a fallen tree in the area.
The tables and chairs are made from the wood of an old abandoned house that stood on one of our other properties (see photo). We dismantled the house piece by piece and used the walls to make chairs and the tables are the old windows and doors. It really gives the furniture patina and tells a story. The structural beams from the house are used in the support of the terrace deck. The old tin roof now gives shelter to our nightwatch. We even salvaged an old wooden love seat left in the old shack to be refinished and put to use again in the restaurant.
We are hoping to be open by September in order to be in good shape by the time the world renowned Jaques Favre regatta arrives in November ( http://www.jacques-vabre.com/en/s03_news/s03p02_detail_actu.php?news=1223&back_mode=accueil ) bringing some 1000 contestants and collaborators from 13 countries on 62 competing crafts, 62 support vessels and some 350 journalists to our corner of Costa Rica. They have previously sailed to Brazil and Colombia along the old coffee routes but for the next four competitions their destination is Costa Rica. An opportunity that can't be missed and another reason to celebrate.
We started construction only two weeks ago on the kitchen and office - which are being topped off this week- an incredible speed for a caribbean beach town. We drove to the port city of Puerto Limon friday to get some tiles at El Mundo de la Ceramica (world of tiles) and found the tile for the kitchen and bathrooms. They had every tacky tile you have ever seen in the world and of course with the perfect boarder to boot! Yes, here is where you find what will not sell anywhere else. Well after the salesman showed us the "BEST" we wondered through every stack and pile and found some pretty interesting stuff, for the floors some large tiles that look like concrete and the kitchen walls a off white with satin finish and for the bathroom walls a tile that kinda looks like bamboo streaks in a very light off green tint, it all came together pretty nice and we all felt content driving back knowing that we accomplished all that we set out to do in only one trip. Ask anybody and they will tell you that rarely happens around here.
Sunday we took the day off and enjoyed Sangrias all day long. Ahh this is what Caribbean living is all about.
I can't wait to see how the sugar kettle will be transformed into an entry statement. What is it made of? Will it sit on some other object? will it be sitting upside down or up? will it be polished? rusty? Does it make a good sound when you tap it? Can you mix up a big batch of Sangria in it? It is a very beautifully balanced form. I like it.
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