Vegas Penthouse From Design Star Challenge 1

By Vern Yip

This area had an incredible amount of built-in potential since it started out with a very nice bar, staircase and light fixture. Bars can be wonderful gathering spots where people can easily converse over refreshments and snacks. Furnishings and a surrounding layout to convert this space from beverage storage to gathering spot would have been ideal. Bar stools, a small table and maybe some lounge chairs would have injected more function into this space.

Neeraja does an excellent job of styling the bar area with elements reflective of the Las Vegas venue and certainly provides the props for making this area visually interesting. If this were to be done for a magazine shoot, this area would be a success. A beautifully styled space, however, can become a major design failure when the full functional potential of an area goes unrealized. Great design must always be the confluence of function and aesthetics. At the end of the day, function must take precedence because, as we see in this example, a bar area is merely a beverage pantry if people don't have the ability to hang out and enjoy conversation.