Anyone taking a walk down the sandy beaches of sunny south Florida would not have to walk long before they heard the sounds of Jimmy Buffett crooning off in the distance. His music is the anthem to a “carefree, enjoy life, grab your drink and your flip flops and leave your worries behind” attitude that has resonated through generations as the vacation mantra.
The Amazing Margaritaville Resort, the “Go to Place” in South Florida
When Mr. Buffett decided he needed to build a resort as a destination for his “parrotheads” he built the amazing Margaritaville resort on the beautiful beaches of Hollywood, Florida, quickly becoming the “go to place” for vacationers and locals alike.
At Wine Cellar International, being based in Fort Lauderdale Florida, there was no doubt we could relate to this lifestyle, and the importance it has in so many people’s lives. That being said, when we were contacted to design and build the wine room in the “JWB Prime Steak and Seafood” in the Margaritaville resort (Mr. Buffett’s high end steak and seafood restaurant in the resort) we knew from the beginning the room had to make an impression.
The Design Team
Working with the design team on the project we came up with a prominent yet understated wine room display that could be visible through the entire restaurant. We designed and built a free standing structure with glass on three sides, using insulated glass and a bronze finished metal framing structure to create the look and function for the room.
The Structure
The Structure was constructed into two separate spaces to make it a two zone wine room for both Reds and whites. The interior was finished across the back wall with a brick veneer to create a more rustic feel. We designed the bottles to be label facing out to allow the restaurant to showcase their vast selection of fine wines on the menu.
For the wine room’s lighting we went with high output LED lights that ran along the parameter of the space, not just to avoid visibility of the source from outside the wine room, but rather to create a glow that seems to be omnipresent through the space, with a dimmable option to allow for a lower setting for accent effect during evening dining.
Managing Large Format Bottles
During the designing process Wine Cellar International was made aware that Mr. Buffett had a selection of prized Large format wine bottles that were given to him as gifts, that we were to incorporate into the wine room design. We decided to make these gifts the center focal point of the space, to be placed prominently in the middle of the room on tempered glass shelves to be viewed and appreciated by all wine lovers and restaurant patrons alike. The end result is a wine room that compliments the restaurant that caters to the laid back flip flop fans that want to get a little more formal and indulge in the fine dining that JWB Prime has to offer.
