Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

We've all been there, the dreaded dressing room. Not for the faint of heart especially when a swimsuit is involved. Now imagine that your business is fitting women for bras, lingerie and swimwear. The proper lighting makes a world of difference.

Recently, I spoke with Sarah Burke of Intimacy Stores about their new dressing rooms. Intimacy has carved out a niche for itself as "The Bra Fit Specialists" and have helped scores of woman improve their body image and feel more comfortable with the proper
fitting bra.

This year, Intimacy is opening 3 new locations. Hard to conceive, that a retailer would be experiencing this type of growth given the current economy. So, what are they doing right?

"We give great customer service!" was the enthusiastic answer. Sarah explained that at Intimacy they make each and every woman feel comfortable and beautiful about their bodies. "We give each and every woman 1/2 hour of undivided attention and provide a safe, spa-like environment that they can relax and let go of their innermost fears and misconceptions about their own body image."

In their new stores and remodels, Sarah has created 50 new and completely comforting fitting rooms. It becomes all about the experience. A custom color purple covers the walls, creating a calm womb-like effect and flatters most skin tones. Then it's all about the woman in the mirror. That mirror, is the Rezek Floor mirror by Artemide.

This mirror gives good light, and negates cast shadows. It utilizies both diffused and direct fluorescent lighting to achieve this effect. It is "the best of the best" according to Sarah.
Illuminations has been carrying the full line of Artemide since they opened in 1989 because their products are so well-designed and well-supported. It is a marriage of good design and great
business. The two go hand-in-hand.

Good design IS just good business. At Intimacy, they carry over 96 different sizes of bras from manufacturers that only put out the "best of the best" and on average fit 800 woman a month.
Visit Intimacy online at http://www.myintimacy.com

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Seiber Revamps Rays On The River

Stacey Kirby of Seiber Design describes how lighting
was used to help achieve the mood reminiscent of a
supper club for the interior remodel of Ray's on the River. It's always a bit daunting taking on the remodel of a cherished destination restaurant, an Atlanta mainstay with a loyal following, no doubt, but Seiber Design not only rose to the occasion, they garnered industry recognition with an ASID excellence award for their efforts.

Q: What where some of the design challenges you faced
in lighting the redesign at Ray's?

SK: Ray's was a remodel, so as with many remodels our primary restraint was working within the existing building envelope. The existing space was divided into small dining rooms on varying floor levels that resulted in extremely low ceiling heights in many areas.

Q: How did you decide on the fixtures selected? (was it a mood you were trying to execute for the environment, did you have a look in mind?)

SK: We had two primary goals in mind while designing the space.

First, the clients program.
Seiber Design was commissioned to create an elegant environment reminiscent of a supper club without being too literal (themed) or formal. The use of limestone, iron chandeliers, a water feature at the entry and “portals” were some of the design elements that our client requested for the concept.

Second, we wanted to unify the space by pulling together the various levels in the dining room with a common element. We achieved this by using a custom Neidhardt chandelier in a repetitive fashion that extends the length of the dining spaces. The chandeliers not only provided a strong focal element that tie the spaces together, they add just the right amount of casual elegance to complement and enhance the décor. In the bar and private dining room we customized a Fontana Arte standard chandelier design by adding a second tier. The final product resulted in the feel of a traditional chandelier by having two tiers (as opposed to the standard product that has only one ring), yet detailed in a simple modern fashion that Fontana is well known for.



To soften, and to give the space an intimate feel we designed with Frank Neidhardt custom floor and table lamps utilizing a dark chunky wood base with a light fabric shade.

Q: Are you and your client satisfied with the finished product?

SK: Our client is extremely happy with the finished product. Everyone involved worked very hard, took ownership in the design and we feel that the space reflects this.

Q: How would you describe your working relationship with Illuminations Contract?

SK: Everyone in our office loves working with the Illuminations staff. We always receive great customer service, timely quotes, and samples when required. We also value the ability to call on Illuminations, describe what we are looking for, and they respond to our needs with several product solutions.

Q: From where do you draw inspiration for your interiors?

SK: We draw our design inspiration through collaboration within our studio. Our colleagues have diverse backgrounds and interpretations of design influences which our interiors are derived from.


Sieber Design , founded in 1987, is a studio of architects and interior designers providing facilities planning and building and design services for both the private sector clients and individuals.
You can contact them directly and see more of their award winning work at sieberdesign.com

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