Photos by Spacecrafting Photography/Rob Grosse
Once upon a time, Stillwater was famous for its lumber industry. Lumberjacks naturally were prevalent in the area, seen working in the surrounding pine forests and amid the rivers that transported the timbers. Today, that “Paul Bunyan” spirit is alive and well in the form of an axe-throwing bar and lounge called The Lumberjack Lodge that also boasts
Skee-ball, darts, pinball, and craft cocktails.
With family ties to the Stillwater lumberjacks of yore, owner Sara Jespersen brought in Regan Nix and Kasey Johnson, designers and co-founders of White Bear Lake’s Blue Pencil Collective, to transform a cold, dark historic building into a warm and welcoming space that draws upon one main source of inspiration: a black-and-white family portrait showcasing bygone lumberjacks. The picture now hangs inside The Lumberjack above the rough-hewn stone fireplace.
“We used a lot of raw and natural materials to reinforce the historical concept behind the design, like a dark wood-stained ceiling and raw concrete floors,” Nix says of the 5,000-square-foot project. Johnson further explains that through the design, they particularly highlight existing architectural materials, like exposed brick columns and the stone foundation.
The designers kept the furnishings consistent with the overall feel of the design, wrapping in pieces that are authentic, yet fresh and chic. Some of these elements include natural leathers, raw hide fabrics, dark wood tables, cozy wingback chairs (placed by the fire “for sipping whiskey,” Nix adds), and a central snug lounge area geared toward family board games and conversations—complete with large sofas, vintage area rugs, and sizeable coffee tables.
While axe-throwing bars have grown in popularity in recent years, The Lumberjack isn’t your everyday axe-throwing experience. As Nix says, the design took the “typical warehouse axe-throwing vibe” to “posh and cozy.”
Foldable dividers allow the separate lanes to be transformed into a large event space, while a 20-foot banquette creates a feeling of intimate ambience–. It’s a design that lends itself well to the multifunctional, community-driven nature of the space.
When focusing on the goals for the project, Johnson says they knew the space wasn’t going to be all about axe-throwing or logging—it would also center around family and bringing people together—and that’s exactly what they have achieved at The Lumberjack.
[Related: Staycation Innovation with Blue Pencil Collective]
|
|
|
