Workroom of the Year Judy Soccio, WFCP Associate 2006 Ingenuity Workroom Competition 
Working from a very tight schedule— groundbreaking to opening night in three months—Judy Soccio, WFCP Associate, was forced to take measurements from blueprints, and “design on the fly,” for this elaborate and dramatic restaurant in a restored downtown theater district. With the designer’s colorful vision of 12' ceilings, 8'-high banquettes, and yards of fabrics wrapped and draped “to further the theatrical illusion,” Soccio used five pairs of 8'-wide gold draperies to flank the tall fabricbacked banquettes around the room’s perimeter. “We worked closely with the wrought-iron forge to spec the rods that would accommodate these heavy treatments,” says Soccio. These 12'-long draperies were mounted on custom-designed wrought-iron rods and tiebacks. Gold draperies, lined and interlined, also separated a private-dining area from the main part of the restaurant, and two pairs adorn the two huge front windows. Soccio suggested that the columns be wrapped in Mylar® before hanging the sheer panels, and created a half-scale mock-up to show the designer how the columns would be lit and how she would wrap them to achieve the goblet shape. The 42 widths of sheer tricolor draperies on the columns had pleated-tape headers, and collars were designed for the columns to create and maintain the decorated shape. “The designer called us a week before installation and told us the wrought iron at the front windows had been mounted twelve inches higher than originally planned,” says Judy Soccio. “We developed a grommet and tab attachment for the draperies that was invisible to the diner and provided the additional twelve inches length.” “The sheer treatments are wonderful—very original and unusual,” comments Beth Hodges. “Incredible work,” says Dian Garbarini. “I especially commend them for working off blueprints— anything can happen and they pulled it off. Problem solving is the make of a true workroom/installation team. This offered challenges that were met with incredible ingenuity,” she added. Credits Sources |
