4 minute read
Hidden Jewel at Richter & Phillips
Richter & Phillips brings in DIGS designer Christine Kommer to renovate its 1920 bank vault into multiuse space.
Written by Matthew Millett / Photography by Daniel Feldkamp
When Richter & Phillips transitioned in 2016 from its downtown location of almost 40 years, across the street to 601 Main Street, the 4th generation family-owned jewelry business was excited to be moving into a larger space for better showroom display and operational functionality. An added benefit to the new location was also an original 1920’s subterranean bank vault in the building’s basement. After opening their new location’s doors after a major main floor remodel, the team had been using the raw lower-level vault as a conference room for staff. After getting situated into their new space, owner Rick Fehr and his team decided to try and better utilize the basement vault ‘conference room’. Upon partnering up with DIGS and its design team led by interior designer Christine Kommer, the basement renovation could commence appropriately.
The original building structure has beautiful bones. Situated at the corner of 6th and Main, the building expresses exquisite curb appeal with large display windows on the two main sides of the first-floor showroom. The lower level stairwell is made of white marble with black veining. Upon descending the stairs the lower level opens up into a large hallway with high ceilings. The impressive 9’ diameter vault door is the focal point of the basement.
Private viewing area inside the vault
"We also wanted to infuse a Jewel Theme for the room and its surroundings". With a complete remodel managed by the DIGS construction team and overseen by Kommer, the project took on its own identity. With the use of specialty light fixtures and rich emerald and deep blue sapphire tones, Christine created a luxurious warm meeting and event space.
Upon descending the original marble staircase, guests turn the corner to peer down a warm blue hallway paired with a rich velvet blue sapphire sofa, gold-toned area rugs, and a triptych of Art Deco palm trees. The team at DIGS added a matching marble baseboard to continue the marble from the staircase through the basement event space. The use of gold tones as accents on frames, tables, and light fixtures throughout compliment the rich emerald and blue sapphire color tones.
The washroom is decorated with a Phillip Jefferies wallpaper of emerald green tones in a design similar to a natural agate stone. Upon a marble-designed floor stands a sink of gold legs with gold hardware and a ‘jewelryesqe’ pendant light fixture.
The main vault room has been redesigned into a swanky speakeasy room. Painted on three sides in a chocolate brown with dark plum sapphire undertones, the built-in bar cabinets lay below a wood veneered wallpaper of art deco matching plum blue color with gold trim on the vault's fourth wall. The gold accents run through the room from the framing of the floating glass shelving cabinets, to the gold-framed accent furniture, to the frames of images from 1920s Richter & Phillips advertisements. Christian Lacroix accent pillows bring a punch of color to the emerald green velvet sofa and pick up on the ‘feathery’ details of the gold-jeweled toned light fixture overhead. The coziness of the room still has some industrial feel with the heavy steel vault door present at all times.
Designer Christine Kommer commented on the designs of the project, ‘Since this was going to be an event space, we were able to be more daring in our design, we wanted to create a swanky hidden jewel-themed area’. While normally designing more traditional residential projects, Christine was able to create a warm and luxurious level different from the main showroom.
While the vault spaces serve as a private shopping area, it has also helped to host diamond and education seminars, and more recently been open for non-profits to come in and utilize as a meeting space. Working with non-profits is an integral part of the Richter & Phillips brand, giving back to the community that has helped it thrive, now celebrating its 125th Anniversary.
Whether visiting for one if its staple events such as Whiskey and Watches, or just stopping by to see the latest fashion jewelry trends, be sure to seek out this hidden jewel at Richter & Phillips.
