Davis Ink Has Gone North! Construction Preview, La Rosa Lounge, Santa Rosa

We are so excited to see another project come to life. Check out what is happening on the construction site!

Phase one of the back bar. Check out that amazing ceiling detail!

Phase two of this awesome back bar. How beautiful is that reclaimed wood!

We cant wait to cozy up in front of this fireplace!

Check out that beautiful reclaimed wood on this ceiling!

Beginning of a beautiful custom upholstered art wall!

Can you guess where this gorgeous concrete tile will be going?

How gorgeous is she! Amazing work by Adam/Viral-One www.viral-one.com

Two is better than one! Another beautiful piece by Adam/Viral-One www.viral-one.com

 For more updates check out:
www.facebook.com/davisinkltd
www.larosasantarosa.com

Davis Ink and Residential Interior Design

With all these new and exciting projects going on over here at Davis Ink, we try to always find a balance in keeping a nice variety going on. We most recently completed work on a residential project in Del Mar, CA and couldn't be more thrilled to see it featured in Newport Beach Magazine! 

Check out the amazing article below: 

DESIGN DUO BEHIND DAVIS INK

Expect the unexpected when the design duo behind Davis Ink revitalizes a living room.- By Somer Flaherty

“We are known for approaching design in an open-minded and unconventional way,” says Davis Krumins, half of the design duo of Newport Beach-based Davis Ink. His other half is his wife Andrea, and together they’ve been creating unique spaces for a decade. The pair believes in approaching each project as an opportunity to push boundaries while still adhering to a philosophy that design should be practical as well as aesthetically pleasing. For Davis, interior design is all of the things he loves bundled in one profession—architecture, furniture design and art. He and Andrea bring a background rooted in award-winning nightclub design to an outside-the-box perspective on residential living room design. The key to designing a space, they explain, is to know who will be utilizing it. “Design should be based on the way you live, work and play. There is no one way of doing things,” Davis says. “When designing a home, the most important thing is to understand who is living in the space.”

NBM: A living room can be a large area to design; what should readers keep in mind when creating the space?

DK: Don’t question your decisions that will work as a whole. The first thing completed may often look awkward—you have to avoid second-guessing and it will all fall into place. Look at yourself and the things you like to do and incorporate your personality into the space because it is an extension of who you are.

NBM: What’s the one living room item to splurge on?

DK: Lighting! It is the most effective way to manipulate the personality, mood and feeling of an environment. Lighting is also a way of highlighting important features and bringing attention to “wow factor” elements.

NBM: What about a design element that’s easy to incorporate on a budget?

DK: Color is the easiest way of making significant change on a limited budget. Art, living green pieces, water features and fire elements can also create a huge impact in a cost-effective way.

NBM: Color choice is very strong in your design; any tips for choosing a color palette?

DK: Color is a personal thing.

For people who want a sexy and romantic environment, we recommend rich neutrals such as grays, charcoals and warm whites. We like to break this up with splashes of moody color—deep reds, blues and maybe some funky purple accents.

We prefer to bring out most of our color through accessories, furniture and art.

NBM: If you’re completely re-doing the living room, what should you purchase first?

DK: Furniture first, as this will set the mood for things to come. I prefer to start with seating such as sofas, lounge chairs and ottomans. The first step is to determine what the space is going to be used for—for example, deep low sofas with soft textured fabrics and pillows are excellent for relaxation, reading or intimate conversation.

NBM: What about a living room that is just undergoing a small update?

DK: Paintings, sculptures, water features, vases, mirrors and rugs.

Source: http://newportbeachmagazine.com/250/

Want Davis Ink to add some "wow" to your personal space? 

Area 51 Ultra Lounge: Before and After

Area 51 Ultra Lounge, located in San Diego, CA turned out to be a beautiful transformation! Here's a look at the before and after. 

Before

After

After

Before

After

Before

After 

After 

If you just can't get enough of Area 51, check out our facebook page for more photos!

https://www.facebook.com/davisinkltd

Construction Preview: Davis Ink's New Office & Showroom Space

Things have been going so well at the job site that we just couldn't wait to share some sneak peeks with you, enjoy! 

Custom Graffiti Art and Reclaimed Wood In The Showroom  

 Let There Be Light! Illuminating Our Office

The Giant Chalkboard 

The Head of The Table in The Conference Room

.....Keep an eye out for opening date details, and the launch of the online showroom for those near and far! 

This Summer...Your Child Can Learn Interior Design from the Experts at Davis Ink LTD!

We are very proud to announce the newest addition to the full range of services offered by Davis Ink, an exclusive summer camp where children can learn Interior Design straight from the experts! 


The exploration of Interior Design teaches students to question, make choices, work collaboratively, and gain a better understanding of the world around them. We encourage students to explore options in Interior Design while learning how to stay within the project budget.

In our 5 week program students will:

·       *Design Project from Scratch

·       *Create Concept Boards and Illustrations

·       *Put together Color & Material Boards

·       *Design Floor Plans, Elevations, & Reflective Ceiling Plans

·       *Complete Conceptual Packet including Renderings

·       *Gallery Showcase presenting Conceptual Packets to friends & family

·       *Guest Speakers in the Hospitality Industry

Students will learn through experiential learning how to explore, create, and present Conceptual Packets in Restaurants, Hotels, Commercial and Residential Design. Students are encouraged to research and explore design outside of class to learn the many possibilities of Interior Design.

For more information or to sign up, please contact:

Andrea Krumins

(949) 723-0975 

andrea@davisinkltd.com

Sneak Peek: Davis Ink Ltd. Takes a Dip In The World Of Custom Cars

Check out our latest creation courtesy of G&D Auto! This labor of love is finally complete and ready to ship. Stay tuned to see how it looks inside our upcoming international project.

Taking A Break From Nightlife, Davis Ink Designs New Coffee Boutique "Dripp"

This summer Davis Ink unveils their newest design venture “Dripp”, a new concept coffee boutique located in the Shoppes at Chino Hills. To create a space that has as much quality and purity as its product, Dripp turned to the creative minds behind Davis Ink of Newport Beach. “Dripp: Cream and Steam” utilizes a unique Japanese slow drip technique where each cup is brewed one at a time, to order, using specialty-roasted, ground daily coffees and espressos from all over the world. An array of ice cream flavors and freshly baked cookies will also be offered that can be combined for made-to-order ice cream sandwiches.

For the interior design, Davis Ink developed it’s concept from the idea that the product should act in conjunction with the space to really showcase Dripp’s distinctive specialty. The overall design is intended to feel warm and inviting with an industrial organic aesthetic. Rustic elements such as reclaimed wood wall treatments and flooring throughout juxtapose with various metals in the furniture and light fixtures to add balance and harmony to the modern design. Raw materials find unconventional applications as rough wood slabs are used as tables and counters in the dining area and wooden paneling creates a checkboard pattern on walls. The furniture throughout is an eclectic mix of modern and vintage inspired pieces which reflect the global quality of Dripp’s inventory. The furnishings utilize wood, steel, distressed leather, custom upholstery, and oxidized iron. Transforming the product into art itself, decor includes custom locker display cases which show off the owner's personal collection of vintage coffee grinders.

Guests will also experience an inventive mezzanine level that has been designed as a welcoming and cozy living room atmosphere which can be used for studying, working, meetings, or performances. The upstairs will include a relaxing lounge area equipped with large chesterfield sofas, custom ottomans, and deep comfortable lounge chairs. Aside from the custom rope art piece cascading down from its mezzanine, Dripp will also feature trademark Davis Ink lighting such as a custom rope light fixture and vintage inspired industrial hanging lights throughout. Not only does Dripp push the boundaries with the addition of an upstairs, but will include its very own outdoor patio as well. With the goal of bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out, large sliding glass doors will fold to completely open the adjacent wall acting as a barrier to outside. Working close with the client to bring such a strong concept to life, the patio will contain lush landscaping and an outdoor seating area. It will also include custom planters made from steel paint cans and a metal trellis fabricated with randomly placed salvaged wood roofing panels for shade. Every new unique concept needs a new unique design and Davis Ink brings the fresh modernity that is required to introduce this ground breaking coffee-shop to the world.

Behind the San Diego Red Rope with Davis Ink Ltd.

The greatest success is often unplanned.

For Davis Krumins, the brilliant designer behind some of San Diego's hottest venues and founder of Davis Ink Ltd., unexpected success is realized on many levels.

Whether it's the way in which he ventured off on his own, or how his designs coalesce, Davis' ascension in the world of commercial design has depended heavily on a strict adherence to ... going with the flow.

Davis' impact on the San Diego nightlife scene began with a casual introduction, through a mutual friend, to
James and Demien, founders of the entertainment development firm, EnDev. New to the business, but empowered by diehard ambition to open a nightclub, James and Demien enlisted Davis to design what was to become a benchmark in San Diego nightlife.

Davis, who was a furniture designer at a Los Angeles firm at the time, would work on the EnDev concept in the evenings after work. "We had a small budget, so it required great creativity," Davis reminisces, "it was real personal, a real grassroots sort of thing."

Side Bar sparked a huge sensation and caffeinated the sleepy, basically nonexistent, downtown San Diego nightlife. "There was nothing in the Gaslamp, San Diego was just waiting for something Vegas, New York or L.A.," says Davis. Sidebar's success catapulted Davis and EnDev into the leading role in the local club scene. Davis was able to launch Davis Ink Ltd., and EnDev was given the freedom to make more of their visions realities.

As a positive corollary to their success, San Diego started to attract the attention of renowned designers, like Philippe Starck, to lend their genius to the total revamp of the Gaslamp Quarter. To follow was Stingaree, The Witherby, Bar West to name a few, and now to the soon to be hot spot in Hillcrest, Universal and Dish at Universal, set to open spring of 2008.

As far as architectural trends go, Davis is a trailblazer. "Our office is filled with random materials and samples from all over," says Davis. Inspiration is derived from mixing these eclectic scraps and using traditional elements in new or odd ways, so the designs reflect a progressive and unique flair. "We rarely do the same thing twice," boasts Davis, "we like to go in new directions, invent things." Davis prides himself in the ability to fuse contradicting genres and materials into something that just works.

When possible, Davis preserves the essence of the original site in the design of the new club. Sidebar started as a turn of the century brick shell into which "we dropped a contemporary club," Davis remarks. He did not want to demolish the old structure, but rather use it to his advantage, allowing the feel of the site to dictate the path of the design.

Davis Ink is distinct not only in design but in their superior dedication to the client. Davis' consistent involvement in all of his projects allows him to develop a close personal relationship with his clients. It is not uncommon to find Davis himself at the jobsite, with a saw and wood in hand. Davis considers each endeavor a "family project," where input from the client is encouraged. This approach is so effective that EnDev has basically given Davis free reign over the design of their sites. "The San Diego boys," as Davis so endearingly calls EnDev, "have given me a lot of trust." This may seem like a designer's dream, but Davis humbly asserts that the freedom challenges him to always one-up his past accomplishments.

Davis has definitely reached that goal with the most recent and over-the-top Hillcrest project - Universal and Dish at Universal. When asked to pinpoint his favorite aspects of his latest creation, Davis enthusiastically spoke of the use of organic materials. The organic theme at Dish, the upscale restaurant side of the complex, is achieved with the use of weathered wood salvaged from old barns to frame the windows, and real driftwood interspersed amongst eye-catching backlit photo images of peacock feathers. In line with the attraction to contradiction, traditionally extravagant crystal chandeliers will hang above the natural décor to create an uncommon but classy ambiance that is uniquely Davis.

Patrons can seamlessly transition from dinner to Universal, the chic nightclub side, where the design theme incorporates the mood of Dish only with a funkier and tastefully gaudy finesse. Driftwood is painted gold, and glowing chandeliers display custom gold orbs encompassing black crystal flowers. The walls are covered in highly detailed, opaque wallpaper, popping with color and depth while large overhead lights emit an image of a field of flowers onto the floor, creating an oxymoronic synthesized organic.

Davis has certainly managed to outdo himself with this new location, exquisitely striking a balance between refined and sophisticated and warm and unpretentious. Davis admits that the finished product is a result of being open to change along the way and just allowing inspiration to come from instinct. In other words, Davis and EnDev have proven that going with the flow is a plan for success.

Distinctive Nightlife By Design (944 Magazine Article)

Davis Krumins Knows A Thing Or Two About Creating That Certain Something
Written by: Cynthia Lewis

Flavored martinis, an energetic DJ and a glamorous crowd are all common components of a successful nightclub, but the "wow factor" patrons feel when they walk in the door lies in the décor. The 35-foot water feature that spills into the back bar bottle display at Stingaree, the firework light fixtures suspended over tables at Bar West and the wall made of handpicked driftwood from Bali at the recently opened club Universal come from interior design mastermind Davis Krumins.

Aside from EnDev Enterprises, Krumins is the creative force behind the some of the hottest nightspots of Southern California, including Suki 7 in Westlake and the new Kress club at the former Frederick's of Hollywood building in Hollywood. After working at a top restaurant design firm in Los Angeles for several years, Krumins formed Davis Ink Ltd. in 2002. 944 recently sat down with him to find out the design secrets to his success.

944: Interior design involves a lot of artistic talent. Do you have a background in the arts?

DAVIS KRUMINS: When I first started I did a lot of painting and furniture design on my own, so I was sort of an artist. I studied architecture in school with a specialization in modernism. With restaurant and nightclub design you can come up with new approaches. It's a canvas where you can experiment with new things and take it in a completely new direction.
When you are given a project, what is the creative process you go through?
First we have to find out the general needs, goals and requirements of the project, like will the space be formal or casual? What type of food will be served? Nightclub or restaurant? Who will be our target clientele? Once we have determined this information, we can start having fun. Our general goal is to create a space that is totally unique - something completely unexpected. We like to create environments that are funky and bizarre in a good and positive way. We want to create the "wow factor." We start out by throwing out lots of fun ideas. Nothing can be too weird or bizarre during the conceptual process. Once we have come up with these loose ideas we begin to sketch the floor plans and elevations. During this process we play around with fabrics, materials, tile, glass and stone. We are always looking for new products and finding new ways to use them in our projects.

What was your vision behind designing Stingaree?
Stingaree was a very special project for me. This was our first really big job. We wanted to create a space that could function as a restaurant, nightclub and special events venue. We wanted Stingaree to be spectacular and sophisticated, but we also wanted to make sure that the environment had a cool vibe. We did not want the space to be too intimidating or overly formal. We wanted our design to be ultra-modern with smooth high gloss surfaces and sleek, streamlined fixtures. We wanted to use new materials that had never been used before in San Diego.

What was your most challenging project and why?
My most challenging project was Bar West in Pacific Beach; it was also one of the most rewarding. We had a very limited budget and a very short time frame to design and build. Also, the existing building was in extremely poor shape. These limitations forced us to be super creative. We had to come up with very interesting solutions and invent new ways to create the "wow factor." The harshest conditions often produce the best results. I think the job turned out to be incredible.

What are the current trends in interior design?
This is a very fascinating time for interior design. On one hand, minimalist modernism is very popular. On the other hand, highly ornate almost gaudy, Hollywood glamour design is coming into vogue. I have found that the combination of these two seemingly contradictive design languages can produce some very fascinating results.

On a personal note, what's your favorite drink and dish?
My taste in alcohol is quite simple. I prefer a nice red wine like merlot or cabernet sauvignon. I also enjoy beer, especially English stouts and microbrew pale ales. I love food in general. I eat lots of sushi and also enjoy steak, crab and lobster. The New York pizza served at Side Bar is fantastic!

Aside from being a designer, you're also a dad?
My family is awesome. I have an incredible wife named Andrea and two beautiful kids - Maya is 6 and Andre is 10. Little do my clients know that some of our best design ideas originated from the kids. I always take the family to job sites and keep them very involved. You will often see the entire Krumins family at the job site helping out before an opening.

Any upcoming projects?
We have lots of very cool projects coming soon, including a 100-room boutique hotel in Hollywood that will include two restaurants, a bar and a rooftop pool. We have incredible clients that we love working with and see nothing but success in our future.

Any advice for aspiring interior designers?
Have a passion and love for what you do. This can be an incredibly rewarding profession. Don't let the 12-hour workdays bum you out.

Check out Krumins' passion at
www.davisinkltd.com