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

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.

NIGHTLIFE: Wednesday and Sunday Nights—The New Friday and Saturday?

NOVEMBER 6, 2009 -- Friday and Saturday are the nights that bars and nightclubs traditionally make the most money. The work week is generally over for patrons, and those hard-working folks want to loosen up with friends, down adult beverages and take over dance floors.

But some argue that Wednesday and Sunday have become the new Friday and Saturday.

How’s that possible? It all starts with the hospitality industry crowd.

“This is a hospitality industry town,” says Mike Georgeopoulis, a partner at downtown’s recently re-opened Side Bar. “All the people who work at bars, restaurants and at hotels can’t go out on Friday and Saturday nights. They’re working. And they’re all close-knit friends—and they’re fun, good-looking people. They have money to spend and they want to go out, too.”

And for hospitality industry workers, week nights don’t precede “school days.”

In the Gaslamp Quarter, traditional “off nights” are seeing a wide array of special deals. On Mondays, Confidential Restaurant + Loft offers half-off all drinks and most menu items. La Puerta does the same thing on Tuesdays. Both draw good crowds. And in North Park, True West Tavern is packing them in on Mondays and Wednesdays.

In Pacific Beach, Bar West owns Sundays. “It’s our signature night,” says general manager Chris Martin. He says the crowd is bigger on Sundays than Fridays.

Like Side Bar’s Wednesday night, Bar West’s Sunday began as an industry night. Bartenders, waitresses and hotel workers can bring a pay stub or business card to the door and get drink specials ($5 premium cocktails) and pay no cover.

“What happens, though, is people hear that it’s a great party, and that attracts people who aren’t in the industry,” says Martin. And not just the Friday-Saturday party people—Martin says San Diego Chargers players like Steven Cooper and Shawne Merriman, and celebs such as Wilber Valderrama and Chloe and Courtney Kardashian might swing by on any given Sunday.

Side Bar’s Georgeopoulos is part of a group that’s preparing to re-open the space that housed former downtown hot spot Aubergine. He’s planning something special for Tuesday nights, when that place opens in February.

“The greatest part of the success of our Wednesday night at Side Bar is that we didn’t think it was going to work,” he says. “Our employees, especially our bar manager, came up with the idea. We went into it reluctantly—but I’m glad to see they were right.”