FALL '22 | Birdstudio

NEWSLETTER/ FALL 2022

We get to do a lot of fun projects here at Bird Studio, but our favorite projects are when we can collaborate with clients on the entire look and feel of a space.

Zack brings his knowledge of design to the table and offers suggestions and solutions that provide more than the client had originally imagined.

That’s exactly what happened with the owner of Blondie, a glamorous new bar and restaurant on Main St. in Manayunk. This summer, Bird Studio turned the interior and exterior of this restaurant into something straight out of old Hollywood. Think, the gilded age meets art deco meets sleek and modern dining. This included:

On the exterior, 24K gold lettering offers a preview of the atmosphere inside
A gleaming brass “B” greets visitors at the host station
Emerald green venetian plaster sets off the architectural features
Antique lace patterning on the wall adds a decadent touch
An elegant gray finish on the once-red brick walls ties the whole space together
Two gilded “swizzle sticks” bring whimsy

Our clients know that a restaurant’s success depends on more than just good food. It’s important that guests enjoy a visual feast along with their culinary one. Finely-appointed finishes create an atmosphere of luxury that sets you apart from the crowd, and keep guests coming back for more.

We’re a small and mighty team at Bird Studio, and we recently added a new employee!

Paige Miller is a talented 3D fabricator, and has extensive experience in metalwork, mold-making, lost-wax casting, and restoration. She has done a little of everything, from making fine art sculpture at a foundry to crafting custom bicycle frames, and many things in between.

When she’s not creating something, you can find Paige tending to her adorable zoo- 2 dogs, 6 cats, and 1 fish- at her home in West Oak Lane.

Zack Bird (Owner), Mari Elaine Lamp (Studio Manager), and Paige Miller (Craftsperson and Project Manager ) are the team that make all your fine finishing dreams come true. Along with a host of talented subcontractors and artisans, we offer the personal touch of a small, custom workshop with the capacity for any size job.

This beautiful 1950’s classicist revival lamp was made out of cast metal, complete with ornamental swag and goats heads cradling carrera marble urns.

When our client found a second identical lamp while antique shopping, she snapped it up. The problem was, this version had been finished in a much darker color, and there was damage and other details that didn’t match.

Bird Studio put our magic elves to work, and refinished, repaired, and rewired the lamp to be an identical match. We even cast the original finial to create a duplicate, which was the finishing touch to this beautiful restoration job.