Camber
Designer: [bundle] design studio
Interior design: Spiral Design Studios
Custom cabinets: Smith and Vallee Woodworks
Location: Downtown Bellingham, WA
Photographer: Chris DiNottia
Background
When our clients found the location that would eventually become Camber, they hit the jackpot. The space has vaulted ceilings and beautiful old windows that flood the space with afternoon light, all with enough space to feel comfortable but cozy. And, it’s in the heart of downtown Bellingham. The space previously housed both Eagles Games and Comics Place. They contacted us to take it from a dark old building to welcoming, sophisticated cafe.
Planning
The owners of Camber had a specific aesthetic in mind when design started. The cafe had to be able to transition from welcoming coffeehouse to cultivated bar, selling carefully curated wine and beer. This all required a streamlined layout, highly functional back of house and carefully selected finishes that patina well with use and age. We worked hand in hand with [bundle] design studio and Spiral Design Studio on design, resulting in a stunning, highly functional space.
Design Details
Our crew enjoyed the challenge of this tenant improvement project. We were able to utilize existing building features such as the radiator, exposed timbers, and existing windows, all of which took some ‘polishing.’ We knew that the robustness of materials and design would be tested, so we opted for hardy, authentic materials. We also understood that time was of the essence, and worked diligently to meet the owners timeline.
Working on tenant improvement projects like Camber allows us to do two things we love: build community and renovate functional, beautiful spaces. And, as foodies, when those projects are restaurants we’re really on Cloud 9! Check out Camber next time you’re downtown.
“We loved working with Chuckanut on our cafe/restaurant build out in downtown Bellingham (Camber). Their entire team is talented, organized, hard-working, and extremely friendly. It was a complicated process and their support and skill was key to how beautiful the space now looks. By troubleshooting and taking many last minute changes in stride, they helped us achieve all of our goals. On top of all of that, they are eco-conscious and efficient. I will not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a great partner for commercial projects.” -Owner, Camber