Inspired by ‘Le Select’ in Paris, a chic 1920s brasserie frequented by artists and intellectuals including Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein, Charleston’s recently opened ‘The Select’ aims to capture the spirit of the original restaurant for a contemporary audience in South Carolina.
In much the same way as its namesake provided a safe haven for freedom of political, artistic and intellectual expression, The Select aims to offer its patrons a respite from the pressures of 21st century living – a place to connect, feel inspired and enjoy the unique pleasure of a delicious, seasonal meal with friends.
We’re extremely proud to say that a Renaissance GSB wine cellar forms a key element of this aspirational venue.
Eclectic ambiance
This is the second iteration of The Select, the first famously located in the Sandy Springs neighborhood of Atlanta, where owner Dave Green had a clear vision for what the restaurant should offer.
“Nowadays, we’re all attached to our phones,” says managing partner Jennifer Bresnahan, “We don’t look up. We don’t interact. We don’t have conversations outside the digital world. Dave wanted to create a place where people put their phones down and come in to meet people and enjoy the ambiance.”
That ambiance is a feeling of warm eclecticism; the dining room is Art Deco-inspired with warm wood panelling, plush leather and velvet banquettes, glowing mid-century chandeliers overhead, a slew of French-style café furniture and walls lined with gleaming mirrors and vintage books.
Touches of whimsy here and there – an Italianate marble statue named Veronique and a cascading floral ceiling over the zinc-topped bar – ensure the space doesn’t feel stuffy, and give it that all important Insta-appeal.
Convivial style
The convivial appeal of The Select is what makes it so wonderful – an abundance of banquette seating promotes interconnectedness and tables are closely grouped for a feeling of intimacy designed to make people feel at home – and the design of the restaurant’s wine cellar has been carefully considered to further enhance this feeling.
Situated at the heart of the dining space, the cellar’s long, shallow design creates a stunning showcase for the venue’s extensive wine collection that encourages patrons to browse through the glass, removing another layer of formality in the space, while adding theatre to the dining experience.
Custom wine cellar design
Our design was based on four pairs of wine cellar doors spanning almost an entire wall in The Select’s dining room. In keeping with the venue’s understated glamor, our Revival system was selected for the simplicity of its frameless look, with plain insulated glass installed into a monolithic frame for a clean, crisp and energy-efficient design.
The frames were finished in our popular charcoal patina, which blends effortlessly into the moody vibe of The Select’s interiors while offering whispers of glamorous, burnished bronze underneath.
Each door was fitted with full perimeter silicone bulb weatherstripping for enhanced climate stability inside the wine cellar, and solid grip bronze handles so all doors can be opened independently, and locked independently using the integrated key push-button locks.
The result is a subtle yet captivating home for The Select’s wine collection, taking a behind-the-scenes asset and transforming it into a front-of-house statement that enhances the overall look and feel of this already classic venue.
Want to know more?
For more information about this project, or to discuss an upcoming wine cellar design challenge, get in touch with our expert team.