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Wine and Art on Display Known for its extensive wine list, the Washington, D.C., Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House features a whop- ping 1,200 labels and 10,000 bottles — bottles that had to go somewhere. Weaving throughout each area of the restaurant, a temperature- and humidity- controlled, glass-encased wine "room" or cellar showcases the bottles positioned horizontally. To access the area, staff use a small walk-through space behind. A portion of the wall that provides views into the kitchen offers additional glimpses into the wine cellar, which also weaves its way into the private dining space on the second level that accommo- dates intimate dinners and meetings with full A/V equipment and laptop hookups. The main private dining room on the lower level, with total capacity of slightly more than 100 seated guests, also offers views of the wine collection. Pocket doors can partition the room into smaller dining spaces or retract for larger parties. Thoughtful artwork remains just as important to the Del Frisco's brand as the wine, and the D.C. location, with its whimsical, eclectic and partially local collection, is no different. "One of the DEL FRISCO'S 5 4 • R E S T A U R A N T D E V E L O P M E N T + D E S I G N • J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5 Design Insights JULIANA KERSCHEN, The Johnson Studio LOOK AND FEEL. We wanted to go for a more contemporary steakhouse, one that would ft in with the scene in D.C. and have that feeling of power and presence. In doing that, we incorporated more traditional elements like wood paneling but in a modern way with brass panel inlays and cleaner lines. Black-and-white houndstooth drapery creates a masculine feel but the polished brass and foor lamps help soften the space to attract men, women and younger crowds. Large community tables that seat up to 10 people help bring the space down to a more personal level. SIGNATURE FEATURES. For the tiered liquor shelf, we wanted some- thing that would tie the two foors together and that could be both functional and sculptural. For the brass "leaf" light fxture, we wanted it to undulate and fow throughout the space as a beautiful focal point resembling the shape of the Potomac River. For the wine cellar, we created small windows with jagged-edged openings in the walls so you have that peek of wine throughout the space. COLOR SCHEME. It's designed to create a very powerful feel to the restaurant but also incorporate traditional elements. The use of white marble is a nod to D.C., the same marble you see in the monuments. We also incorporated black and charcoal throughout the space, but with a pop of a brighter emerald green rather than traditional hunter green to evoke that feeling of money and power in a more contemporary way. The three-level, 17,700-square- foot space features Tetris-style geometric cut-outs in walls providing views into the wine room and kitchen.