“Stout Street Social is one of my favorite restaurants that I’ve worked on in the greater Denver area. Jim Bray Architects was the architect of record, and I was working independently with him at the time,” says Sara Blette of Samari Design. “As we were pulling together the interiors, one of the things that he really wanted to do was create an atmosphere that was social, engaging, and offered a space for community.”

Lovingly referred to as ‘The Cheers Wall,” the reclaimed decor is an art-meets-wood focal point for the bar area. A floor to ceiling reclaimed wood accent wall surrounded by windows, booth seating and notated with the simple directive of ‘Cheers,’ scrawled in cursive across the beautiful jambalaya of repurposed wood flooring.

“I had worked with a woman on multiple projects that liked to do assemblage, so taking inspiration from that, as well as having a nod to celebration and what ‘Cheers’ means we decided to put it up on the wall,” says Blette. “What I absolutely loved about the wood choice is the authentic nature that it comes from old warehouses. But it also reminds me of a basketball court or a gym.”

Adding this touch of patinaed history to the foundry lends a rustic authenticity to the room. Like a pair of well-worn blue jeans, there is a comfortability to the space that patrons can feel. The inherent warmth and texture of the wood plays with and contrasts the greater design intent of the room. Together they create a welcoming space that encourages socialization and community.

“Reclaimed materials and wood have always kind of called to me from both an energetic standpoint of a space and a Fung Shui perspective. Always trying to bring in something that’s going to soften and add warmth,” says Blette. “Especially in new construction, sometimes places can feel a little bit sterile from the get-go. If you don’t introduce a reclaimed material, or if you don’t introduce wood, it can head in that direction.”

‘The Cheers Wall’ defies sterilely and collaborates with the industrial feel of the exposed duct work and the sweetened tone of the flooring blending both elements together deftly in the seating area. 

“I love how this idea of how the reclaimed gym flooring equals community, equals sports, equals coming together,” says Blette. “So that for me is the piece of what it does, its more than just a reclaimed wood when you see the energy that’s behind it on the wall. But it also lends itself to being a really great tribute to repurposed goods, community, and then bringing the ‘Cheers,’ aspect to it.”

The accent wall provides a keyhole view of the past while symbolizing a history yet to be made at Stout Street Social by inviting people to relax, socialize, and toast to the good times.

“A lot of the projects I work on have that wood component, so we are always looking for the opportunity to bring in that texture and that warmth from that authentic type of material,” says Blette. “Anytime I can, I’m always reaching out to Pioneer Millworks because I know you guys have a great ability to bring in new product and you are one of my, ‘What do you have right now?’ people when I need a textured wood item.”