FRIAR'S CLUB
Founded in 1904, the Friar’s Club hosts risqué celebrity roasts for the most exclusive guests. Its stately interior is replete with hand-painted ceilings, stained glass, wood paneling, brass hardware, and several hidden nooks. We were selected to repaint the podium in the entrance, giving it a fresh look and uniting its classical sienna marble and European oak finish with the interior architecture of this English renaissance mansion.
Contemplating the visual elements of the club, we noted colors, woodwork and marble styles throughout the low-lit rooms. A walkaround allowed us to soak in the luster of the fabrics, Renaissance paintings, and even the guests’ styles, confirming that our samples were a perfect match. It was time to bring new life to this podium.
In our studio, we stripped the old layers of paint, sanded it down, and applied a new base coat. There were a number of holes and dings that needed to be filled, and then we could begin the process of decorative finishing. We painted a faux sienna marble in a classical style, building up layers using an modern-day acrylic glazing system. The faux bois European oak on the front of the podium was applied using a classical technique. The Friar’s Club emblem on front received a fresh gilding in 24 karat gold.
Restoring the rejuvenated podium to its former post in the ornate gallery, it immediately tied into its space in a more streamlined way. The host is framed by the stately glow of the marble as they greet their dapper guests.