Before and After

Before: Courtesy Michael Doty / After: Tim Brown

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Ketchum has a colorful history—one full of legends, tradition and even a few tall tales. A drive down Ketchum’s Main Street evokes images of a classic western mining town from an era long gone.
The picturesque street showcases mercantiles, cowboy bars, casinos and brick-walled grocers from
the 1880s.

So how can business owners create change in a town so steeped in a Hemingway-like history? How do they use these relics to invoke a sense of modernity all while maintaining their history, their charm and their character?

It is a challenge recently faced by several creative local builders, designers and architects who, inspired by the fabled Ketchum history and motivated to create something a little different on their beloved Main Street, tackled renovations and rebuilds in downtown Ketchum.

CORNERSTONE BAR AND GRILL

The Challenge

Architect Michael Doty says remodels are “journeys by nature.” The renovation of Cornerstone Bar and Grill was no different. Owners Meg and Erik Vorm, along with builder Dan Young of Young Construction and Michael Doty Associates, started with a building that was essentially just a brick shell built in 1887. Along the way, the team encountered surprises like brick and mud walls, bathrooms in need of demolishing and an almost unusable basement space. But overall, they wanted to keep it contemporary with all of its old character. For the bar, the goal was to create a space that was friendly, comfortable and functional.

Additional Changes

“Everything behind the bar was laid out perfectly, right down to the location of the taps, the fridges, the register, and the sink,” Doty explained. “It was important that the bartenders stay busy in an effective and efficient manner but maintain constant interaction with guests.” The bathrooms were another focus of the remodel, as the Vorms wanted them to compliment the entire experience of the building. Initially, the bathrooms were not even plumbed into their current location, an additional endeavor tackled by the team. The washrooms now feature modern art, metal wainscoting, unique fixtures and impressive lighting—and they definitely extend the Cornerstone experience and add to the overall “wow-factor.”

The Result

A bar and dining experience that could be found anywhere, in a big city or Ketchum, Idaho. Features and elements that work together to create a space worthy of its 2010 American Institute of Architects Honor Award.

Special Touches

You couldn’t miss the bar if you tried. The Chroma material with LED lighting is one of the restaurant’s best highlights. Check out its changing colors that seem to alter with the mood of whoever has bellied up to the bar’s light show.

In the Business

The showcase bar enlisted the work of the Salt Lake City-based company, 3form, which works primarily on special lighting projects like this. Idaho Falls engineers, ES-Squared, went above and beyond to create new ways to keep the old structure in tact.

Before: Courtesy Michael Doty / After: Tim Brown