#innovationden

Tucked away in a little vacation town in North Idaho, there’s a building that seems out of place at first pass. This is the Innovation Den. 

The building is a wonderful marriage of public and private space. It’s home to several business offices, dedicated coworking space, a barbershop, and some of the best coffee in town thanks to Coeur d’Alene Coffee Company. There are several workspaces like this across the nation, but this is the only one I’ve been to in a town of 45,000 people. Spend just a few minutes in the building though, and you’ll start to think every town in America ought to have a similar building. 

The small town charm of Coeur d’Alene definitely flows through Innovation Den. There’s a sense of community among the business occupants, and the small town is excited to have such a visible sign of economic progress and forethought. There’s an excitement in the air - an intoxicating mix of entrepreneurship and artisan coffee. 

But the feature we want to talk about today is tucked away just beneath the hive of caffeinated worker bees. In the basement, behind a conspicuously locked door, is The Lair. 

This private club resembles the speakeasies of old. The main room is large and dim, but one can make out a few details beneath the overhead Edison pendant lights. The walls are black, lined with black and white art installations. At the back wall the building’s original bar, built 50+ years ago, is now wrapped in copper. Fine leather couches are positioned in the foreground, inviting guests to sit down with a cocktail and enjoy some light conversation. And tucked in the very back, is a private (independently ventilated) cigar room. In this cigar room, hangs our latest piece. 

The rustic chandelier is constructed from a solid 5ft 8X8 wooden beam with overhead supports anchored into the ceiling joists. Various lengths of 1 1/2 inch manila rope are wrapped around the beam for added texture and appeal. Six sockets have been wired independently, with the last 18 inches or so of each incorporated in the twists of manila rope, so it appears the sockets are coming from the rope itself. The light is finished off with six 40-watt tungsten Edison bulbs to provide a warm glow that’s easy on the eyes and matches the feel of the rest of the club.