Timeless Curves
Photography by Fred Gerlich
When you think of a car dealership, a unique and timeless interior design is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. When visiting Hennessey Lexus in Gwinnett, Georgia, a breathtaking design is exactly what you see.
In 2008, Hennessey Lexus needed to renovate their existing dealership, increasing square footage by 25%. Consistent with the Lexus passion for leading-edge design, dealers have a lot of freedom to create an environment that suits their individual needs and reflects individual dealers' style.
When undertaking the expansion of Hennessey Lexus, the same design tenants as the Lexus car brand were incorporated. "We value our customers, whether they are here to purchase a new vehicle or for service on their current car. When people come in, we want them to feel valued, welcomed and comfortable," explains owner, Peter Hennessey. The task of designing a warm and welcoming dealership that reflected the Lexus brand and hospitality was led by interior designer Jillian Mitchell, Owner of Details Interior Design and Furniture Company, and architect David Zenner, CEO of The Zenner Group, Inc. To achieve this goal, a combination of high-end architectural details and curves were used, designing everything on an axis.
Using the right materials was also crucial to making this project a success. The materials chosen were selected to be timeless yet contemporary, while also having to be extraordinarily durable to stand up to application in a high traffic commercial environment.
A combination of wood and glass were used to achieve the timeless look. The growing design trend of open and transparent office spaces was used. The use of frameless glass instead of traditional drywall between offices maintains the open feel, even when private spaces are needed. "Integration of wood adds so much warmth," says Jillian. Very close attention to detail was important to the success of this project. Furniture and millwork were coordinated and specified to maintain a consistent look and grain.
For a unifying look, Anigre (Aningeria spp.) was used for all of the wood features throughout this design. The furniture was custom designed and created to fit into the curved features of the space, creating cohesion within the entire project. "The wood for this project was meticulously specified. From the furniture to the wall panels and casework, all of the wood was actually sourced from a single tree! This allowed us to closely control the grain for a consistent look
Frequently asked questions
What wood species was used throughout the Hennessey Lexus dealership design?+
Anigre (Aningeria spp.) was used for all wood features throughout the design, including furniture, wall panels, and casework.
Why was all the wood for the Hennessey Lexus project sourced from a single tree?+
Sourcing all the wood from a single tree allowed the designers to closely control the grain for a consistent, unifying look across the furniture, wall panels, and casework.
Who designed the Hennessey Lexus dealership renovation?+
The project was led by interior designer Jillian Mitchell, owner of Details Interior Design and Furniture Company, and architect David Zenner, CEO of The Zenner Group, Inc.
How much was the Hennessey Lexus dealership expanded during the 2008 renovation?+
The renovation increased the existing dealership's square footage by 25%.
How was an open feel maintained in the Hennessey Lexus office spaces?+
Frameless glass was used instead of traditional drywall between offices, maintaining an open and transparent feel even when private spaces were needed.
Why were wood and glass chosen as the primary materials for the Hennessey Lexus interior?+
Wood and glass were selected to achieve a timeless yet contemporary look, with wood adding warmth and glass supporting the open, transparent office design trend. The materials also had to be extraordinarily durable to withstand a high-traffic commercial environment.