A Comfortable, Functional Space That is Equal Parts Form and Function!

At Toulmin Kitchen & Bath, we love when an architect, designer, or homeowner gives us the opportunity to help create a unique space. Recently we were brought into a project with Ellis Architects to create a custom gun storage room. Most Alabamians love hunting, fishing, and being in the great outdoors. This project was part of a whole-home new build. 

This was an exciting project, but also a challenging project. First and foremost, the room was storage for the homeowner's extensive gun collection consisting of rifles, shotguns, and handguns. It also needed to include space for cleaning firearms and storage for hunting clothes, accessories, and ammunition. 

The client wanted custom, furniture-grade cabinetry and space for relaxing after a day at the range or in the field. We worked with Ellis Architects to create a functional, masculine gun storage room that was comfortable and beautiful.

Creating A Specialty Gun Storage Room 

Here at Toulmin Kitchen & Bath, we specialize in crafting luxury cabinetry. Ellis Architects hired us for our ability to craft custom furniture-grade cabinetry. Our custom work creates personalized environments that meet the homeowner's needs for functionality and aesthetic beauty.

The project began when we received elevations and preliminary designs for the space from Ellis Architects. Yolanda with Ellis Architects says that the homeowner originally wanted a safe room. This evolved into a space to store their gun collection. The homeowner wanted a unique space that was more upscale than your standard storage area. Yolanda did extensive research to draw inspiration for the features this high end space would need like a recessed area for gun cleaning and a barrel rest on the side of the island.

Ellis Architects tasked us with engineering and building custom cabinetry to be highly functional, as well as made with specifically designed storage needs taken into account. Along with the custom cabinetry, we were also asked to provide a functional workbench that fits into the room's aesthetic design constructed with specific features and materials to facilitate firearm cleaning.

The homeowner wanted a classic room with the aesthetics and feel of an English gentleman's lounge. We chose to use walnut for the floor-to-ceiling custom-designed cabinets. The open upper cabinet tops are designed to house the owner's extensive collection of rifles and shotguns. In contrast, the drawers are designed to hold handguns. The cabinets also hold ammunition, gun cleaning supplies, and more. The desk underneath the large screen contains unique trophy specimens harvested by the homeowner, including a sizable atypical deer skull and an impressive bighorn sheep rack.

There is a large walk-in closet off the main space that contains assorted hunting camo, field pants, hats, boots, miscellaneous decoys, and game calls.

It's All About The Details

The cabinets are all made from dark-stained walnut lined with felt. Walnut is extremely luxurious as well as durable, and the felt lining protects the firearms from scratching. Traditional doors in the gun storage area and flat panel doors in the clothing area add visual interest.

The highlight of the room is the custom-designed walnut island cleaning bench. Designed to include special notches on the ends of the island to securely hold the guns before cleaning. The island is also covered with neoprene to protect the surface and soak up spilled oil from the gun cleaning.

The additional details add comfort and design to the space, including the visual contrast between the light wood floors, the dark walnut shelving, and large woven area rugs. The lighting over the island is brushed nickel with a natural, antler inspired motif.

The end result is a luxurious workspace that is upscale, maryaesthetically beautiful, masculine, and perfectly meets the homeowner's needs.

If you're planning a kitchen or bath remodel in the West Alabama area, give the designers at Toulmin Kitchen and Bath a call at (205) 579-9906. Let us help you design and deliver your dream kitchen.