Ozarker

Ozarker

Blunderbuss inspired sconces add a blast of fun to this Missouri lodge renovation.

These oversized sconces were commissioned by frequent collaborator, Parini, for their major overhaul of the The Ozarker Lodge in Branson, Missouri. As is often the case, Parini had a pretty developed idea when they brought this project to our inbox, but asked that we take it the rest of the way.

Maybe it’s just us, but when we initially saw the design intent for these fixtures, we couldn’t help but see a droopy hunting rifle. You know, the cartoonish kind that Bugs Bunny may tie into a knot causing it to backfire into Elmer Fudd’s unwitting face?

This inadvertent observation became a part of our inspiration for the project as we further developed the fixtures. Additionally, we wanted to pull from the rural heritage and natural beauty of the surroundings and the lodge owner’s affinity towards vintage and found objects.

We felt the scale of these fixtures offered an inherent modernity, so we needed to balance that to achieve the owners preferred look. The detailing we ultimately added was an effort to marry these various ideas.

The mounting plates, a necessity to anchor the fixtures and conceal the wiring connections, were subtly shaped and given a traditional cove edge to allude to a hunting trophy plate. A decorative half round recess was also routed parallel to the top edge of the wooden armature suggesting a grip on the stock of a rifle.

The hardware, which supports the front of the fixtures from the ceiling, was intentionally exaggerated. By utilizing an oversized wooden pin and hand bent fork, we evoked the joinery and scale that may be found on an old barn door latch, cart axle, or shovel handle.

These sconces were just a small portion of the entire project and they are certainly strengthened by their beautiful surroundings. That said, by establishing a clear narrative with Parini and the owners of The Ozarker Lodge we felt we were able to maximize their impact on the space.