POTEK :
LOCATION : SANTA BARBARA, CA
COMPLETION : AUGUST 2015
PROJECT TEAM
Founder and winemaker: David Potter, Municipal Winemakers
Architect: Alexa Newman — www.alexanewmanarchitect.com
Brand identity: New Good World — www.newgoodworld.com
Creative direction and interior design: LMPM PRODUCTIONS LLC
Construction and development: Becker Studios– www.beckerstudiosinc.com
LMPM Productions served as creative director and interior designer for Potek Winery, a new wine brand founded by winemaker David Potter, owner of Municipal Winemakers.
The concept for Potek drew upon Potter’s personal and family history, particularly his family’s migration from Romania to the United States and the transformation of the family name from Potek to Potter at Ellis Island. The winery’s visual identity—including its name, logo, and branding—was developed by the design studio New Good World. LMPM translated that identity into the physical environment, creating an interior that connected the brand’s graphic language with its Romanian cultural references.
Romanian embroidery and traditional rug patterns became a central source of inspiration. LMPM reinterpreted these motifs architecturally, transforming them into custom walnut shelving for wine bottles and merchandise, decorative ceiling patterns, and tiled surfaces throughout the space. In the bathrooms, geometric tilework echoes the rug-inspired motifs. In the main production area, a dramatic black-and-white tiled backdrop provides a maximalist visual centerpiece while also serving the practical needs of winemaking during production season.
LMPM developed the project’s conceptual sketches, custom millwork, design drawings, and material specifications, and liaised with the architect and on-site construction team throughout the build. Distinctive architectural details include custom brass inlay channels set into plaster walls and warm walnut millwork that balances the building’s industrial character.
The winery has since incorporated additional furniture, fixtures, and equipment—including custom rugs and furnishings—to create a more intimate, residential atmosphere. Today, Potek hosts wine tastings, food events, private gatherings, and weddings.
THE BUILDING
Potek occupies approximately 3,500 square feet within The Mill, a mixed-use artisan complex in Santa Barbara. Originally constructed in 1904 by the Boykin family as a feed-and-grain mill, the historic structure was later transformed by Becker Studios into an industrial indoor-outdoor destination.
Potek was the first business to open at The Mill. Its space integrates an active wine-production facility—with tanks, barrels, and production equipment—with an adjoining public tasting room.
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