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Hot Rod Orthodontic Office

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by drdave, Apr 4, 2011.

  1. Well, after a three year pregnancy, here it finally is. I have posted odds and ends of my new office here and there on the board, but I have had several requests to do a separate post on it once it was all done. So, for what it's worth, here is our new hot rod orthodontic office.

    Being the 50's/60's car nut I am, I also get a kick out of the architecture and just the whole look of the time as well. Not wanting to build your average taupe brick building, I wanted something that had more the look of a 50's era diner/drive-in/gas station sorta thing. I talked with the architect about that and I think they jumped inside my head and knocked it out of the park.

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    The interior was a bit more of a giving birth process (or as I would interpret that having never been pregnant personally ;) ). I had the vision of the inside being a bit of a city inside with the outside of the rooms having facades of different 50's buildings you would think of when you think 50's....soda fountain, burger joint, gas station, etc. It took a fair amount of back and forth with the interior folks to get that sort of thing meshed with the stuff you gotta have for an orthodontic office. But, eventually, I think we got there.

    Stepping in the front door, you are greeted with the woodie wagon front desk parked in front of a Big Boy (although I still have to finish the signage for that).

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    The front desk started as a rusty $100 47 Merc coupe. Yes, a Merc...with a 46 Ford grille. The Merc grille parts were not easily obtainable, where the Ford parts are. Getting that Ford grille to fit the Merc....not a bolt in job. ;) The front clip and rear fender are off the car while the "woodie" part is cabinetry made to look the part. The "roof" has the planked headliner look of the woodie and is complete with vinyl top and surfboard. You get funny looks pulling up to a surf shop with your wife and kids while on vacation and buy a board blank. To the surfer dude, you do not look like a guy who knows what on earth to do with a surf blank. But, I did and carved it down, glassed it and got it painted, then proceeded to cut holes in it to run the mounts through.....I couldn't bring myself to do that to a vintage long board, so you build your own for the purpose.

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    Most everything here has a story and a fair amount of my childhood is in here. The Big Boy out front was my favorite restaurant my folks took us to when I was a kid. Next up is our new patient exam room with a soda fountain facade. Named Fairmont's, it is the soda fountain my grandpa used to take me to. This pic was taken before the rest of the signage was put on the frosted windows and door, but you get the idea. Inside, we gotta have the spinning fountain chairs in red Zodiac vinyl. Also have the aluminum banded counter tops (all the counter tops in the whole office are banded and in cool formica).

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    Heading on back to the main treatment area, we have lots going on, so here is the big picture before we go around.

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    On the far side, we have the movie theater tooth brushing area. We put the kids names up on one side of the marquee when they come in for the first time welcoming them to the office. On the side facing the treatment area, we put up the kids names when they get their braces off as the "feature movie." They get a kick out of it and often take pictures with their name in lights. I had someone stop me one day and ask me if I had a movie theater in my office. I told them I sorta did and they said they saw it on Facebook with someone getting their braces off. Guess the pics get around. LOL The lit movie poster marquee in the back ground has a 1950's sci-fi, b-movie poster of giant plaque eating the quiet little tooth town that the awesomely creative graphic guys I use did for me.

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    What really started this whole design concept in the first place was the staff asking if the new office could have some seating areas in the treatment area for parents and friends that often come with the patients. Being a car guy, I couldn't have just any seating area, I need couches made out of the back ends of cars, right? So, get me some parts cars, a tape measure and start cuttin'. All the car furniture you see was built by my dad and myself. Not really being able to come up with good information on how anyone else had done it, we just pretty much went on the fly and figured it out as we went. Even jumped in to figure out the upholstery myself. I figured I had read enough books and watched enough upholsterers over the years, how hard could it be? Fortunately, I have an aunt who is a professional upholsterer, so she was handy to have on the phone when kinks came up.

    '56 Olds 98. That's real tuck and roll there...you gotta have tuck and roll, ya know? :)

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    '59 Caddy. Yup, that's real fur on cow hide. Cows 'n Caddy's just go, no?

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    Gotta have a gas station, right? Well, mine is Sinclair. When I was a kid, there was a Sinclair station near my grandparent's house, so I knew I was almost to grandma's when I saw that great big dinosaur. I have spent most of my life hunting one down and finally came across one of the smaller ones. This particular one is actually a fiberglass copy and has spent the last couple of years in my kid's play area where they climbed all over it and played on it while the office was being built. They were most upset when the time came to move it to it's new home, but I was blessed to find an aluminum original at the same time to take it's place. Whew! :)

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    Down the side hall, we have what will probably be a 5 and 10, but you can see I still have to do some signage here.

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    Last edited: Aug 28, 2013
  2. Well, here is the part that fits here on the HAMB most. My private office looks out onto the main treatment area and left a spot next to the Sinclair station that would make a perfect garage door space. Rather than make it a service bay, I thought doing it up as Larry Watson's shop would be cool. My dad's first in 57 was a mild custom 51 Merc, which certainly had a big influence on me. Another was getting the Grease Machines book for Christmas when I was in jr. high. That book, if you've never seen it, is loaded with Larry Watson paint jobs, as well as a spread on his Grapevine and panel painted '59 Caddy. I've had this sickness bad ever since. So, in tribute to Larry (I finally got a Merc in tribute to my dad...fortunately he is still here to enjoy it with me), I built his shop and his Caddy for a desk looking out the shop bay. With the help of Rik Hoving, I got a picture of Larry's shops (the blue diamonds are actually from a later shop) and projected them on the wall for templates then proceeded to paint and hand letter it all. I'm not going to take lettering up for a living! ;)

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    The Caddy desk was finally reassembled last week and still has some details that need done....cabinet doors, paint some bare wood black, etc., but it's pretty much there. I wish I had some better pics of it, but it's mucho heavy and has to be assembled in place and can't be moved back from the wall to take some good pictures all the way around. Also, the candy and pearl white looks great outside, but alas, it will never be outside. The sun shines though my office window and hits it in the mornings, though, so I get to see it "right" occasionally.

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    Well, there you go for anyone who is interested. I'm no Moriarity or Scary Larry...those guys got the spreads. But, it makes for a fun place to work. Now, if I can get my shop cleaned out from building all this mess, maybe one day I might actually finish a car. Wouldn't that be something? LOL

    Something like this does not come off with just one guy. I really got to thank some folks who without their help and input this would not have happened. First is my wife, certainly,. She has been very patient and indulgent and most helpful with ideas. My dad who is the reason I am a car nut and who helped figure this crazy furniture mess out. I had a great building crew who at first doubted a Dr really knew anything about building anything, much less something they hadn't seen done before. They gave me a lot of rope. Toadfrog here on the HAMB is one of the bodyshop instructors at the local high school. He got the kids to help with bodywork when I got in a time crunch, spray some primer and he sprayed the color on the front desk and the paint on the Watson desk. I am a blessed man. :D
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2011
  3. endlessearth
    Joined: Jul 26, 2010
    Posts: 192

    endlessearth
    Member

    That is just friggin awesome!
     
  4. poofus1929
    Joined: Jan 29, 2008
    Posts: 897

    poofus1929
    Member
    from So Cal

    Nice. Awesome job.:D
     

  5. Stevie Nash
    Joined: Oct 24, 2007
    Posts: 2,999

    Stevie Nash
    Member

    Man, if I could have only gone thru 2 yrs of braces there!!!!
     
  6. 117harv
    Joined: Nov 12, 2009
    Posts: 6,589

    117harv
    Member

    :eek::eek:....Almost speechless, wild, awesome, insane, you NAILED IT!!!
     
  7. Von Rigg Fink
    Joined: Jun 11, 2007
    Posts: 13,418

    Von Rigg Fink
    Member
    from Garage

    How F-in' cool is that?
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2011
  8. retro54
    Joined: Apr 1, 2004
    Posts: 735

    retro54
    Member
    from PA

    That's really great there Doc'.... and even better is that you did a bunch of it yourself! I sure hope your architects submit this project for some awards.. I know I would!
     
  9. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,208

    flynbrian48
    Member

    That is cool. I'll have to show these pics to my wifes boss (she's been a hygenist for the guy for 25 years), their office needs a little update...
     
  10. If only all dentist's were as cool...
     
  11. I wouldn't mind visiting the dentist if I had a place like that to go to!
     
  12. ty1295
    Joined: Feb 20, 2008
    Posts: 110

    ty1295
    Member
    from Indiana

    Ok, this is one of the coolest businesses I have seen. Glad to see someone do something that just isn't a box with color on the walls.

    GREAT JOB!
     
  13. Gator
    Joined: Dec 29, 2005
    Posts: 4,016

    Gator
    Member

    Wow - just - Wow!
     
  14. hrm2k
    Joined: Oct 2, 2007
    Posts: 4,822

    hrm2k
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    too very cool
     
  15. Beef Stew
    Joined: Oct 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,253

    Beef Stew
    Member
    from So Cal

    Amazing! I love it!
     
  16. BCR
    Joined: Dec 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,265

    BCR
    Member

    Wow, I love it. Well done.
     
  17. pwschuh
    Joined: Oct 27, 2008
    Posts: 2,824

    pwschuh
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I think I need braces....
     
  18. Model A John
    Joined: Apr 24, 2008
    Posts: 1,771

    Model A John
    Member
    from wichita ks

    Yep. Very cool!
     
  19. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    oh my god!!! Awesome!!!!
     
  20. That is incredible !!!!!!! oh wow,im blown away right now.I want to see this place in person,thanks for posting.
     
  21. 32PlymouthGirl
    Joined: Aug 20, 2008
    Posts: 44

    32PlymouthGirl
    Member

    Sweet! Awesome job!
     
  22. you have GOT to be kidding me.
    how freaking awesome is THAT ?!?!?!?
     
  23. T-rev
    Joined: Jun 15, 2010
    Posts: 113

    T-rev
    Member

    Thats fantastic :eek: more business need to take this kind of inspiration.
     
  24. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    Damn I would fly my kid out to Arkansas if I can afford it plus the braces!!!
     
  25. sinticket
    Joined: May 6, 2006
    Posts: 580

    sinticket
    Member

    This is amazing! Beautiful work. Congratulations!
     
  26. patman
    Joined: Apr 30, 2007
    Posts: 575

    patman
    Member

    The theme is carried off very well, but...

    My kids' orthodontist had a bunch of autographed guitars and other signed music memorabilia and photos in his office. He even had the 57 Chevy couch thing too, along with a video game kiosk.

    It was fun the first couple of visits, but as a parent...it turned into a painful reminder of just how much the braces were costing me. :(
     
  27. jchav62
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 1,932

    jchav62
    Member

  28. BarryA
    Joined: Apr 22, 2007
    Posts: 643

    BarryA
    Member

    Wow - that's pretty friggin' awesome! Well done!
     
  29. Very well done Dr Dave!
     
  30. 6inarow
    Joined: Jan 24, 2007
    Posts: 2,360

    6inarow
    Member

    All of this from a wire bender??? WOW!!

    Did you have any help from a design guy? Carter? Unthank?
     

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