A Handcrafted Gate
A Stylish and Functional Entrance for a Top-Rated Restaurant

The Challenge Facing the Restaurant Owners

When owners Gary Griffin and Ana Sortun renovated the space for their restaurant Oleana in Cambridge, they envisioned a setting enhanced by wood, stone and iron. They worked with their designer to plan out the renovation and to create a décor using accents and functional pieces made of these materials.

“We are really happy with the gate. Ray built something special to reflect the style of our restaurant.” — Gary Griffin and Ana Sortun, Restaurant Owners

One of the renovation’s challenges was that the entrance needed to come up to code for handicap access with a ramp. The only way the owners could accomplish this was to convert the old back entrance into the main entrance. This part of the renovation took some creativity, because the back entrance was an unsightly storage area without public access.

The Creative Solution

Working with their designer, Gary and Ana realized the best solution was to transform the old back entrance with a stylish gate. Gary says, “I tried to find a solution for the gate on my own, but anything I looked at that was standard looked cheap and mass produced. That was not the image I wanted as people walked into the restaurant.” Their designer referred them to master craftsman Ray Ciemny of Artisan Iron in Groton, Massachusetts. Ray listened as they explained their aesthetic goals and practical needs. They wanted something that would provide privacy to the back area, which was used for al fresco dining, but that would also be highly functional as a working entrance gate. From a design perspective, the owners liked a true wrought-iron look because of its handmade craftsmanship and character. Gary explained, “After looking at standard solutions for a gate, we looked at antique gates. The craftsmen from 100 years ago made beautiful iron gates. That was the look we wanted.

What is a Creative Metalsmith?

As a creative metalsmith, master craftsman Ray Ciemny combines the skills of a blacksmith, artist, designer and metalworker. Imagine an old-fashioned blacksmith with a modern sensibility, who intelligently creates artistic works to solve functional needs with original designs. Though the days of traditional blacksmithing have faded, master craftsman Ray Ciemny keeps the art alive, designing contemporary solutions for the homeowner who admires handcrafted original pieces.

The Result

After hearing the requirements for the gate, Ray presented a design that provided privacy, functionality and an artisanal look. The gate’s left side panel has a pattern of concave, hand-forged squares to block views from the street. When open, it folds back behind the stationary right side, which features a grid-like design. The gate opens easily with a touch of the hand and closes in line with the latch. It allows for wheelchair access through to the ramp. Gary and Ana commented, “We are really happy with the gate. Ray built something special to reflect the style of our restaurant.” Ana’s father liked the gate so much that he gave it to Ana and Gary as a gift.

Since the gate was finished at Oleana, Ray has completed several other custom projects to help Gary and Ana meet their specific needs. He created a trellis for the back seating area that was custom-made to the height of the roof. Wisteria now grows from the roof onto the trellis for added interest in the dining area. Ray also created custom coat racks in a tight space and bench-like seating for the dining area. Ray explained, “Gary is great to work with. He has a great sense of style and appreciates handcrafted work. The décor of Oleana reflects the outstanding culinary experience. That is smart for business.”

What Makes Artisan Iron’s Work Different?

The word “blacksmith” conjures images of an old-fashioned craftsman hammering away at his forge. Ray brings that quality of time-tested craftsmanship to his work as an artist. He uses the finest techniques of his trade to create modern, functional and beautiful works for the home. So many home-furnishing choices are the standard fare. One person’s home starts to look like the next. But people want their homes to be unique and pleasing, reflective of their personal tastes. Working with Ray is a collaborative process that allows a homeowner creative input into the design of a custom piece of art.