Texture and Gloss: 10 Ideas to Steal from a Hip London Cafe - Remodelista
Photography courtesy of 157 + 173 Designers. A recent discovery in our submissions in box Catalyst Café Coffee Roasters in central London with interiors that strike a balance between roughness and sensitivity as a good cup of... ...coffee does We like its quirky mix of granite and marble small space storage solutions and glass floor looking into the lab all designed by Thessaloniki based 157 173 Designers 1. Hide surprising design inside a traditional exterior. The café’s simple exterior belies the mix of materials inside. Inside, the designers took inspiration from stones collected on their travels. 2. Up the contrast: Balance rough stone with wood and glass. Cutout pulls keep behind-the-counter storage from feeling cluttered. 3. Keep surfaces streamlined with cutout cabinet pulls. 4. Mix stone for maximum texture. For visual interest, mix two or three kinds of stone—with care. (The designers also added granite detailing to the birch plywood floor to create patterned “stone carpets,” not pictured.) Mossy eucalyptus granite alongside granite bricks. 5. Add a pegboard for additional storage. A large pegboard at the back of the space gives an empty wall the potential for all-purpose storage; for a similar idea, see Versatile Function: Pegboard Organizers by Yvonne Mouser. A two-in-one small space idea: When set at the right height, the bottom portion of shelving can serve as a low counter or table, as it does here. 6. Use shelves as a counter space. For warmth, the designers added cork details: Material Pendant lights from Copenhagen brand New Works and cork-top Sinnerlig stools by Ilse Crawford from Ikea. 8. Faucet as focal point: Install an exposed-pipe fixture. An unexpected focal point: an exposed-pipe brass faucet above the small hand-washing sink. To unite the upstairs cafe with the coffee lab and open kitchen below, the designers tore up a section of flooring and installed a glass panel in its place, preserving and exposing the original beams and inviting visitors to peek underground. 9. Play with the structure you’re given. Pick what to experiment with and what to keep simple. 10. Keep the background simple.