Elektra Bakery



Name: Elektra Bakery
Location: Edessa, Greece

Simple. Clean. Modern. What more can you ask for. I enjoy purity of materials and beleive that you don't need 'stuff' to create a beautiful space and environment. The connection between the interior and exterior through the use of a small jut-out exemplifies this idea, it's simple, to the point and yet unexpected, all at once.


All photos © Spyros Paloukis



A local favorite: Piece Brewery & Pizzeria


Image © smartshow.org

Name: Piece Brewery & Pizzeria
Location: Chicago, IL (Wicker Park)

This weekend I headed down to Wicker Park to visit Piece Brewery in celebration of a family birthday! While I wouldn't necessarily go there for the design or decor, the food and beer were off the charts. We started off with a few order of chips and homemade salsa which were simple and flavorful. The true show stopper, however, was the beer and pizza (rightfully so, considering the name of the place.) The pizza has a bubbly, thin crust with a perfect mix of soft, chewy, light and crispy. The topping all tasted extremely fresh and their flavors were not masked by too much cheese or too much sauce. Since the stout was not available that night (which I had my heart set on) I decided to go with the Dark-n-curvy Dunkekweizen which was a German-style wheat beer with an amber hue and medium body. It was delicious! Our table also tried a few pitchers of the Full Frontal pale ale which was light and extremely refreshing.

All in all the meal was a success and the perfect place to enjoy a saturday night! I will definitely be back and might even try out the $25.oo pizza & growler deal one of these night.

Image © nerd city

Local Favorite: The Coffee Studio



Name: The Coffee Studio
Location: Chicago, IL
Designer: owners Miguel & Lee Corrina Cano

I recently made my way out to the Andersonville area of Chicago to check out a local coffee shop, The Coffee Studio. I loved the industrial, mid-century vibe they have going on. There is beautiful exposed brick walls with honey colored wood floors, Eames-esq seats and Nelson pendants in the front of the store and a built-in banquette and lounge seating towards the back. I will definitely make the it back out there again soon!




Photos 1 & 3 © The Coffee Studio
Photos 2 & 4 © 21st Street Coffee & Tea

Kith Café



Location: Singapore
Designer: Hjgher

This space was created out of the simple idea that sitting down for coffee with someone can make kith and kin out of strangers. This simple and pure thought translates into the design through the materials and layout within the space; keep it simple, open and sincere, just like the relationships a good cup of coffee can create. Kith Cafe shows that simple, doesn't have to be boring or bland.




All photos © Contemporist

Carne SA





Name: Carne SA
Location: Cape Town, South Africa


This space feels completely raw, but in a purposeful way. I love the contrast between the exposed materials and the extremely chic ghost chairs. The space was designed for longevity and the style was catered to match the food being served. They were going for an "Italian butcher-shop eatery" and used classic elements found in traditional butcher shops in Italy to direct the material selection for the space. The stainless steel floors, for example, seem to be a reference to the stainless steel meat slicer. The space has a great "no-fuss" feel and is just different enough to be visually interesting while still maintaining complete comfort and function.





All images © The Contemporist

Ella Dining Room & Bar





Name: Ella Dining Room and Bar
Location: Sacramento, CA
Designer: UXUS

The concept of Ella was 'Rustic Luxury' and I think Uxus nailed it. The space is calming with texture everywhere, from the lamp cords and drapes to the vintage shutters and raw wood.
I love the private dining room and the large utensil graphics on the walls. I also appreciate the correct use of scale throughout the design. (Definitely something typically missed in designs, especially those created by individuals whom dont have the required education and background in design.)







All images © Amassing design

Ames Hotel


Name: Ames Hotel
Location: Boston, MA
Designer: David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group

The Rockwell group is one of few design firms that has, to me, an almost perfect batting average. The Ames Hotel is understated, unfussy and yet completely chic and glamourous all at once. The deep rich grays and clean color palate accented with bright pops of modern color keep the entire space feeling relaxed and calming without being bland or boring. The architecture of the historic Ames building in which the hotel is located is allowed to shine and the fixtures and furniture accentuate the original character.





Check back later this week to check out Woodward, the hotels' in-house restaurant and bar.
All photos © Ameshotel.com

Cartola

Name: Cartola
Location: Portland, Oregon
Designer: Kit Cobra & husband, Simone De Souza

I adore the outside space at this cafe. The green tufted banquette paired with the natural wood and modern wicker chairs is a complete win. Portland has always been pretty high on my list of places in the U.S. to get to. With the craft coffee culture continuously expanding my desire to get over there keeps getting stronger.



All images ©Leslie Montgomery via the Lonny Blog

Bangalore Express Restaurant






Name: Bangalore Express Restaurant
Location: South London
Designer: Outline

At first glance this design is amazing. It's clean, has a touch of industrial with the pipe fittings and has completely re-thought the entire dining experience. While I can appreciate a great looking design, I also believe designs should be functional and user-friendly. That being said, I think it would be extremely difficult as a server to actually get food and drinks up to the top level. Multiple trips might be the answer but anyone who has ever served knows how unrealistic that solution is when you have many tables during a rush period.


All photos © Philip Vile via Outline

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Mazzo



Name: Mazzo
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

How cool is this space? The raw vibe has just enough of a hipster edge without being a complete cliche´. I love the exposed brick and duct work, mismatched chairs and great prints of people eating as well as the exposed shelving units. Add to the mix the 'spider-looking' light fixtures and the space has great texture and visual interest.

I love the shotgun style floor plans that are typical in Amsterdam.
Small spaces + big design= perfection.






Images 1,3-6 © Ewout Huibers