Today I am taking you on a tour of the café I had the pleasure to design in the heart of Le Marais, my favourite district in Paris!
This space used to be a run down, uninviting luggage store that we transformed into a bright and homey café in just a few months (don't miss the before photos at the end of this blog post!).
I wanted this space to feel warm and relaxing so it is in harmony with the delicious healthy food that is served in this vegan café. In the same spirit as when I design homes, I've been working on creating that hug feeling I love in interiors. We used a warm and muted colour palette, natural materials and introduced lots of curves!
I'm pretty sure the builder still hates me for insisting on making the counter curved and for asking for half of the Zellige tiles to be cut into triangle shapes... But I'm really happy I didn't give up as it makes all the difference! When renovating, if you really think something is worth the extra effort, stick to your vision, no matter how many people tell you differently!
We used this beautiful wallpaper from Seasons Paper in the sitting area to add a touch of colour to the space. It really ties the space together as it complements the colour of the Zellige tiles on the counter and connects with all the curves and arches we introduced in the design.
All the tables, chairs, stools and most of the vases are vintage finds I sourced on Facebook Market Place. Vintages pieces add character to the space and allowed us to keep some budget to spend on beautiful lights, millwork and handmade tiles.
The team that made this project possible! From left to right: Johnny the builder, Hélène the owner of the café and myself.
Before Photos
I promised you some before photos so here they are and they look nothing like the warm and cozy café it is today! I love working on this type of run down spaces as it really allows me to be creative and the before / after shots are extremely rewarding!
This has been one of my favourite projects to work on and I was thrilled to see it featured in several magazines including Elle Décoration and The Simple Things. Next time you are in Paris, I strongly recommend putting Ground to Grow on your list, they serve the best toasts and pancakes I have ever tasted!
PS: Don't forget to download my free guide below where I'm sharing my top tips to add warmth to your home!