Located along the main community strip in Seddon, the Little Man Cafe re-modeled a corner shop previously occupied by the local post office. The once dilapidated shop is revamped with a clean and crisp design based on the idea of a home kitchen – one that’s inviting and familiar to all.
The owner’s desire was for a designed space which reflected the idea of ‘home’; it had to be open while being functional.
Despite the long and narrow interior (80sqm), an open-plan kitchen layout was adopted to reflect that of a residential dwelling to maximise the use of space. This front kitchen marks the shop’s centrepiece and is strategically positioned to allow patrons to interact with the barista, whilst a secondary fully-equipped kitchen was allocated to the back of house.
A restrained material palette was curated to create balance between warm and sharp aesthetics; to be welcoming yet uncluttered. The predominantly white backdrop provides a fresh canvas for highlights of colour and textures applied around the kitchen. Supplementary to the finishes is a clear and rational line of joinery that offers ample storage whilst providing design opportunities to reference a ‘homely kitchen’.
To maximise natural light in the shop, previously bricked-up openings along the northern wall were retrofitted with large fixed windows. Wall openings which previously housed cast iron letterboxes were also re-purposed as windows. This collection of randomly sized openings, as well as artefacts re-salvaged from the post office, is a collective “hat-tip” to the original space.
With a modest budget, the design employed cost-saving measures throughout the build process, such as retaining exposed finishes, using hard-wearing materials, and maintaining a regular but practical layout.
Although the previous post office was left severely dilapidated, a conscious decision was made for minimal structural intervention to preserve the building’s bones and retain as much of the build history as possible. It was important for locals to still reference part of the old post office in the new fit-out. Great care was taken to re-salvage and re-purpose items from the post office, like an old cast-iron letter box fashioned into a waiters’ station.
Old plaster was stripped back to reveal brick walls, and the rear pitched ceiling, a charm of the original shop, were all restored and repainted. A combination of energy-saving downlights, pendants and feature lighting worked in unison to provide multiple lighting options and successfully demarcate work/seating spaces.
Cost-saving was one of the main drives of the design and adhering to a strict budget meant constant evaluation throughout the build process. Thoughtful curation of the overall palette with respect to materiality ensured a coherency between existing built materials and new carefully crafted insertions. Everything, from the exterior to the interior spaces, flows seamlessly. Though generally open planned, the layout still offers private zones for customers.
This interior, sustainable by virtue of its methodology, is simple, honest and cost effective. It provides a welcoming space for its patrons, just like they are welcomed home.
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