Wilding Shop, Cafe, Bar & Restaurant, Conservatory & Garden
A Project By: Sally Conran Studio Ltd
Location: Oxford, UK
Project Summary:
Complete redesign and refurbishment of a commercial site to create a wine shop, cafe, bar restaurant, private dining, conservatory and outdoor dining area.
Project Detail:
Sally was asked to conceptualise, design and create a rustic interior with a stylish industrial edge, for an organic wine store with adjoining cafe, bar, restaurant, conservatory and outdoor dining space. The site is situated in the bohemian area of Jericho, in Oxford.
This project is notable for the upcycling, recycling and re-use of materials and original features that were at the core of the design.
Sally Conran Studio was asked to design a rustic, contemporary interior with a stylish industrial edge, for an organic wine store with adjoining cafe, bar, restaurant, conservatory and outdoor dining space within a very tight budget. The site was a tired, derelict old Cafe Rouge site, situated in the charming bohemian area of Jericho, in Oxford.
Sally started by stripping out all the old Café Rouge interiors which consisted of dated faux panelling and light fittings, false ceilings and cladding. Sally wanted to go back to the bare bones of the building. This revealed beautiful original Victorian tiling, high ceilings, arched entrances and industrial concrete pillars in the modern extension at the back.
Sally decided this was too good to cover up again so this industrial, rustic backdrop was our starting point for her design aesthetic. We embellished these historic and industrial textures and finishes with original and upcycled light fittings such as holophane glass globes, statement retro copper pendants and twinkly glass wall lights. We chose to keep the conservatory walls at the back in an unpainted plaster finish for a natural honest look and worked with a charity who designs and produces furniture made from original recycled and salvaged timbers for key pieces such as the sharing table and stools for wine tastings in the shop.
We wanted the spaces to flow casually from cafe and bar, to shop, restaurant, conservatory and outdoor dining space with each space having a distinct feel and atmosphere while feeling complimentary and working as a whole.
In the cafe there was a classic black and white tiled floor and a magnificent yet dated bar. We chose to work with interesting metals such as zinc, copper and pewter to upcycle the bar; cladding the bar top in zinc, cladding the back shelves with copper sheet and choosing statement pendant lights overhead.
Classic cafe tables with beautiful marble tops and bentwood cafe chairs, left over from the Cafe Rouge days, were cleaned, upcycled and grouped in the Cafe area. All the chair seats were re-upholstered in soft leather in classic midnight blue to create a stylish and buzzy space when you walk in that could have a true street presence in the warmer months with the huge glazed doors flung open.
In contrast the restaurant area in the middle section of the building had a lower ceiling height. Here we chose to paint the walls in a verdant green and placed the open kitchen serving hatch here, with a traditional brick pizza oven, for a more cosy intimate dining experience. We added some drama to an original chimney stack by tiling it in glossy black zellige tiles for a darkly reflective backdrop. Shadowy trees were hand painted by a local scenic artist to adorn the walls to create relaxed atmospheric spaces for both drinking and dining.
The darker Restaurant area leads, in contrast, to the light filled conservatory and a seasonal walled garden at the back.
In the conservatory building we opened up the ceiling to create a lofty airy feel. We used this space to hang numerous mis-matched pendant lights for a rustic and bohemian look. We gave this space a cool monochrome palette by tiling the floor with modern graphic tiles in a mis-matched design. Woodwork, windows and beams were also painted black and contemporary chairs in black stained wood, leather and rattan were selected to compliment industrial style tables with copper and zinc tops and stud detailing. Individual tables are stylishly set with sprigs of fragrant herbs in recycled glass bottles, and recycled french linen napkins. This together with the blush of the plaster walls creates an overall look that is relaxed and chic.
The generously over-sized rustic A-frame table, with matching stools, was especially commissioned to take centre stage in the wine store for impromptu wine tastings and small bites; up-cycled from original salvaged, solid wood joists.
This project shows real innovation in creating unique interiors, with both sustainability and budget in mind.
