Having each element of the interior revolve around a common theme or look, as it does at Bitter + Sweet,
Cupertino, Calif., is an important design principle. Photo courtesy of Barbara Bourne Photography via Cafe Design & Architecture
corner space of a 15-story brick building. Th e building, which is mostly residential, includes a large amount of salvaged brick from the warehouse that previously occupied the site, creating a rustic look that suited Durham and his designers, who included Palm and Jeff and Jenny Guggenheim. Sisters Coff ee Co., headquartered in the town of Sisters,
is associated with the rugged mountainous beauty of central Oregon. Th ey wanted to maintain that feel with Th e Pearl, which was their fi rst venture in an urban area. "We are very protective of our rustic central Oregon brand
and we realized we were going to have to be very careful and delicate with how we introduced it into an urban environment," Durham says. Th e budget for Th e Pearl's interior was limited, so the
designers focused on elements that would provide the most impact for the dollar. "If you're on a tiny budget then you must identify those
interior design pieces that bring the most value," Durham says. "One of those things is lighting...I see a lot of coff ee shops that just have ceiling tile and fl uorescent lighting with minimal natural light. Th at just doesn't create a warm, inviting atmosphere." Th e Pearl owners were able to maximize value in their
furniture. Rather than buying new furniture or having custom furniture built by a restaurant furnishings company, they hired
some friends from Sisters who were woodworkers to create their café tables and chairs out of reclaimed wood. Th is practice supported the local environment and created furniture that perfectly fi t the vibe of Th e Pearl. Durham says the expertise of Palm and the Guggenheims
was essential to creating a beautiful, eff ective interior design plan that was built on a tight budget. "You don't need a huge budget to create an aesthetically
pleasing coff eehouse," Durham says. "Just someone alongside you to help realize your vision." It might be tempting to eschew professional help when
you're trying to save money on your interior design, but that investment can defi nitely pay off in the long run. "In our experience, most [coff eehouses] go it alone without
consulting any professionals," says Ed Viser, design principal of Cafe Design & Architecture LLC. "However, they oſt en call us later to 'fi x' the issues, which include poor layout, bad lighting, lack of focus in the design, and even health department issues. It's not about decorating here and there—you have to approach the entire space, create a budget, and connect the decor, simple and clean." You may think you don't have the money to hire a designer,
but Viser notes that many designers will work on an hourly basis, so you may be able to get professional help for much less money than you believe.
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