Coffee Time

The Loft Coffee House and Espresso Bar... new concept...  The inspiration?   One Shot Coffee in Philadelphia:

{All photos via google/1shotcoffee}

Bobbette and Belle

I came across a beautiful storefront in Leslieville, Ontario, a neighborhood just outside of Toronto.  What a lovely pastry boutique-- truly charming and a place I'd love to see!  I love the decor, the "open" and bright feel to the store, and the look of their delicious confections, of course.  Follow their blog here.

{images via Bobbette and Belle}

Sabon Sabon Sabon!

The last few months have been such a whirlwind of once in a lifetime opportunities, some of which have taken me to my favorite cities.  I've had a blast visiting new storefronts and shops, gleaming as much inspiration as I can for the Spice Loft.

One of the biggest sources of inspiration for my storefront is Sabon, one of the best soap and bath product retailers in the world.  The pictures below are from storefronts in Rome, Tokyo, Chicago and New York.


What intrigues me about this shop is how they've managed to blend "old world" with "new and modern."  I find their displays breathtaking and neat, always impressive, and truly appealing enough to have someone just walking by take a long detour into their store.  That's the whole point on business interior design with commodity retailers, and Sabon writes the book!


Love these cabinets and the chandelier!

And what better way to try bath products than an old stone fountain sink in the middle of the store:

 {photos via coloribus.com and sabonlover}

Peony: A Boutique Perfumery

 I love peonies, and I love this storefront!

 

 {all images via fellow blogger, Fanciful Designs}

Interior Fetish: Vinology, Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan, is where I grew up.  I never really knew how neat of a town it truly was until I moved away.  Not only is this lively town riddled with culture brought in by the University, but it's blessed with old architecture, good restaurants, and a great nightlife.

This week's interior fetish is Vinology, one of my favorite wine bars *ever*.  Nestled on the north end of the busy but quaint Main Street, Vinology's decor is truly an experience.  From the bubble room to the wine bar, the interior design firms working on this project got is sooooo right:

"To create the warm contemporary atmosphere of Vinology we worked with local designers to maintain the historical attributes of the space while relating the decor to wine education. To evoke the elements of the winemaking process we used materials of stainless steel, cork, and glass. Our preservation efforts lead us to restore the tin ceilings and exposed brick walls and create four separate spaces for our guests to enjoy."

Definitely takin' notes for the SL storefront!

Vinology   Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Bubble Room

I love the bubbles!  My good friend had some of her wedding photos taken in this room.

Love the exposed brick and tin ceiling... character and ambiance appropriate for the product.

Bottle Glass of your finest pinot noir, please.

{Quote and photos from Vinology}

When Fashion Meets Food: Roberto Cavalli's Caffe Giacosa

It doesn't happen very often (unless you're Lady Gaga dawning meat couture and fishnets), but Robert Cavalli has done it with Caffe Giacosa.

Nestled in his home town of Florence, Italy, Cavalli took his passion for fashion and deliciously combined it with the most glorious of all things: il dolci italiani.

Caffe Giacosa has a tremendous history. Originally it was the official chocolatier to the Italian royal family, and posh tea room for the wealthy elite of the Florentine society in the 1800s. Just a few years ago, Cavalli took on the challenge of restoring the building and cafe to its original prestige, with his own twist of course:




I love this packaging:

Images via fellow blogger, Luxuo

*sigh*

Interior Fetish: Extraordinary Desserts

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I'm in love with the interior space of Extraordinary Desserts in the Little Italy section of San Diego, California:

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The high ceilings and open space is a "true loft" feel, with high ceilings and exposed ceiling beams. Th zen-inspired decoration adds a much needed warmth to this restaurant and bakery. My favorite detail is this custom wood wall. I love the way the light plays through the circles:

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Love it!

When the Spice Loft opens, I hope it turns out as beautiful and inspiring as this Extraordinary Desserts location.

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