Cafe Ceres by Behind Design
Cafe Ceres by Behind Design reimagines the neighbourhood corner café as a tactile dessert workshop, translating the craft of baking into a composed, material-led interior.
Specialising in freshly made cakes, the venue leans into a sense of warmth and precision, pairing warm minimalism with subtle mid-century modern cues to create an inviting, quietly elevated hospitality experience.
From the street, a muted palette of creamy beige tones gives the corner site a calm presence. Smooth rendered walls sit alongside travertine cladding, grounding the façade in natural earthiness and hinting at the stonework within. A generous glass window opens the café to the footpath, while a stainless steel take-away window folds upward to support quick service and everyday street-side exchange. Entry is marked by a solid pivot door painted to match the surrounding walls, with a rounded corner column softening the threshold and easing the building’s geometry.
Inside, the compact plan is organised for clarity and flow. An L-shaped service bar anchors the layout, with seating wrapping along the perimeter to maximise the footprint without crowding circulation. A curved wall to one side forms a gentle enclosure for amenities and back-of-house functions, echoing the rounded external column and reinforcing the project’s preference for softened edges. Underfoot, polished concrete introduces a cool grey base note that offsets the warmer tones across walls and furnishings.
At the heart of the space, a sculptural travertine counter becomes both landmark and connective device, visually linking the dine-in area with the take-away point. Crafted from stacked layers of stone, the counter references the fine strata of a mille-feuille, bringing a playful read to an otherwise restrained palette. Linear LED lighting tucked along its base adds a floating quality, complementing additional strips integrated along walls to build a layered, architectural glow. Overhead, white track lighting supports general illumination, while small metallic table lamps introduce pockets of intimacy for seated guests.
Material selections amplify the dessert workshop concept through texture rather than colour. Walls finished in warm, egg-yolk tones and oatmeal-like plaster foster a sense of comfort, while a pill-shaped aperture cut into a partition wall offers framed glimpses into adjacent work zones, balancing openness with separation. Above, wood wool cement boards add acoustic softness and a clouded texture that recalls the airy lightness of cake. Elsewhere, restrained metallic accents nod to baking trays and tools, catching light with a gentle sheen that reinforces the idea of careful making.
Furniture brings a measured retro edge into the minimalist shell. Chrome-framed chairs upholstered in burnt orange and caramel-toned corduroy or velvet punctuate the neutral surroundings with warmth and tactility, while simple circular tables with chrome pedestal bases keep the room flexible and visually light. Across the project, curves recur in structural and joinery moments, giving the small interior an ease that feels both composed and welcoming, with every surface tuned toward warmth, craft and sensory depth.
