Project description
ELE Interior transformed a lavish 480 square metre villa in the heart of Dubai's famed Jumeirah neighbourhood into Plain Dessert, a beautiful café and restaurant providing a serene haven of minimalist elegance for patrons.
Project/Client brief
Nestled in the heart of Dubai's vibrant, most sought-after Jumeirah district, Plain Dessert is a captivating culinary destination that seamlessly blends minimalist aesthetics with a serene ambience. From its prime location to its meticulously curated design elements, the café is a testament to the art of understated elegance and harmonious simplicity created by ELE Interior.
Concept
Plain Dessert embraces a minimalist design philosophy with a light colour palette that creates an airy and inviting atmosphere with a sense of tranquillity. ELE Interior has carefully selected materials with warm wood and micro cement finishes. Micro cement is used extensively throughout the café, encompassing the internal and external floors, ceilings, and walls. The material uniformity creates a seamless visual flow adding a touch of modern sophistication to one of the newest dining destinations in Jumeirah.
During the day, the café is a sanctuary of natural light, providing an inviting and serene ambience for patrons to relax and enjoy their personal culinary experiences. Plain Dessert incorporates a feature skylight that bathes the interior in a warm, golden glow to celebrate the beauty of Dubai's plentiful natural sunlight. This dramatic interplay of light and shadow adds a dynamic touch to the walls, accentuating the textures and surfaces of the hand-crafted micro cement finishes.
Various design elements
The captivating water feature enhances the overall sense of serenity and is one of the key highlights of Plain Dessert. The sounds of gently flowing water create a soothing backdrop, allowing guests to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in a tranquil oasis. The water feature is a focal point within the café, contributing to the overall aesthetic and providing a sense of harmony and relaxation.
The distinctive pale blue metal mesh incorporated throughout the café is a signature and distinctive design feature reflecting the client's unique style. It creates a fluid visual thread that connects the various design foundations. Designers have carefully highlighted the mesh in various details, adding a touch of contemporary flair and reinforcing the café's cohesive design language. Mesh detailing extends indoors and into the bathrooms.
About the execution
The design process was enjoyable and smooth. The client contracted ELE Interior to elevate the original Plain Dessert café and take it to a new level with unique design elements and a memorable and enticing atmosphere in a new environment. Designers worked closely with the client and contractor to ensure a smooth, perfectly executed transition.
About the ambience
Plain Dessert is a captivating haven where minimalism meets elegance, inviting guests to unwind and savour delightful culinary creations in a serene ambience. With its pale colour palette, micro cement finishes, skylight, water feature and signature metal mesh, the café sets a new standard for understated luxury in the heart of Dubai's Jumeirah neighbourhood. Plain Dessert transports patrons to a world of tranquillity and indulgence.
Challenges overcome
ELE Interior sought governmental approvals to change the original villa into a café.
Unique and key features
⦁ Minimalist palette and timeless materials
⦁ Capturing Dubai's natural light with a feature skylight
⦁ Clever use of light and shadow to create additional textural features
⦁ Tranquil water feature
⦁ Signature metal mesh
⦁ The use of plants and cacti for a sense of biophilic living
Technical elements
⦁ Floating glass bridge over the pool
⦁ Folding doors to have an indoor-outdoor feeling
⦁ Floor-to-ceiling windows
⦁ LED lights within the shadow gap skirting
⦁ Open ceiling
Team:
Interior Design: ELE Interior
Contractor: Plain Dessert
Designers: Leali Ezzat and Fayez Fares
Materials used:
Minimalist materials include wood, micro cement, metal mesh, and linear lights.
Furniture chosen
ELE Interior customised all of the furniture to enhance the overall design aesthetic.
