We were approached by the founders of the acclaimed UK wellness retreat Yeotown to develop a vibrant health and mindfulness cafe in Central London. We worked on a strategy that was aligned with the essence of the brand, developing a concept that focused on serenity and wellbeing whilst taking into account the central location of the space. Our in-house graphics team created the decorative elements, adding a personal touch with motivating quotes and vivid custom illustrations. The resulting interior design is a modern interpretation of a health-conscious city retreat, combining natural materials with bright pops of colour for a positive, inviting retreat within the prominent city location.
The healthfood café is the first of it’s kind from the owners of ‘Yeotown’, a renowned wellness retreat in Devon, England and winner of Tatler’s ‘Life Changing Spa 2016’. The positioning for Yeotown Kitchen was defined as ‘a mindful food experience’, inspired by the laidback, healthy yet energetic feel of Los Angeles while alluding to the the serene nature of British coastal lifestyle.
The dichotomy in the brief exists as a direct reflection of the owners’ lives – one who spent time acting in L.A. and the other running a family antique business in England. With the café being located in London’s Marleybone district, it is meant to provide sollace to the people living and working in the busy area. With grey skies plaguing the city for most of the year, Yeotown Kitchen’s bright dose of colour and fun design happily offset the city backdrop. The vibrant colour palette, natural and sustainable material usage, contemporary furniture selection and integrated graphic approach all help to convey the brand’s ethos of healthy, positive thinking from the interiors to the packaging and presentation of the food itself – all of which were components we designed in house.
The concept uses bold, energetic yellow and fresh white to promote positive psychology throughout the space and provide a fun, upbeat feel. Our in-house graphic designers collaborated with the interiors team to build the full identity, from the packaging and staff uniforms through to the custom wall illustrations and motivational quotes that adorn the space and accentuate the personable character of the brand. We worked with the original floorboards and brickwalls in the space by exposing them and re-finishing the floors in a “pickle pine” method while the bricks received a painted white wash technique to create an artistic distressed feel. For a sustainable approach, locally sourced cork fabrics were used in the custom made banquettes while terazzo countertops with embedded recylced glass pieces lend a touch of sparkle to the retail and beverage prep areas.For an experiential feature, we added refurbished old mid century modern meditation “egg chair” pods with custom headsets, encouranging customers to take some time out over a relaxing guided meditation created by the owners themselves.
Our concept combines natural yet sustainable textures and materials with bright pops of colour to envisage a modern, health-conscious city retreat. White washed brick and wooden slats shaped as trees protruding from a forest provide atraditional, rustic flair whilst bold hues and eye-catching neon lighting contemporise the look. To maximise the potential of the 2 storey double-unit space, we identified the optimal layout for customer flow and commercial practicality and created a space that worked efficiently for both the dine-in and takeaway units. Stairwells and beams were studied and reconfirgured to honour the structure of the building without having to add additional elements for stability.
Sustainable materials were used throughout the project, from the rustic recycled wood panels, previously owned and refurbished surfboard features to the energy efficient lighting. We also worked with the client to source biodegradable and recyclable packaging solutions to minimise environmental wastage. Cork, terazzo and the original flooring and brick walls were major design elements that we used to ensure the brand’s ethos of “mindfulness” followed through to our impact on the environment. Careful attention to sourcing materials that were local meant that our carbon footprint was low.
The project was successful from the outset, with immediate interest from customers in the area and numerous high-profile magazines and blogs featuring the location. Our design earned the café a mention in Tatler Magazines ‘most instagrammable cafes in London’ list, whilst Hospitality Interiors Magazine comments on the way we have infused elements of positive psychology throughout the space. The owners have reported that the new business is performing well and beyond their original expectations for sales. The success of the café has brought additional awareness and bookings for the original Yeotown yoga retreat in Devon. Large scale international brands such as Lululemon have already collaborated with the café to create bespoke limited addition beverages where we have designed the packaging to reflect the interior space’s vibrancy.
