A recent discovery in our submissions in-box: Catalyst Café & Coffee Roasters in central London, with interiors that strike a “balance between roughness and sensitivity, as a good cup of coffee does.” We like its quirky mix of granite and marble, small-space storage solutions, and glass floor looking into the “lab,” all designed by Thessaloniki-based 157 + 173 Designers. Here are 10 ideas to take away.
Photography courtesy of 157 + 173 Designers.
1. Hide surprising design inside a traditional exterior.
![the café\2\17;s simple exterior belies the mix of materials inside. 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-exterior-733x489.jpg)
2. Up the contrast: Balance rough stone with wood and glass.
![inside, the designers took inspiration from stones collected on their travels. 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-bar-full-733x489.jpg)
3. Keep surfaces streamlined with cutout cabinet pulls.
![cutout pulls keep behind the counter storage from feeling cluttered. for m 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-bar-straight-on-733x489.jpg)
4. Mix stone for maximum texture.
![for visual interest, mix two or three kinds of stone—with care. at 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-bar-detail-2-733x489.jpg)
![mossy eucalyptus granite alongside granite bricks. 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-bar-detail-733x489.jpg)
5. Add a pegboard for additional storage.
![a large pegboard at the back of the space gives an empty wall the potentia 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-communal-table-733x489.jpg)
6. Use shelves as a counter space.
![a two in one small space idea: when set at the right height, the bottom p 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-storage-shelves-733x1100.jpg)
7. Incorporate cork.
![for warmth, the designers added cork details: material pendant lights from cope 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-seating-area-733x489.jpg)
8. Faucet as focal point: Install an exposed-pipe fixture.
![an unexpected focal point: an exposed pipe brass faucet above the small ha 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-sink-detail-733x489.jpg)
9. Play with the structure you’re given.
![to unite the upstairs cafe with the coffee lab and open kitchen below, the 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-underneath-floor-733x489.jpg)
10. Keep the background simple.
![pick what to experiment with and what to keep simple. even with mix and ma 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/catalyst-coffee-interior-towards-windows-733x489.jpg)
More ideas from the summer’s most popular restaurants:
- French Glam on a Budget: 15 Ideas to Steal from Mimi, New York’s Sexiest Bistro
- Bauhaus on the Bowery: De Maria Cafe in NYC
- Before & After: Botanica, LA’s Must-Visit Restaurant of the Summer
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