YOUR COFFEE
Brief
Restoring an existing building on a measured budget, this 740 m² bar-café in Berat is a lesson in doing more with less. Rather than relying on costly finishes, the design builds its identity from a few decisive gestures: a bold color story, a sequence of soft arches, and a generous use of planting. The result is a social venue where coffee, sweets, crêpes, and pizza share a single, warm room, alongside an indoor playground that makes the space as welcoming to families as it is to friends.
The journey begins inside, where an arched entryway leads into a grand hall defined by oak flooring and a softly vaulted ceiling. Rounded arches—outlined with delicate red accents and framed by warm terracotta tones with soft backlighting—contour the spaces, turning every transition into an intentional visual frame.
Rooftop Terrace
Beyond the doors, the interior opens onto a rooftop terrace sheltered by a pergola of deep red slats softened by climbing ivy. A large circular opening cuts into the crimson wall like a setting sun, framing the sky and pulling the eye upward. Underfoot, pale stone keeps the terrace bright and calm, while rope-woven chairs and rust-orange ottomans invite guests to linger.
Light, Materials and Colors
Light does most of the work here. Inside, suspended fabric panels float across the ceiling, their edges glowing softly and washing the room in a warm, diffused haze. Slatted blinds break daylight into rhythmic stripes across the timber floor, and on the terrace the pergola casts patterned shadows over the stone, so the atmosphere shifts gently from morning to evening.
The palette is tactile and honest. Warm oak floors and rattan seating ground the interior, while a red-veined stone counter, clad in hand-textured terracotta-toned tiles, gives the bar a strong, craft-like presence. Velvet and bouclé upholstery in brick red, olive, and blush add softness, and the plants bring in a fresh green counterpoint. Every material is chosen to feel warm to the touch and durable in daily use.
Red is the protagonist, ranging from deep burgundy to terracotta, coral, and amber. Olive green and soft neutrals balance the intensity, keeping the scheme lively without becoming overwhelming. It is a confident, appetite-stirring palette that gives the venue an unmistakable identity.
