In a highly competitive market, how do you turn what was originally a gloomy space into a welcoming cafe?  Well, it helps to have an open brief, and with the new Wandsworth outlet of London chain Gail’s Bakery, we were given a lot of freedom.

We were keen to get away from the stilted corporate feel of the big coffeehouse conglomerates, and to be more family and female-friendly. This bakery and café had to be somewhere where everyone felt welcome, whether meeting friends or spending some quiet time alone.

Our approach was to create somewhere that combined the artisan bakery with the feel of the cool New York villages, a bohemia. Wandsworth is itself a village and we definitely wanted a local vibe and an individual owner-designed feel, even though the bakery is part of a London-centred chain.

We ensured that the deconstructed feel of the interior would be functional and easy to manage, with atmospheric lighting to help describe the space. Pendant ceiling lights are arranged in a Newton’s cradle style to create an element of fun. Also adding a smile are the slatted panels on the left-side wall which appear yellow on entering the bakery and red on leaving it.

We paid particular attention to the judicious use of textures. These included extensive exposed brickwork, plus elements of rough-sawn oak, natural recycled mahogany, print tiles and stainless steel.

Striking use of colours includes specially-designed wallpaper, with mural graphics adding warmth and welcoming notes. The professional we commissioned has been creating memorable designs for the likes of Paperchase and others for over 20 years and these are no exception.

As with all our projects where the design permits, we upcycled and recycled where possible. Where others might opt for somewhat contrived ‘shabby chic’, we prefer to work with what we have and reveal a building’s natural heritage, rather than faking age or wear.