Following from our design for the Moussi Sister’s successful Monroe cafe in Richmond, DKO was once again engaged to design their new cafe in Middle Camberwell. Located within a brand-new retail development on Riversdale Road, the client selected an edge tenancy – one of two small shells – to create a vibrant, neighbourhood “corner shop” offering of coffee and daytime food.

The client’s brief was to conceive a sister to their nearby Miss Frank cafe, albeit one with its own distinct identity. With a tight timeframe to match the Coles opening and absence of an outdoor permit, DKO needed to craft an innovative interior layout that would feel bright and airy while capable of hosting at least 40 diners along with front of house area and kitchen.

DKO took cues from the surrounding neighbourhood of Edwardian and Victorian homes while linking the two cafes though a similar palette of concrete flooring and white walls. The contemporary spin on two classic design languages borrows elements of nearby corrugated roofs and time-honoured architectural proportions.

White routed MDF panelling lines the walls of the cafe with a bold horizon line of matte black leading the eye around the cafe from entry to counter and kitchen back to the entry again. The vertical routing gives height to the space with painted out services disappearing into the upper atmosphere. The minimal palette of white and black is complimented by touches of tan leather and marble.