Dezeen Magazine

Note Design Studio uses desert colours in Stockholm bistro

Stockholm-based Note Design Studio used photographs of Death Valley to inform the pastel colour scheme for this restaurant and coffee shop in the Swedish capital (+ slideshow).

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

Note Design Studio renovated the interior for FineFood Kärlek och Mat, located in the Hammarby Sjöstad area to the south of Stockholm.

The various nuances of mint, dark green, and turquoise, with the contrasting coral and salmon red, reference a photographic series documenting the landscape of the Californian Mojave desert by artist Jordan Sullivan.

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

"We scanned the internet for images of material, architecture and interiors but didn't really find what we were looking for," designer Johannes Carlström told Dezeen.

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

"At some time we just stumbled upon the Death Valley series and felt right away that it was a conclusion of everything we wanted aesthetically – a clean setting with amazing pastels, the different shades of grey in the rock and just the pure serenity."

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

Note revamped the setting to be open plan and spacious with banquette seating lining the rear of the space.

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

Lightweight furniture surrounds the front of the central bar and a galley table is positioned to the right of the counter. Full-aspect windows allow as much natural light into the space as possible.

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

Green Guatemale marble clads the bar area and forms the counter tops, while also running as a trim along the far end of the restaurant.

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

In contrast the walls are clad in corrugated wood and painted in dark vermilion to create intimate zones in the cafe.

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

On the floor, muted monotone tiles are laid in a herringbone pattern to offer the setting an appearance that contrasted with its neighbours. "One of our main concerns after solving the primary issues in the floor plan, was to give the space its own look and identity," said Carlström.

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

"For some time in Sweden almost every restaurant, deli or bistro that has opened are using the industrial chic butcher-shop aesthetics with white tiles, naked lamps and rough metal work. We wanted to get away from that and find inspiration from a totally different area."

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

Taking the environmental concerns into consideration, Note used eco-friendly silicate paint for the walls and roof, LED-spots for the interior lighting and produced the bespoke furniture in a local carpentry ten minutes away from the cafe.

FineFood Karlek och Mat by Note Design Studio

Typical Scandinavian materials like light ash wood, natural leather and brass detailing have also been used, with products in the fit-out including the studio's own ceramic Fuse pendant light.

The Swedish design studio has previously overhauled the Camper shoe store in Malmö and designed a furniture collection based on field trips and camping.