In this series, we share the style cues homeowners can take from some of Australia’s most beautiful shops, hotels, bars and restaurants. Get ready to be inspired!
Principal Yasmine Saleh Ghoniem led the YSG Studio team in transforming this humble cafe in the inner Sydney suburb of Haymarket into a Japanese-inspired dream with Scandinavian leanings. The interior stylings of Edition Coffee Roasters echo the qualities of traditional Japanese rural home life; a pared-back interior dressed only with beautiful essentials, a concept that exists in stark contrast to the contemporary built environment surrounding the cafe’s harbourside location.
Simple yet dramatic, the all-black palette is enriched by the vast variety of materials on display, such as concrete, rock render, shou sugi ban, Fujian granite cobblestones, charcoal-dyed cotton, Japanese maple and shirasu kabe plaster, all of which are arranged upon a sculptural – and almost austere – internal architecture. This composition lends itself to the wabi-sabi aesthetic that celebrates the imperfect beauty of nature, an effect that is enhanced through the use of tactile window furnishings, handmade ceramics and plant-life.
Edition Coffee Roasters by YSG Studio | Photography by Prue Ruscoe
Lessons in design
Apply these decorative techniques to your own home or project to recreate your favourite elements of Edition Coffee Roasters.
Edition Coffee Roasters by YSG Studio | Photography by Prue Ruscoe
Create contrast with texture
While one might expect an all-black palette to feel bland and flat, the interiors of Edition Coffee Roasters are interesting and impactful thanks to the rich materiality. Soft cotton, charred timber, raw maple and textured plaster are layered upon concrete, rock and cobblestones to create depth. This effect can be recreated in any monochrome or austere environment by integrating timber, leather, wool, boucle, linen and velvet into upholstery, furniture, cushions, throws and curtains.
Edition Coffee Roasters by YSG Studio | Photography by Prue Ruscoe
Embrace a wabi-sabi design approach
In terms of interior design, a wabi-sabi scheme embraces the beauty of any material, substance or being in its most natural and raw form, which translates to a simple and functional space that provides a sense of comfort. Recreate this in your own home by welcoming furniture and objects that may be less than perfect – but characterful nonetheless – into your scheme. The use of natural materials, neutral hues, handmade ceramics and plants are integral to this approach.
Edition Coffee Roasters by YSG Studio | Photography by Prue Ruscoe
Layer different types of lighting
Edition Coffee Roasters has several types of lighting: the large oversized windows allow in plenty of natural light; minimal black wall sconces and overhead linear pendants provide task lighting for the tables; sculptural lighting supplies ambience. This layering of lighting ensures a calm mood is established within the space, while still being a functional place of business. This application of lighting can be recreated in the home by ensuring each room has natural, task and ambient lighting by way of windows, downlights, lamps or wall sconces.
Shop the look
Feeling inspired? Consider introducing these gorgeous products to your own home to create a similar interior scheme.
Buzao 'Calm' bar stool by Remodern
A solid steel base with lava stone seat makes this bar stool deliciously tactile and elevated. As such, the refined design and all-black colour of this stool allows it to slip unnoticed into minimal, industrial, contemporary and eclectic interior themes with ease.
Buzao 'Right' side table by Remodern
Cutting a bold and slender silhouette, the rounded shape and lava stone top of this side table is undeniably modern while also adhering to the criteria of a wabi-sabi aesthetic. Timeless and easy to style, this piece is a worthwhile investment.
Rituals XL suspension lamp by Space Furniture
Tactile, voluminous and irregularly shaped, this suspension lamp functions as a statement lighting piece while creating a soothing atmosphere – it’s the perfect accompaniment to ‘Japandi’ interiors.
Hessian by Mokum sheer fabric from James Dunlop Textiles
Made from an organic heavy linen yarn with a transparent and delicate polyester warp, this fabric can be used to create sheer curtains that provide privacy while allowing in softly diffused natural light.
Agle ceramic vase in Grey by Kave Home
No wabi-sabi interior design theme is complete without ceramics. This particular vase has a beautiful woven detail to the handle and a refined appearance that’s simple yet elegant, and guaranteed to look gorgeous on any coffee or dining table, shelf or sideboard.
