Pretty in Pink: Café Petiole in Somerset House, London
Prettiest dining space we’ve seen in a while? Café Petiole, a recently opened plant-forward cafe in London’s Somerset House, designed by London and Milan-based Duelle Studio.
Working with eco paint company COATS PAINTS, Micaela Nardella and Melanie Liaw of Duelle created a bespoke palette for the cafe’s interiors and commissioned a suite of floaty handmade parchment peony pendants that add a magical note to the lofty 13-feet-high room. “We wanted the colors to capture and reflect light, even amid the cool, gray backdrop of London days,” according to Micaela and Melanie.
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Photography by Jasper Fry via Cafe Petiole.
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Above: The designers created a palette of butter yellow walls and bespoke blue trim from COAT, and commissioned artist Harry Hancock to create the faux marble archways and counter fronts. “Our brief was to create a finish that resembled natural stone but took inspiration from the color palettes of European postcards,” he says.Above: The designers sourced a deep coral linen for the pencil-pleated table curtain from @loualstudio, “a London- based linen brand led by our friend, fashion designer Christina Chin.”Above: A sunny corner.Above: The handmade Peony Pendants are by Herefordshire-based Colin Chetwood. “The shade has a central copper boss from which the wire framework emanates,” he says. “This is then covered with acid free tissue and lacquer, which gives out a beautifully delicate light.”Above: Hand painted interior details reference the cafe’s name, petiole, which is the stalk part of a plant leafAbove: A collection of mismatched bentwood chairs was painted in a custom dusty rose hue from COAT PAINTS (for a similar shade, consider Mrs. Bouquet, a deep blush pink shade). “Fancy recreating this color palette?,” asks COAT PAINTS. “Get in touch with our customer experience team quoting ‘Somerset House’ to shop these bespoke colors.”
For more fanciful cafes, see:
A Perfect Small Museum and Lunch Spot in Paris: The Musée Bourdelle and Rhodia Café
Restaurant Visit: Veggies as Decor at Tekés in Paris⠀
