From ornate details until purest halo of simplicity. Balancing these two harmoniously, is like receiving an elixir with knowledge sparkling from one of greatest arts in life. Aforementioned reason became the most important when I chose cafes for this article. Interior objects where design [& coffee] is exquisitely mastered.
Actually, the right answers for everything are always wrapped up in a beautiful silence- lightly untied when listening to the core of your soul & body. Even in the moment when summer meets the breath of autumn’s lightness, and even when you don’t create a bold vision in your mind of enchanting traveling in this transition between two seasons… While I’m trying to catch a butterfly, I will inspire you to believe—in a dream world that beautiful books are powerful enough to open the doors to, and only coffee places own the style to give most elegant ambience.
My lovely coffee-lovers, this is for you. Instead of curating MY EDIT previous 2 months, I felt a lovely calling to take charming little rest and write fresh intimate stories ~while a hopeful whisper of summer is still here~; filled with impression, beautiful like mist—these stories are dreamy the same way like magical breath in the air of autumn mornings. Please, feel the inspiration of dazzling beauty I lovingly give you.
Curated with love, beautiful like dewdrops in a silken skein, these stories of interiors hide unique nostalgic feeling inside. I wrote my thoughts about specific fundamental characteristics of each interior, with atmospheric photos reflecting moods of my chosen books. With love, from my heart to yours.
The post embodies my chosen links, some of them are affiliate marketing. It means that when you make a purchase through my blog, I might get little sweet commission. BUT I ONLY CHOOSE THINGS I TRULY LOVE BY MYSELF & I’M INSPIRED BY.
1 “In Praise of Shadows” by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki @ Cafezal-Brera Milan, Italy
In combination with: pour-over coffee, flat white or espresso. Modern when it comes to being elemental in forms, yet artistic enough to captivate hearts of poetic lovers, Cafezal-Brera is luminous example of design & excellent coffee. Minimalism with artisanal textures enriched with sunset’s colour palette, I think this interior is like a feeling of freshly risen full moon at august’s late evening I once felt in a beautiful moment when I came out at almost 11pm to meet my fiancée. Overall feeling of the interior really mirrors style of this romantic imagery. Black coffee bar is not only wonderful surface giving an earthy vibe, but becomes the visual base point of the space. Modern elegance of Milan meets Japanese wabi-sabi.
‘At the Cafezal, is where the coffee taste is created by nature through the dedication of millions of farmers. Cafezal Project envisages reviewing you the most amazing coffee tastes in the world.’*
2 “Selected Poems” by Tomas Venclova @ Ali šokoladinė Kaunas, Lithuania
In combination with: light creamy latte [with gentle, airy, mist~like sweetness], mocha [chocolate~kissed]. This minimalist fairy world with its excellent quality craftsmanship in sweets~ lovingly made and visually beautiful, is like a poetry place for romantic dreamers. A beautiful world, where cakes are exhibited like little art pieces. Take a moment outside of time at Alí šokoladinė with not only coffee & book, but an atmosphere. Like a romantic cinematic scene deep into your soul, this interior will put you into ‘ascetic cotton candy’ feeling, while Venclova’s poetry is austere, architectural masterpiece, so filled with longing and sentimental lingering in memories—like a well-designed space. Let this book become so admiring for your soul, like you would study deepness of a beautiful design icon.
Interior of Alí šokoladinė proudly showcases Nordic-Japanese minimalism, while remaining faithful to the style I would lovingly define as deep Lithuanian design aesthetic- organic textures x good quality in visual & sensual details. I really love this design feeling, it has a beautiful charisma, and it’s all over Kaunas.
Lighting is ascetic, soft and pure, drawing your attention to the beauty in austerity. This place is filled with modern equanimity, making you want to see aesthetics in artistic simplicity, take time to just breathe and even write poetry while having an ethereal aristocratic moment.
3 “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery @ Boulangerie Liepaja, Latvia
In combination with: café crème [French-style latte] or espresso macchiato. Romantic reading at Boulangerie, surrounded by l’ art, elegant Parisian flair and alluring aroma of le croissant, is like living into a scene from a historical novel. Interior of Boulangerie is far beyond most beautiful words, and the charisma of cafe’s several floors takes over with each floor charming on its own ambiance. The ground and middle levels are intimate and inviting, dazzling in soft lighting. The top floor offers a lovely roof terrace for relaxing when the weather is good.
Aesthetic and artistic details create the feel~ like beautifully placed decors or flowers. Chic but relaxed, it feels more like a living Parisian salon than typical café.
“I have finally concluded, maybe that’s what life is about: there’s a lot of despair, but also the odd moment of beauty, where time is no longer the same. It’s as if those strains of music created a sort of interlude in time, something suspended, an elsewhere that had come to us, an always within never.” —The Elegance of the Hedgehog
4 Soft Minimal – By Norm Architects @ UN.COMMON Amsterdam, the Netherlands
In combination with: flat white [comforting], cortado [bold]. Softly minimal in its authentic natural form with strong design sensibility, UN.COMMON gives crystal clear example by showing the significance of good branding and aesthetic presentation of uncommon coffee varietals. At the same time, the book Soft Minimal opens all the windows for you to see possibilities in ‘artful balance of light and shadow .. serving as a sourcebook and aesthetic inspiration for design professionals and enthusiasts, .. a nuanced perspective on minimalism that is warm, sensory and enduring.’
The space is so Scandinavian—soft, architectural, very aligned with the book. Light is dancing like poetry on the walls. Beautifully lyrical atmosphere will touch your soul, as if an unwritten poem is unfolding in soft tones of beige and wood. Design, minimal but deeply soulful, feels like a pause in time.
It’s a laptop-free zone, encouraging you to ground yourself fully in each sip and every moment.
5 SVINAM inspirational book by Baiba Prindule – Rence @ HABITS coffee house Kaunas, Lithuania
In combination with: flat white, caffè latte. When taking a laconic step inside HABITS, it’s just one breath, a stylish moment, and you’re into a portal to meet with minimalist elegance. This coffee house is an epitome of introspective design. Sophisticated Scandinavian simplicity is wisely used in this design project to create a space that’s unforgettable with its perfect balance between ascetic beauty and welcoming atmosphere. Large windows allow natural light to flood in & create a gloriole that softens the minimalist palette making the café feel inviting and warm.
Latvian-Lithuanian friendship synchronously reflects in book-café union. Baiba, Latvian decorator & author of the book, fell in love with HABITS café, I remember that from her Instagram stories.
Design of lighting is simple and good, accentuating interior’s aesthetic. For more inspiration, read this post from my archive.
6 “Letters to the Lost” by Iona Grey @ Fyvie castle café Scotland, United Kingdom
In combination with: Mocha. Imagine yourself feeling sentimentally cozy when the weather outside is drizzly and misty. Rain creates beautiful music, gently touching the window like strings of a harp. Scent of coffee is lingering in the air, making beautiful contrast to castle’s visually heavy centuries-old stone. You are sitting there with a book that embodies romantic beauty of the place, a love story as this magical like it would be written with feather and golden ink. Sensitive Bird recommends you to definitely visit the world of Fyvie Castle, with its essential tearoom telling you stories about tradition and timeless grace.
This is not just usual place where to drink a cup of coffee. It’s a beautiful journey back in time, while tasty coffee will keep you anchored in the present.
‘The beautiful George Ill Waterford Crystal chandelier lights up the castle’s oldest ceiling in the Morning Room. The plaster on the ceiling dates back to 1683, the work of Robert Whyte from Edinburgh.’**
7 Signe Vanaga cookbook @ Clove Coffee shop Paris, France
In combination with: café noisette or cappuccino. Like a fresh, citrusy scent in an ascetic perfume bottle, CLOVE charms with its plainness and intelligibility. I got to know it as 14 cookbook author’s Signe Vanaga one of favourite coffee places in Paris.
Be welcomed by the lovely owner Ella Fatima [see in photo 2]. This cafe is located in Montmartre, looking like it is quintessentially designed for a visually clear, yet still homey experience. Lovely like a floral blossom, it hides in itself wisdom of monochrome aesthetics that give Brooklyn and Paris vibes.
Everything is intentional, making the atmosphere feel modern and still intimately personal. Montmartre ambience is clearly visible—even the space is pretty small in size, its charm is influential. Clove will cover you in soft natural light like a cozy blanket. Imagine yourself captivated by visual and audial silence—only the deepness of you being encouraged by real conversation or quiet reflective moment over a precisely made yet still artistic, unique, master-created coffee.
Softly textured surroundings and quiet elegance represent Clove as more than just a café—it’s like a modern retreat and sensory experience.
Image credits: 1] Pinterest 2] Paint & Paper Library 3] Brera Design District 4] Brera Design District 5] Pinterest 6] Pinterest 7] By me – Krista Kalna 8] Ali Šokoladinė 9] Pinterest 10] Pinterest 11] My personal archive 12] SVINAM 13] UN.COMMON 14] UN.COMMON 15] SVINAM 16] By me – Krista Kalna 17] Amazon.com 18] Fyvie castle 19] Fyvie castle 20] Signe Vanaga 21] CLOVE 22] Pinterest
*Brera Design District
**Fyvie castle | Facebook
[…] of love, it will surely be fruitful. Life is beautiful in its serendipity, but the excellence of greatly mastered coffee together with a book will make it even more atmospheric. Especially now, as we gradually start to look for more cozy […]