Kaffe Åre is an established coffee purveyor with locations in both Denver and NYC.
The design aesthetic for their retail shops is a ‘modern-yet-playful’ palette of materials, which gives a sense of warmth, comfort, and balance. Touches of Sweden (the homeland of the owner) are found throughout, with references to Scandinavian modernism, wood block toys, and colorful patterns.
Light-colored woods and colorful tile line the floors and walls. The wood slats overhead evoke the notion of tree branches and the solid timber furniture give weight to the ‘grounded elements’.
A long coffee bar organizes the interior and establishes a clear linear framework for the space. Natural wood is used extensively throughout, bringing warmth and tactility to a minimal interior. Vertical wood slats line the bar, while substantial timber tables and block-like stools create a sense of permanence and weight. These grounded elements contrast with the openness of the surrounding space and reinforce Kaffe as a place to gather and linger.
Throughout the project, the design relies on contrast:
heavy timber against light suspended elements, precise geometry against organic references, and raw existing materials against carefully detailed finishes.
The result is a space that feels contemporary without being cold—simple, tactile, and quietly expressive, with the materials themselves carrying much of the character of the architecture.
Kaffe Åre Denver
The design blurs the line between furniture and architecture.
Tables, stools, screens, and ceiling elements are conceived as part of a single spatial language.
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