Auction Rooms Cafe

Name: Auction Rooms Cafe
Location: North Melbourne, Australia
Photography: Erika Hildegard Photography

It's always a good day when I get to click through recent images captured by Erika Hildegard. Auction Rooms Cafe is a specialty coffee roaster and cafe located in the former WB Ellis Auction House. With exposed brick, lofty ceilings, and wood supports the architecture sets a pretty great stage.

Given the original space, I find that the reclaimed and reused feel of  fixtures inside to be appropriate and welcoming. 

The vintage and reclaimed touches contrast well with the urban and industrial space while the use of architectural beams help divide the space. These allow the light filled space to remain airy and open. 

All images © Erika Hildegard Photography

Oli & Levi

Name: Oli & Levi
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Design: Unkown
Photography: Erika Hildegard Photography

With the long, dark winter most of the states are currently experiencing, it's always a welcomed sight to have the beautiful work of my favorite Aussie/American photographer pop up in my inbox. Oli & Levi is a cafe in Melbourne that offers a bright and cheerful escape. 

** I just heard Erika will be back in the States this fall. If you are looking for wedding, engagement, family, or interior photos- reach out now before she fills up!**

I love the vibrancy of the space. Filled with bold patterns and a punch of yellow the space feels bright and welcoming.

Built in shelving and displays allows for the small space to utilize every square inch and allows them ample room for storage and retail.

All images © Erika Hildegard Photography

Mart 130

Name: Mart 130
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Photography: Erika Hildegard Photography (If you are in Australia, I encourage you to check out her amazing range of work.)

Mart 130 has to be one of the best examples I've seen recently of a comfortable and established cafe maintaining a well curated interior. When Erika's images landed in my inbox I couldn't help but get excited. Rarely do you find the blend of well loved antiques that is also still pulled together and edited. 

Using vintage and antique pieces, paired with a nautical and industrial undercurrent, Mart 130 creates a cohesive blend of worn comfort and bright openness. 

Utilizing red, aqua, black, and blue throughout the multiple seating areas ties the entire space together without needing to match everything. This allows the space to remain cohesive while each room still maintains it's own identity. 

I love the bright back patio featuring painted, dark wood and slat ceiling, you could easily sit for hours.

All photos © Erika Hildegard Photography

Chez Dré

Name: Chez Dré

Location: South Melbourne, Australia

Design: Breathe Architecture

Photography: Erika Hildegard 

Located down an inconspicuous-looking alley in South Melbourne lies a boulangerie and patisserie. Melbourne based photographer, Erika Hildegard, recently sent us some lovely photographs of their space and we couldn't wait to share. 

Located in a former warehouse, the space still manages to feel warm and inviting with industrial nods. 

Designed as a lab, where pastry chef Andrea Reiss could play with flavors and combinations, the space retains the lab-like quality by keeping the shell of the building minimal and placing emphasis on displays and service areas. 

The touch of green throughout the space adds energy and vibrancy to the otherwise neutral palate and the wood tables, chairs, and coffee bar top all add a touch of rustic warmth. 

One of my favorite aspects of the space is their use of seating groups and space planing to create various intimate moments within such a large space. 

 All photos © Erika Hildegard

Wee Jeanie

Name: Wee Jeanie
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Photos: Erika Hildegard Photography

Located close to the Yarraville train station, Wee Jeanie is a great spot to grab your morning coffee. 

The interior is bright and classic with minimal details and allows you to feel as if you are sitting in your own kitchen, sunshine streaming through the windows. 

The exposed, worn brick adds a touch of warmth to the otherwise white space while the stacked bond tile add a slight modern touch.

I love the bright back patio and how they bridged the interior and exterior with a leaning edge on both sides. The acrylic table top and wood truss base also point the subtle modern/rustic mix happening throughout the space.

Brother baba Budan

Name: Brother Baba Budan
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Photography: Erika Hildegard

Located along the tiny alley of Little Bourke Street, Brother Baba Budan is a small cafe with a big personality.  

Having a small footprint, creativity is shown through the use of common materials, in this case; chairs, used in uncommon ways. By placing the chairs on the ceiling, it creates a texture and pattern and draws the eye up, emphasizing the spaces height. 

Placing shelving and displays at a higher vantage point also frees up the floor space they do have to allow for quick grab and go coffee and a small community table in the center of the space.

Using wood as the primary build-out material and leaving the walls relatively raw, they were able to create a hip and urban space that keeps the focus on the coffee.

 All photos © Erika Hildegard

Patricia Coffee

Name: Patricia Coffee
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Design: Foolscap
Photography: Erika Hildegard

One of the greatest components of being a part of a creative community is the creative collaborations we get to facilitate and participate in. Our friend Erika, is an extremely talented photographer and just relocated to Melbourne, Australia. We couldn't wait to see the adventure through her lens, and decided to team up to bring our readers a few intimate looks inside some of Melbourne favorite spots.

Patricia coffee is a small cafe located on the corner Little Bourke & Little Williams and focuses on providing great coffee with little distraction.

Patricia's small space allows for 'standing room only' in order to focus on simplicity and producing a great cup of coffee.

The space merges traditional with new just as the coffee served bridges the traditional coffee experience with the bustling new coffee scene in Melbourne.

Simple details, a restrained color palate, and modern touches create a rich space that still feels open and inviting. 

I love the creative use of simple tile to create a more detailed pattern which acts as a simple backdrop to the coffee production.