Vibrant & Playful: The Beanly Cafe Experience
For Beanly's first physical outlet, we translated their energetic online brand into a functional, multi-level cafe space that bridges the gap between e-commerce and retail.
A wide shot of the Beanly cafe, showing how we translated the online brand into a physical space. The design balances the bold electric blue counter with warm wood tones and a clean, white service area, creating a welcoming and energetic atmosphere.
This was our first project developing a spatial language for an e-commerce brand. We designed the Beanly cafe to be vibrant and approachable, using a simple material palette to let the brand's electric blue color and dynamic energy shine through.
The standout feature of the Beanly cafe is the stepped seating, designed to utilize the triple-height space. This dynamic arrangement, complete with cushions and integrated tables, creates an informal lounge area that reflects the brand's easy-going philosophy.
The merchandising unit at Beanly is a key brand identifier. This tall, grid-like shelf is visible from every corner of the cafe, showcasing the colorful product range and serving as a storage installation for personalized customer cups.
We integrated Beanly's signature electric blue into the furniture, using sleek metal sections for the high-top counter and chairs. This adds a vibrant pop of color while maintaining a visually light and modern aesthetic.
A closer look at the multi-level seating at Beanly. The warm wood steps are illuminated with strip lighting, and planters are integrated to add a touch of green, enhancing the informal and relaxed atmosphere of the cafe.
A detail of the floor-to-ceiling merchandising shelf at Beanly. The simple wooden grid provides a neutral background that makes the brand's colorful packaging stand out, turning the product display into a major design feature.
This video gives a full tour of the compact yet expansive-feeling Beanly cafe. It shows the flow from the entrance and counter to the unique stepped seating and prominent merchandising wall at the back.
A rotating view of the merchandising wall and stepped seating at Beanly. The design ensures the brand's products are always in view, reinforcing the spatial branding from every angle within the cafe.
A straight-on view of the stepped seating, showing the symmetry and order in the design. The combination of wood, grey cushions, and subtle lighting creates a comfortable and visually appealing space for customers.
About Vibrant & Playful: The Beanly Cafe Experience
The stepped seating you see in these photos was not just an aesthetic choice, it was a structural necessity. The site's original triple-height ceiling felt disproportionate for a compact cafe, so we introduced these wooden steps to break the verticality and create an intimate, lounge-style seating area that fits the brand's approachable philosophy.
Beanly came to us as a thriving e-commerce brand looking to establish its first physical footprint. The brief was to mirror their online energy—vibrant, youthful, and bold—in a tangible, QSR-style space.
Spatial Branding Approach
Our 'spatial branding' process began with a strict color discipline. We used the brand's signature electric blue as a deliberate accent against a backdrop of clean white tiles and warm, natural wood. This neutral base prevents the bold color from overwhelming the space, ensuring the service and seating zones feel distinct yet cohesive.
Layout and Merchandising
The merchandising unit at the back is a key brand identifier. Rather than tucking it away, we designed a floor-to-ceiling wooden grid that acts as both storage and a product display. It is visible from the entrance, immediately communicating what the brand sells without the need for excessive signage.
Lighting and Atmosphere
We carefully balanced the lighting to manage the atmosphere. We avoided harsh, overhead retail glare, opting for integrated strip lighting beneath the seating steps and focused track lighting over the counter. This keeps the space feeling relaxed and encourages customers to linger, rather than just grabbing a coffee and leaving. If you are planning a similar retail rollout, the key is balancing your brand's loud identity with materials that feel grounded and tactile.
STaND
We are Sid and Nik, and at STaND, we treat design as a personal diary of the spaces we build. We don't just draft floor plans; we map out the customer journey to ensure your brand feels as comfortable in a physical store as it does online.
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