Sweet Cooies

Sweet Cooie’s Ice Cream & Chocolates is a classically inspired confectionery inspired by the mother of a beloved Denver developer, Paul Tamburello. The space is as charming as the woman it is named after. It is a jewel box of an ice cream parlor, with upscale design nods to her childhood era. While the light fixtures, marble counter, and custom back wall evoke a time gone by; the sophisticated flow is interrupted by the whimsical curvy lines of the booth banquettes that welcome delighted families.

How do you build the Taj Mahal of Atomic Cowboys? You start with a cool old building, add an addition, and completely reshape it into a multi-purpose, multi-concept space. There are two floors complete with three outdoor experiences. A beautiful indoor-outdoor rooftop, and two large patios on each side of the building, street level. The design inside and out is inspired by the pioneering Denver Atomic Cowboy locations. The challenge — to create a welcoming, rustic vibe in a new construction shell.

Every Postino Wine Cafe features an art wall inspired by the location. This Houston Texas gem shows its gritty side with a large wall covered with well loved, donated skate board decks. The rainbow of colors and textures creates a whirl of energy. This location marks the first open kitchen concept for Postino. The open kitchen makes the dining room feel bigger and charges the connectivity through the space.     Photo credit: Becca Wright

Xan created a blended brand look for Caribou Coffee & Einstein’s Bagels. Our research discovered a thread that connected these two strong brands — Pride in Craft. The Bagel Case & the Coffee Theater are the focal points of this brand experience. We created a separation between the food line and the counter staff with a classic and clean, white subway tiled wall. The bagel display was moved to the back wall, with front and back team member access.

Working with the new co-branded graphics, we developed an artisan space that is not overly polished, and features craftsmanship in the finishes, and the fabrication of fixtures. We curated handcrafted materials, and the environment respects the color palettes of the two brands in equal balance in an earthy tone. The end result is stunning, showcasing natural materials — coconut tiles along the front counter, and real wood table tops with a wood burned logo.

Stoked to be part of the original Snoozer team. We scouted potential locations with founder Jon Schlegel for a year before he found the first building in the Ball Park neighborhood of Denver. This San Diego location is the sixth Snooze we’ve designed, the first five in Colorado. The industrial vibe of the building features 30 foot ceilings with skylights, garage doors, and distinctive concrete block. The space plan focused on creating the right balance between the necessary intimacy of a restaurant, and a large open space overhead. The original Snooze brand we created has been evolved and refined in this location. It is an eternally sunny, energetic scene for breakfast.

Xan partnered with Josh Wolkon and his team, to give new life to three conjoined old buildings in creating Ace Eat Serve. By knocking down walls, retaining the original floors and exposing brick and beams, Xan peeled back layers and let the coolness of the space be exposed. To give the large space an industrial feel, much of the original building materials and other recycled items were re-conceptualized. What may have initially felt like a huge space now is just enough room to eat, drink and score on your opponent.

DBC is situated in a reimagined manufacturing facility housing over fifty businesses. To create an unforgettable first impression, we installed neon in the floor entry way, a classic old time stove for a host stand, and branded window graphics spelling out the delights that await inside. We designed custom steel pivoting window gates to integrate patrons to the active interior hallway — blurring the inside, outside space. Our design utilizes classic notes like white marble, brass fixtures, and counter stools. To keep the space from feeling too serious, we featured a retro wall illustration to bring a playful vibe because breakfast food is fun!

Vintage authenticity is delivered through design details in our evolved Steuben’s interior brand. A sexy, modern diner is created through a cohesive mid-century design aesthetic. Utilizing elements like glazed brick, divider screens, swanky lighting and an expansive bone wood and mahogany ceiling. Brand inspiration comes from the original Steuben’s with the continued use of blue laminate, wood paneling, and brown pullman booths. Go back in time in the intimate bar environment featuring a cove lit stone wall with cozy booths. 

Challenge: Refine and define a well loved brand in a new market. Each authentic Postino location features a fun, funky wall. This old Denver building used to be a book bindery. To create visual and color texture, books were sliced and stacked for its branded feature wall. The restaurant space is a crafted balance of sophistication and colorful whimsy — vintage lighting, bold wallpaper, vintage accessories, and custom walnut millwork throughout. Careful attention was paid to the flow and pace of the space, complete with multiple nooks and types of seating.

The firm principals insisted on an open office environment where hierarchy doesn’t exist — no private offices. Our design solution started with a space plan that creates balance with a series of focal points to draw people’s attention through the space. A series of interesting meeting and work spaces energize the staff and encourage spontaneous conversation. There is a restaurant-type booth in a “retro trailer” inspired enclosure, and the back of the studio features a private conference room styled like a modern house. We appreciate design that functions well for the user so all meeting spaces feature dry erase and magnetic surfaces for spontaneous idea generation — from table tops and pod dividers, to glass walls in the conference room.