5 Design and Décor Inspo from The Den
Aside from good coffee, this new specialty café in Escolta also serves up nifty design tricks
The Den, which officially opened last September 24, serves delicious coffee from locally grown beans. Designed by 1/0 Design Collective (the same team who designed The HUB|Make Lab), The Den sports a raw concrete finish with sleek, wood-and-steel furniture. The gritty, industrial interiors are offset by colorful works of art and quirky knickknacks by local artists and crafters. Here are five easy ways to recreate the same look in your home:
1. Make a statement with architectural elements.
The grit of industrial interiors is often balanced with furniture made of steel and wood. Some would go for organic or rustic pieces for added warmth. In The Den’s case, however, furniture pieces come in sleek silhouettes. Seating pieces made by Fabricca Manila combine cold metal with warm wood accents, and are, by themselves, eye-catching architectural details in the café.
2. Use a shelf as a divider.
An open shelving unit similar to The Den’s can serve as both a display shelf and a divider in a large room. Populate it with books and other décor alongside potted plants and succulents for variety. But since the shelf is open, make sure not to cram it with too many items to avoid clutter.
3. Find unusual ways to display photos.
At The Den, there’s a rotating postcard rack near the counter. A rotating rack is a space-saving and unique idea for displaying your many photos at home. It also makes it easier to replace old photos with new ones.
4. Use art to add color.
A handful of art pieces by local artists pepper the walls of this café. Cop the same trick to offset the gray, cold walls of an industrial-style space. You may also use readily available (and affordable) wall art from department stores to jazz up a plain, bare cement wall.
5. Play with lights.
Mood lights lend a warm and cozy ambiance to The Den. Pin lights in warm white can instantly change the mood in a space. If you want to make your living area conducive to a night of movie marathon, for instance, turn off the general lighting and switch to warm pin lights. Go for LED so you can also save on electricity costs.
The Den is located at The HUB|Make Lab, G/L First United Building, 413 Escolta St., Manila. Open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 11am to 9pm. For updates, follow the cafe on Facebook and Instagram.
