{"id":189555,"date":"2021-11-01T10:47:21","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T14:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/?post_type=id_project&p=189555"},"modified":"2022-10-31T17:16:28","modified_gmt":"2022-10-31T21:16:28","slug":"natalia-solovey-creates-a-light-and-bright-cafe-and-shop-from-a-derelict-building-in-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"id_project","link":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/projects\/natalia-solovey-creates-a-light-and-bright-cafe-and-shop-from-a-derelict-building-in-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Natalia Solovey Creates a Light and Bright Caf\u00e9 and Shop From a Derelict Building in Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\"The
The caf\u00e9 counter is ash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

November 1, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n

Words: <\/span>Athena Waligore<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photography: <\/span>Yevhenii Avramenko<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Natalia Solovey Creates a Light and Bright Caf\u00e9 and Shop From a Derelict Building in Ukraine<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

When Natalia Solovey, principal of SoloveyDesign<\/a>, first saw a 1960s building on the bank of the Southern Bug river in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, she said it took her breath away. Rather than notice the mold or the detritus, she focused on what the space could become. Working with her husband, entrepreneur Oleg Solovey, she transformed the building into White Rabbit Surf Caf\u00e9, an airy caf\u00e9 and stand-up paddle board shop. The renovation took about a year and a half. \u201cWe did it gradually,\u201d she explains. \u201cPartly with our own hands.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They divided the space into a caf\u00e9 in front and a paddle board shop in back by removing parts of a brick wall. Directed by the designer, Oleg Solovey wielded a hammer to knock out bricks and create an asymmetrical divider between the caf\u00e9 and the shop. Plaster was removed from walls and the bricks beneath were painted a clean white. A large custom counter was inserted in the caf\u00e9, along with custom seating and some pieces from Ukrainian designers. \u201cThere are no unnecessary details but a lot of light and air,\u201d Natalia Solovey explains. The resulting caf\u00e9 and shop is popular, with crowds gathering on the deck in the summer and huddling around the fireplace in the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The caf\u00e9 counter is ash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Custom
Custom seats with fabric cushions and leather-strapped backs line the caf\u00e9\u2019s walls. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"A
A metal wood-burning fireplace provides warmth in the winter. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Tangerine
Tangerine side chairs were designed by Slava Balbek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Walls
Walls were painted white. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The outdoor seating area is popular in the summer. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Black
Black metal-and-plywood storm shutters contrast with the white-painted exterior. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Some
Some caf\u00e9 seats face the Southern Bug river. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"An
An asymmetrical doorway, hammer-cleared of bricks by Oleg Solovey, divides the caf\u00e9 from the paddle board shop. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n