Plato Coffee brings a sleek new aesthetic to modern coffee bars with a minimal, white space that lets the coffee do the talking. We chat to co-owner Stephan Bredell about the design together with Indigen Architects, the interiors and plans for expansion regarding our favourite drink.

What is the concept behind Plato Coffee?

We wanted to create quick pick up and go style cafés that are inside suburbs, we want to be part of people’s everyday lives. Our shops create small hubs in communities where people can connect. So you get to connect with your neighbour you spoke to 3 years ago. We didn’t want to go the usual garage concept as we feel the space should be vibey and create a nice feel, something you don’t get at a garage, that is why there is a massive focus on the design of our shops.

How did you come up with the name? 

I have a branding/marketing background so I thought of something people will easily remember. But there were also a bunch of other factors. Plato was the founder of the first modern western university and we have a massive drive to educate and empower people (Plato was a philosopher during the 5th century BCE. He was a student of Socrates and later taught Aristotle. He founded the Academy, an academic program which many consider to be the first Western university) The other reason was that in ancient Greek times, people will meet at the town square/hub and philosophy about life. In current times when we want to have some deep and meaningful conversations, it usually happens over a cup of coffee. The last reason was that Plato had some inspirational quotes that are fun to bring into the brand.

What is the inspiration behind the clean, sleek design? 

There was a massive steampunk/industrial wave the last couple of years and we felt we want to be completely different. It is a great way to differentiate so we went in a completely new direction of minimal design rather than wood and steel. We also wanted to create a sense of aspiration/inspiration when customers walk into our cafés, I always use the example of an Apple store, that feeling you get when you walk into an iStore screams inspiration and when something has a clean design, you get the sense that everything else will also work. Like if you get the interior/marketing right, you instil trust in a consumer that your product will also be good. A lot of our clients’ first reactions when they walk into our stores are “wow, it feels super clean”, which is not a bad first impression when you deal with food and beverage. Most of the inspiration for the shops comes from Japanese and South-Korean cafés, they have a very clean and minimal design style.

Who was in charge of the decor/interiors? 

It’s a combination of me and my brother choosing a bunch of styles we like and then we pass it on to the architects to source products. I will create a style guide of stuff we like and then we try and get as close as possible to that. Instagram and Pinterest make it quite easy to find exactly what you want, then it’s up to the architects to make it happen. We also build custom furniture if we can’t find exactly what we want.

Tell us a bit about the brand and its ethos? 

I think I summed it up in the ‘how did you come up with a name” part – but basically – Little hubs in communities where people can connect, build meaningful relationships and do life together while also having a massive passion to equip and empower our baristas and make an impact in the communities we serve.

Plans for the future?

We’ve just launched our roastery called Blank Supplies which will supply all our stores as well as our franchised stores. Then, we’re opening a minimum of 10 new Plato owned cafés this year, predominantly in Pretoria and then our goal is to reach 20 franchise stores by the end of 2022. Franchises that are in progress are; Sandton, Somerset West, Paarl, George, Witbank and Secunda.

Find out more at plato.coffee.

Looking for more interior design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here, or take a look at the design concept behind the Glow Theory store.

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A timeless decor trend, black and white can be seen throughout recent history, from the Victorian era and the Art Deco period to the 1970s Korean Dansaekhwa style of painting and contemporary Scandinavian design. Here are 10 pieces to keep in mind for your home.

Stua Eclipse Nesting Tables

POA | CREMA

Shop

Circular Wall Shelf

R480 | Deft

Shop

Corr Medium Pot

R499 | Country Road

Shop

Laurence 3-seater Couch

R9 700 | Cielo

Shop

Soho Bowl

R79.95 | Studio W

Shop

VISI X Skinny laMinx BREEZE Throw

R2 425 | VISI Shop

Shop

Writers Desk

R1 600 | MRP Home

Shop

Resin Tumbler

R129 | @home

Shop

Husk Desk Lamp

R899 | Superbalist

Shop

Sugar Cube Side Table 

R1 749 | Popstrukt

Shop

Looking for more local buys? Here’s 11 statement table lamps for your home and our favourite new coffee table books.

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This private sanctuary in Cape Town’s suburbs, by architect Jo Noero, is geared to cultivate and nurture family life, with particular consideration for simplicity, natural light, functional design and mountain views.

In 1984, just starting his practice as an architect, Jo Noero designed his first large house in Johannesburg for a client by the name of Val. Some 35 years later, he received a phone call from Val’s son Ryan – whom Jo remembers as a little child playing at the building site – asking him to look at transforming a house that he and his wife Samantha had bought. “This was a project I had to take up,” says Jo, “and it turned out to be a real pleasure, working for a very nice family.

Perhaps if I live long enough, I might be fortunate to be able to create a house for Ryan and Samantha’s daughter or son – who knows?”

From the outside, it isn’t clear how vast and well-thought-out the home is. It’s intentional, of course; the exterior maintains a sense of privacy, creating a sanctuary where family life can thrive.

But, as is the case with all of Jo’s work, there’s depth in the design beyond just functionality. “The central ideas that governed the design were discussed and agreed upon right from the beginning, before we put pen to paper,” says Jo. “Most importantly, a distinction between luxury and necessity was drawn, and it was agreed that this distinction should shape all our decisions.”

Built on the footprint of the previous house that had its focus around a central living area, Ryan and Samantha’s new home is a double-volume space. Jo’s design reinforces this centrality by placing the bedrooms on the first floor; the access to these rooms happens along a circulation space adjacent to the double-volume and overlooking this space. The volume is illuminated from the top by a large roof light.

The home may have an understated and clearly modernist look, but it has a warm heart that clinically clean minimalism often lacks. What makes the space so special is the fact that it is fundamentally designed to be a home, away from the public gaze. Once you leave the street and enter the front door, the large double-volume living area that extends to a backyard with Table Mountain as the backdrop is revealed. As you get closer to the heart of the home, you begin to understand it more: the various layers express the age-old need for a sense of community and connection with those we love. This is a home created to build bonds and nurture the very nature of family life – the comfort of closeness and our attachment to it.

You can’t look at this home without picturing Samantha, who loves cooking, running the kitchen as it sits in the command centre of the house. From there, she’s got a feel of where everyone is – and there’s a sense of certainty that, in return, everyone knows what’s cooking too.

Ryan is a bit of a techy geek, who admittedly had to have a smart home. You can imagine the joy he took in automating everything he could think of, with understated subtlety meeting the perks of convenience. “We wanted something that was beautiful in a timeless way,” says the couple, “something that fits our lifestyle.” They’ve done exactly that by creating a home that serves as an ode to a closely-knit family unit and the bonds that keep them together – regardless of distance and time.

For more info, visit noeroarchitects.co

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Take a look at the West Coast Fossil Park designed by Jo Noero.

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What better way to complement the bustle of Istanbul, as seen from above, with views of the beautiful Bosphorus, than with a calm backdrop? At least that’s what the interior architects behind Ofist had in mind.

Forty years ago, a penthouse extension was added to a century-old historical building right in the bustling district of Beyoglu in Istanbul that lacked the traces of the area’s history. Picture low ceilings, a standard layout, layers of careless work, but with a great view of Bosphorus and the old city.

It’s since been rescued, renovated and redeemed by interior architects Yasemin Arpac and Sabahattin Emir, founders of Ofist. “Our main objective was to create a light, open, fresh, bright space with a pleasing, cosy touch,” the design duo explained. Oak parquet and white painted wooden lath ceilings are seen all through the house and iron-framed windows provide a less obstructed view.

The home now consists of two bedrooms, each en-suite, a sizeable living room with an open kitchen and a rooftop terrace with a magnificent view. Highlights include the entrance area wall’s floor-to-ceiling bookshelves; the metal spiral staircase, pierced with small leaf shapes, which climbs to the rooftop terrace and acts as a catwalk to reach the upper shelves of the library; and the sliding iron-and-glass doors in the master bedroom’s dressing room, bathroom and bedroom, which can divide the rooms or disappear within the walls when opened.

See more of Ofist’s projects at ofist.com.

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The little white cottage that Megan and Casper Geldenhuys built in Onrus 30 years ago speaks of precious times with family and friends, a life lived close to nature and a deep respect for the setting.

The little white cottage is perched as though airlifted there on the shores of Onrus Lagoon. At first glance it is an unremarkable clapboard structure. Sitting off-kilter on a large stand, it is rectangular, made entirely of timber painted white from top to toe both outside and inside, and has big windows – not a burglar bar or ostentatious element in sight.

Step inside and the layout is simple: open-plan linear kitchen to the right, lounge on the left, these areas separated by a sizeable dining table and chairs. Up a corridor there’s a single bathroom and two airy bedrooms, the master affording views over the fynbos garden and lagoon. This simplicity is kind of the point of it all, I realise after spending about an hour in conversation with the homeowners, who created this tranquil space from scratch some 30 years ago on a stand Megan’s mother had left her.

“I am the White House and the White House is me,” says Megan. She positioned the house to catch the perfect light and determined that everything would be white. She tells the story of the builder proudly showing her how he had chosen the finest knotty pine strips for a wall. “Knotty pine is so very, very ‘naughty pine’ for me, so, paint them white,’ I said. “I suppose you want the floors white too?” “Yes!” He couldn’t believe it.’ It was Casper who laboured endlessly, removing many aliens so bietou, Cape may and other fynbos could come into their own, and heaving one boulder at a time to carve out a sandy shale and shell-studded driveway out of the scrub.

At the bottom of a path leading from the deck to the water’s edge through thick vegetation is the Lagoon Saloon, a roughly hewn pub and braai area where countless glasses of wine and bubbly have been raised – and will continue to be raised – in celebration and where young and old spend hours cavorting in the lagoon and on the beach. The simplicity of life here in Onrus, where they have lived full time since 1997, has changed Megan and Casper, who had been accustomed to the city’s hustle and bustle.

It has made them more aware of the beauty of an uncluttered existence surrounded by nature. “Material possessions no longer mean very much to us,” says Megan. “My memories are my most treasured possessions; visions and thoughts in my mind’s eye of the wonderful happy times we’ve had here at the White House. Those are what will remain long after we’ve moved away.” There are, of course, certain exceptions, such as their collection of records (vinyl, for the sake of the millennials), photos and a few sentimental items, like the yellowwood cupboard Megan inherited from her grandmother.

For lovers of nature, life here in the White House is never boring. Nor is it lonely. Megan and Casper share their property with birds and tortoises; the odd mongoose is often spotted skulking along the shoreline in the gloaming; and then there’s the large-spotted genet that is, says Casper, bold enough to try to snatch a chop off the braai-grid or your plate.

As if to prove the point that four-legged creatures are welcome here, it’s at this juncture in the conversation that a black-and-white collie cross with blue eyes and beach-muddied paws trots in through the French doors to make himself at home. Megan and Casper have never seen the dog before but, we all agree, he’s chosen a great spot for a bit of a kuier.

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When a young couple invested in a quaint Greyton cottage, they asked interior designer Hendré Bloem to give it a Scandinavian makeover, with lots of white wall space to show off their London-acquired modern artworks.

Hendré Bloem was the right man for the job. A young Cape Town couple knew this straight away when they saw the designer’s stylish revamp of Greyton Lodge.

The couple, back in Cape Town with their two toddlers after a stint in London, wanted the right person to redesign and renovate their newly acquired weekend cottage on Regent Street, one of Greyton’s quaint treed lanes.

They were in luck, because not only did their house become a project Hendré loved, but he was also the man about town concerning all things renovation in Greyton. Like where to buy building supplies, who the best local contractors were and where to get plans signed off. And getting approval wasn’t easy.

“The house may not have heritage status, but we still had to get the go-ahead from the Greyton Aesthetics Advisory Committee,” says Hendré. Based on the design guidelines of town founder Herbert Vigne, houses have to look like a simpler version of the Cape Dutch home. And the Regent Street cottage ticked all the boxes: small gables, front door flanked by two symmetrical windows, and an outside staircase leading to the attic.

That typical Greyton look Hendré wasn’t going to mess with. Well, maybe just improve on a little… which he did. He moved the outside staircase inside, and turned the attic into two loft bedrooms and an en-suite bathroom.

That’s really as far as any major outside renovations went (apart from the single garage he converted into a guest cottage – a story for later). The bulk of the work happened inside.

“We opened up living spaces and turned a dark room off the kitchen into an airy stoep with views across the wooded garden and mountains,” says Hendré.

The interior design brief was simple: Go clean Scandinavian lines, use white and grey for colour, and get locally designed furniture and fittings. Hendré happily obliged.

So, save for a bare brick wall in the downstairs bedroom, nearly everything was painted white: floors, walls, living spaces, kitchen, you name it. Even the metro tiles in the bathrooms and kitchen are white.

It worked magic. Colours popped: the owners’ artworks, bright-green chairs, kitchen shelving by James Mudge, the impressive raw steel staircase… The cottage was sorted.

Now, back to the aforementioned converted garage, where the Scandinavian look continues. It is Hendré’s favourite space. So what’s so special?

“In place of the roller door, we used cottage-paned French windows, letting in lots of light and amazing views. I then thought, why stop here? So we knocked down another wall, and more light and garden views streamed in. It worked beautifully.”

Spoken like a true designer, and clearly the right man for the job.

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Spring is officially here, which means it’s time to give your space a bit of a refresh. We found 15 crisp white decor accessories you can buy to add a sophisticated, fresh touch to your space.

1. Clothes Rail R599, Emerging Creatives at Superbalist.com

2. 100% Linen King Pillowcases (Set of 2) R995, Weylandts

3. Hinge 1 Door Unit R6 500, Dokter and Misses

4. Wire Basket With Wood Trim R229, @home

5. Stencil Logo Mug R99, Country Road

6. White Jane Macrame Plant Hanger R629, KNØT at Hello Pretty

7. 100% Cotton Throw R379.99, Mr P Home

8. Triangular Lamp R800, Mono Online Shop

9. Touchy Feely Ceramic Hands R260, Dayfeels

10. Enamel Roaster Pot R250, Woolworths

11. Hole Wall Clock R690, Tydloos.com

12. My Dearest Shoes Art Print R250, Pencils and Paper Planes at Prestwich Collection

13. Madam Solo Coffee Pot R810, Eva Solo at The Handlers

14. Meow Quote Classic Mug R165, Sugar & Vice

15. Candle In Ceramic Holder R89.99, H&M

The post 15 Buys For Spring: Crisp White appeared first on Visi.

Want to keep your home looking cool, calm and collected? We’ve found 12 decor buys for a neutral space.

1. Ilene Chairs R1 400 each, Bofred

2. Grey Geo Rug R1 599, Airloom at Superbalist.com

3. Sturt Cushion R349, Country Road

4. Matt Grey Breadbin R459, @home

5. Display Rack R1 999, Hemma at Superbalist.com

6. Bear With Me Print R70, Panda & Frost at Mono Online Shop

7. Paper Weight R140, The Artisan

8. Bold Pedestal R7 995, Weylandts

9. Classic Oval Casserole (27cm) R1 680, Le Creuset

10. Ceramic Serving Tray R310, Josephine Road by KAAD at Prestwich Collection

11. Carry Table Natural R920, LSD Designs at The Handlers

12. 100% Cotton Throw (150cm x 200cm) R199.99, Mr Price Home

The post 12 Decor Buys For a Neutral Space appeared first on Visi.

From art prints and furniture to decor buys and on-the-go accessories, here are 13 items in black and white you can find online and in-store now.

1. Monochrome Mini Umbrella R140, Woolworths

2. Gozo Chair in Black R1 599, @home

3. Cat Shadow Giclée Print R345, Skinny laMinx

4. Chequered Bed Spread R700, Mono Online Shop

5. Harold Watch R499, Cheapo at Superbalist.com

6. Hound’s-tooth Cushion Cover R230, Luvlee Stuff at Spree.co.za

7. Antlers Phone Case R325, Utique

8. Pestle and Mortar R480, Eva Solo at Yuppiechef.com

9. Electric Tea Towel R115, Zana

10. Flying Solo Salad Bowl R620, Sugar & Vice

11. Inka Blanket R1 590, Ferm Living at Detail ’24

12. Black Origami Birds Tote Bag R320, Handmade By Me

13. Triangle Owl Wall Art R150, Giselle Rolando at Hello Pretty

The post Monochrome: 13 Decor Buys appeared first on Visi.

If you turn to online shopping whenever you feel like treating yourself (or if you need to buy a gift), make sure you take a look at the Cape Town-based Mono Online Shop. We chatted to founder Petro Vivier about Scandi design, her love for monochrome and 5 products she simply can’t get enough of.

How did Mono Online Shop start?

The idea began after we started renovating our new home. We had already decided on going with the Scandinavian look and started making our own scatter cushions, pallet furniture, prints, etc. We then realised that others might also appreciate our products (especially because Scandinavian-style interiors are so popular at the moment) and the idea turned into an online business. Ever since then we have been using our home for taking photos and we make sure that every new product we add fits into our look.

What made you choose to focus on Scandinavian-inspired design?

Because we went with this style in our home, it was only natural that the online shop would be inspired by this kind of design. It really is something that I can’t get enough of – I love how Scandinavian interior design is focused on functionality and I’m really drawn to the serene lifestyle it reflects.

Why monochrome?

I love decorating/designing with black and white. Playing with textures and patterns (as opposed to different colours) makes for really interesting designs. I always start off with black and white and add colour as an accent (and only if necessary). It’s not that I don’t love a bit of colour now and then – it is just that black and white is the only combination I never get tired of.

Where do you get your products from? Are they locally sourced or imported?

Even though our products (and our store) are all inspired by Scandinavian design, we want to keep things local, so our products are either designed and made by us or sourced from South African suppliers.

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