Food & bev. services News South Africa

News Café refurbished for Sandton rush

The re-launch celebration of the News Cafe Sandton store took place late last week as a Night at the Oscars, hosted for South African celebrities. The 10-week refurbishment sees 100 outdoor and 150 indoor seats and a separate smoking lounge of an additional 25 seats.

Peter Triandafillou, its franchisee, worked extensively with Reddeco Interiors in realising the design brief of presenting a unique and exclusive lounge for elite clientele. Inspiration for the execution of such an intricate space was motivated through various elements, as taken from a classic Bond movie set.

“After six years, the store required extensive renovation in order to maintain its flagship status, as well as to adequately service the upmarket clientele of the business district, being LSM seven and up,” says Triandafillou, who sees Sandton as the CBD of the Southern Hemisphere.

Design notes

The outdoor area is contemporary European with a wooden deck, inviting fireplace and focal water feature. From the Mediterranean-inspired exterior, a colour changing entry way welcomes guests into a warm, elaborate and plush space. “We softened the existing interior surfaces with a curved wall, creating the sculptural illusion of a flowing space,” explains Gysbert van Graan of Reddeco Interiors.

Design elements and features in various shades of gold, silver, grey and brown are creatively modernised with accents of white and blue-purple. Polished and reflective finishes unite the overall design to create its sleek and opulent atmosphere.

The interior space resembles a lounge filled with reflective gold surfaces and illumination from over-sized chandeliers. In fact, van Graan sites the custom-made chandeliers to be his favourite element of the refurbished store.

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