The Brief
We were first approached by Blanco Nero, an independent Italian specialty coffee shop and deli, in July 2024, as they were preparing to branch out from their first store into another site and launch a rebrand, simultaneously. The new site was around the corner from their first store and was to be nestled deep in the heart of Media City.
Upon consultation with the client, they wanted their furniture to reflect their brand, featuring light, welcoming colours, yet simplistic and minimal. As they were in the process of rebranding the company, the consultation process involved lots of bouncing ideas and ever-changing designs, and furniture requirements.
Challenges & Solutions
The challenge we faced initially was trying to develop a consistent theme around the furniture from scratch. The site was under refurbishment, and the colour schemes were yet to be decided.
Due to the location within Media City, Salford, they were expecting a high footfall from media producers in the area, so for the tables, they needed to be able to withstand a high turnover of guests and be comfortable if people wanted to work from the coffee shop, too. We recommended laminate for its excellent durability properties and low maintenance, so they could keep customers flowing through the venue. As we were still unsure of the colour scheme, we delivered various samples of different laminate finishes, eventually settling on Apricot Nude U232ST9, in line with their new brand colours.
We were then tasked with creating micro-zones within the shop – the laminate tabletops were made in varying sizes to allow multiple groups to sit together, converse, and co-work, up to groups of 10.
With existing bench seating in the venue, they wanted smaller tables that could be used for working, and also use the same tables in their first venue due to the smaller size. We recommended our Black Compact Grade Laminate with Forza Small Round Dining Tables to create consistency across both sites and offer the strength and durability needed for the modern-day commercial venue.
The client wanted to have the laminates stand out, as these would be central to the venue, so we came up with the idea of having a 50mm hardwood edge added round, to create a contrast, but to also link it back to the Natalia Side Chair in the natural finish. This chair was chosen for its simple design, which complemented the Apricot Nude laminate finish the client had selected, and created a unique look when combined with the hardwood table edge.
The Finished Product
We delivered and installed the furniture to their new Media City site, along with refreshing the interior of their Anchorage site with new furniture, creating a consistent theme across both sites through the aesthetic of their furniture.
The client was delighted with the final product, across both sites, and was complimentary of the ease of working with Warner Contracts, and the time made to ensure the vision the client had was translated into reality, selling their brand through their bespoke furniture.
If you have a project and would like to chat to our team about your bespoke or customisation needs, get in touch by filling out our bespoke quote form.