A spectrum of playful and bold patterns pop in the newly revamped Kingston Upon Hull’s Bing Ting cafe. Meaning pancake house in Chinese, Bing Ting is a street food cafe that takes over a 19th-century butcher’s shop in England.
Following a hybrid interior decor, interior designer Sam Buckley of Studio Sam Buckley has incorporated highly vibrant, modern accents that reflect the food and culture of the shop’s existing and historic shell.
Being a listed heritage structure, the project had its own challenges. Preservation of original wall and floors tiles was a must. Smartly pulling colours from the original, ornate wall, Victorian floor tiles and glass windows that have been restored, Buckely shaped the interiors with diamond-shaped tables and jewel-toned chairs. Offering the views of a few English bungalows, the windows balance the space and enhance the interiors.
For the postmodern makeover, ultramarine accents such as a snaking lighting rail, door frames and translucent curtain separating the kitchen from the dining room blend with the yellow ceiling. To neutralize the cafe’s vibrant colour palette, Buckley introduced white flooring. A milky rubber skin by Forbo cloaks the original floor tiles to preserve them from foot traffic. The protective layer does not damage the original tiles and can be removed whenever required.
Diagonal stripes and neon lights swerve patrons from the prosaic Victorian murals and the scene for the restaurant’s culinary offerings – Jian Bing pancakes, bubble teas and modern Chinese street food. The fixtures are installed at a distance from the floor and ceiling to preserve them. The iron poles sit in juxtaposition with the exterior walls as the blue rails hang down in a snaking pattern along the circumference of the ceiling.
With flurry bold yellow in dominance, the multi-coloured furniture and dynamic patterns nicely blend with the Victorian era designs, thereby revealing a modern-day space that offers a gentle return to past centuries.
Image credits: Studio Sam Buckley