Store Crashing: Gelati Celesti: a house log

We have only store crashed a few times (like this cute local kids consignment shop or this office crashing from Charlotte) but when a local ice cream store called Gelati Celesti opened up in our neighborhood, not only was the ice cream fairly darn good, so was the design. In fact, we in fact thought a lot of it could translate into someone’s home (so it is not simply a “commercial” look that you cannot implement in your own kitchen). Let us have a look around on this fine Wednesday afternoon, shall we?

When you walk in the excellent black-framed doors surrounded by black-framed windows and look to the left, there is a rustic whitewashed plank wall with a prep area full of lively mint-green penny tiles. The hilarious thing is that after chatting up the owner he revealed he had seen our kitchen and that is how he had chosen the penny tile, although he opted for the lively mint color. It is such a small world. But we will get to showing you more of the excellent penny tiled area in a second. First lets linger on those marble counters. Veiny and delicious, eh?

So if you are brainstorming kitchen pairings, we think the dark chocolate concrete floors with the light marble counters and the penny tile mixed with those rustic wood plank walls are a fairly smokin’ combo. Especially when paired with a pop of peachy coral (in the sign) and those excellent glass-jug lights above the serving area. Perhaps skip any giant freezers full of ice cream in the center of your kitchen though. Wait, but on second thought, I think a giant freezer full of ice cream in the center of a kitchen could be fairly remarkable…

Here is a closer shot at that excellent salmon colored sign (the bottom ten squares are chalkboard paint so they can write in new flavors) and the mint green penny tile. Me-ow, right?

Let us get closer. Who is craving a big ol’ cone? Simply me?

This is the other side of the room, which is full of industrial metal + wood tables and chairs along with more of those excellent glass-jugs-turned-pendant-lights. And now you can see more of those giant black-trimmed windows that let in plenty of light and seem to work truly well with the industrial concrete floors. So painting your kitchen window sashes black in a kitchen with white cabs, dark floors, and colorful tile could be excellent. And check out that sign in the back…

I could not agree more.

Here is a close up of those excellent jar pendants. I totally did not stand on a chair to get this picture. Nope, was not me.

Here are a few more seating details for you, simply in case the metal + wood + stripe of darker wood bench gives you any ideas – perhaps for a breakfast nook or a banquette? I have heard that built in benches can save space (you can place a table much closer to a wall than you would if it had pull-out chairs) so perhaps it could work for your kitchen?

Of course this trip was not all business. A girl’s gotta eat! For any locals, you HAVE to get “Simply Ask” (it is white chocolate ice cream with peanut butter and Oreos). In other words, IT WILL BLOW YOUR FREAKING MIND.

Sorry for the caps. It is that good. And Clara’s fairly into their cake batter variety too. So there you have a rare little store crashing installment. Have you been to any stores that have in fact inspired you when it comes to things you could do to your own home? It is remarkable how many things might be applicable if you keep an eye out. Oh and the owner asked if we could shout out the designer and construction crew that made his store possible, and you know we enjoy giving props and sharing the local enjoy, so for anyone else looking for assist, the designer was Fraser Design Associates and the construction was done by THS Construction.

Psst- Wanna see everything we have crashed? Your wish is my command (simply click here).