Cinema Cafe Wrapup

I expect that this will be the last time I mention the Cinema Cafe renovation project that has been a major recipient of my creative energy since April. I've been talking about it for months with nothing to show so I'm pleased to have pictures from the grand opening.

I have finally left my position of being the designer/manager. I quit awhile ago but lurked around until now. This renovation project was really a dream job but the whole experience turned out to be a roller coaster with major disappointments that required me to have obscene amounts of optimism and endurance. I have taken a deep breath and swallowed a fairly large lump of indignant negativity and I can finally truly be happy for the success of the cafe. Even though I will not be a part of the cafe, I still want it to be a great and successful place. I love the people and everyone has worked very very hard to try and make it work.

It was refreshing to see the realization of months and months of work. I'm proud of the job I did and will return as a customer. I will have to try really hard not to rearrange things every time I go in though.

I made a big set of images on Flickr of the cafe before and after so head there to see what I've done. I apologize for the grainy images!

So close!

The Cinema Cafe renovations are in full swing now (finally!) and I've been spending every spare moment painting, sanding and cleaning. I think it could be ready in two weeks! I'll be so happy when it's over. Yesterday, my job was removing and painting old drop ceiling tiles.

It was truly a miserable time except for a few presents I found along the way. I think someone had been using the ceiling as a time capsule and when the tiles were taken down I found two shoes, two hats, a tennis ball, a name tag, a rubber glove filled with blue powder (?!) and a red bow tie. That was entertaining and also a bit scary since I never knew what was going to be falling on my head next.

I'm headed back now and I'll get some more pictures to share. Today's job is varnishing the counters and painting our menu on the wall. I'm amazed by how long each task has taken but I feel like the end is in sight.

Somebody needs a makeover.

As some may remember, I have a job working at a tiny cafe inside our local cinema. I work there one night a week and basically, it's my alone time. We have virtually no customers. I've spent many evenings at the cafe imagining how it could be different and what I'd change if I had a say in things.

Well, I'm so pleased to say that my ponderings will soon be put to use because the owner has decided to revamp the place and has given me the opportunity to plan the new design. I'm nervous and excited about this responsibility and I've been spending lots of time mulling over fabric patterns and wall color options. The above pictures are how the cafe looks now. It is painted a dark dusty sage with darker plum and there is a black ceiling. Needless to say, I hope to add lots of brightness to the room. I think the brick floor is a neat detail that I'd like to play off of and I've already been given permission to destroy the big glass case with fluorescent lighting. Smash city!

It is a huge challenge to plan a whole new space (and menu!) when the owner has already put so much into it. His wife spent many hours adding loving touches to the decor; she made the curtains and seat cushions and everything. So, it is difficult to remove personal feelings when being critical about the current design. I think that's my biggest hurdle with this mission.

Still, there is a lot to be excited about and no matter if I have to concede to things I strongly dislike (for example, my boss would prefer to keep the ceiling black) it will still be improving and I get the chance to actually use some of the information I've absorbed from watching years of HGTV and reading design magazines and blogs.

I'm happy and optimistic about this and it is great that a job that I took pretty much solely so I wouldn't have to be alone on Friday nights (Justin works in the main part of the theater) turned into something I can be proud of. I'll reserve pride until I see how it all turns out though.

Ideas, suggestions, hints and tips are more than welcome! Pretty please designer friends?