Blog Edition | Making Over an Icon:
Inside the Soup Spoon Makeover
Not long after I finished setting the stage at Niko’s Taverna, the newest restaurant launched by Gavrilides Management, Nick Gavrilides asked me to take a look at his older establishment and see what could be done to solve a few challenges the team was having with storage and lighting. That conversation soon took on a new direction as we both mentally compared 18-year-old Soup Spoon Cafe to newly created (shiny and bright) Niko’s. After all we put into making Niko’s a magical and meaningful place to welcome the community, Nick quickly decided it was time to give his original operation some love and attention as well.
So, in April of 2023, we began making plans that would keep Soup Spoon in a constant state of transition for the rest of the year. It was New Year’s Day 2024 that I applied all the smallest finishing touches and locked up behind myself one last time before staff and community were welcomed to a completed makeover front to back, side to side. And, now I will walk you through this months long journey and give you some insight into the process.
But first, the BEFOREs:
The Bar
The Dining Room
The Gallery
The Bathrooms
THE PROCESS: As I mentioned, Nick wanted to update the lighting and add more storage around the bar. He also wanted to anchor the decor as he had long been inviting artists to exhibit and sell their work on-site, but that meant things were something abruptly being added and taken away. It felt important to him to have a permanent style in the first two areas and allocate a common area for artists to continue to exhibit.
As I took in all of the colors, architecture, and elements that held significance to Nick and his team; I went to work coming up with concepts that helped tie that all together. Design principals aside, I wanted the finished product to feel inviting, comforting, elegant, and deliberate. It was important to Nick that the process not disrupt operations and or be hard to maintain. His team had a few requests of their own, as well, so I went to my drawing board to generate renderings of my vision for his approval.
Since my go-to style is typically focused on sustainable materials and budget-friendly execution, I knew there needed to be some continuity throughout the assorted nooks to tie it all together but I didn’t want to spend a fortune on speciality items. I turned to the Soup Spoon menu for inspiration. If you’ve been to this place more than a couple times, you know that the menu is ever-evolving but it is PACKED with options that offer something for everyone. No matter if the options are a brand new concept out of the kitchen or an old family recipe; there is a distinct approach to the meals that carries across all dishes. The food is fresh, high quality, flavorful, and plentiful … and always with an element of surprise. A colorful sprig, and unexpected contrast of textures, a pairing of boldness and tradition. And every dish is served with thoughtful care that I wanted to capture in the essence of the decor.
Nick and his family had traveled to Greece in 2023 and, having deliberately incorporated Greek flavor in the design of Niko’s Taverna, I knew it matters to him that the vibe of his business reflect the cuisine. He is rooted in tradition and community. He values history and timelessness. I wanted to capture all of this in everything I touched in Soup Spoon.
Let’s walk through it and I’ll share my process with the AFTERs.
The Bar
To brighten the place and neutralize some of the warmth the red/yellow/green created against the red brick floor; I selected a slightly creamy Dover White from Sherwin Williams. This color is just a little warmer and more complimentary of the base tones than my second choice Greek Villa — but “Greek Villa” is absolutely part of what I was going for. The brick red floor in the Cafe gelt like a nod to the stone and brick streets in some of Nick’s travels so I wanted to build on that old world kind of charm.
I decided to err more natural and slightly rustic for the decor, using as many weather and architectural elements as I could for the bigger aspects, such as shelving, paneling, and even the larger wall-hangings. We’d agreed to keep the red paint that ties in with the restaurant’s branding, so I had to rely on the decor to bring in more color and drama.
Using salvaged barn wood, weathered cedar paneling, old shutters, and an assortment of iron and antique silver; I was able to marry all of the elements in this room with a few touches of greenery and a whole lot of careful placement of vintage kitchen decor I had been collecting, some for years, not necessarily with this in mind. But the way they all spoke to one another told me this was meant to be.
The Dining Room
There are a lot of special touches in this area that I am excited about. The arches in this room were a fun challenge - how to style them in a way that feels consistent but not repetitive using vintage stuff. I kept the old windows that were already hanging in the area and added other architectural elements and agricultural relics to carry the old world look into this area with more greenery (as a nod to the building’s past) and picked up the leaded glass design from one of the old windows and used it in the form of a wrap on the windows (for guest privacy) and on the newly designed and built enclosure for the hard-working team in the grill area. This enclosure and patterned wrap, along with the updates to the structure itself and surrounding paint, helped this area feel more cohesive and deliberate as well as added more coziness than ever before. I hope the team never takes down the holiday lights because that little bit of sparkle around the windows makes this area feel all kinds of romantic.
The Gallery
This room is extra special as it is the embodiment of Nick’s support of local artists. In here, I brought in all of the local art that had been hanging/for sale throughout the restaurant before we removed everything to paint. With the addition of a gallery system to protect the brick and better use that gorgeous brick as a backdrop, it was thrilling to create groupings by artist knowing this is such a wonderful space for their work to be on display. It is meant to be ever-changing as art is purchased and more is created to fill in the gaps. I look forward to checking out The Gallery every time I’m in to see how it has changed since my last visit.
The Bathrooms
Beginning with the swinging doors to the hallway, the goal was to make this area more attractive and bright. It also acts as a showcase to local art and some special pieces that used to hang up front.
With the two bathrooms, I wanted to bring some elements from the front of the house into the previously darkest corners. With new lighting and fixtures, some paneling, paint, and elegant wallpaper that brings the same red from up front to the back. I was able to carry the arched motif into this area with the mirrors and storage cabinets while the architectural decor adds that old-world charm from up front.
CONCLUSION: I might be responsible for dreaming up these renovations and managing all of the details therein, but I couldn’t make these transformations happen without the talent of several other talented local people I cherish every opportunity to work with. As much as I believe in sustainable design, preservation, and improving our community one building at a time; I also believe in supporting fellow local entrepreneurs who dare to make a living doing what they love. Here are the people/businesses that joined me in breathing new life into a cherished local business deserving of all the love and positivity we each poured into this makeover:
Painting and wallpaper - Girl With a Brush
Custom Woodworking (bar shelving, hutch in greeter station) - Possible Worlds Carpentry
Assorted Handy work (paneling, installing new fixtures, hanging the gallery system, etc.) - Fierro’s Handyman Service and Michigan Handy Services
Custom Grill Surround and Drink Station Dividers (and more) - Michigan Imagery
You can also shop from actual items used in this makeover or ones like them (because I thrift and upcycle local treasures as often as possible) by following this link: SHOP HERE
Thanks for following along on this makeover adventure. It’s not every day I get to transform an iconic local business. I am thankful for Nick’s faith in my ability to do what I do with minimal interruptions to his busy operation and for all of the kind remarks I’ve heard along the way. It’s been an incredible honor.
