Not every cafe design project begins with a story as meaningful as MeliMeli. From the name, from the scent of Me Linh roses, to every rustic interior detail, everything was created by KenDesign based on the real business problem of the investor, not just to make the space beautiful, but to make it right. If you are preparing to open a cafe and want to know what a truly well-planned design project looks like, from customer insights and layout solutions to material selection, this article is for you.
1. Insight & the investor’s business problem
Before drawing even a single line, KenDesign always takes time to understand the real problem of the investor.
The MeliMeli project had a rather distinctive starting point: the entire first floor of the company building, which had previously been used as a living room, meeting room and pantry, was converted into a cafe space. All office functions would be moved to the upper floors, giving the ground-floor space over to a completely new business model.
What is worth noting is that the investor came to KenDesign with a very clear mindset: specific goals, a defined budget, and a brand story to tell. The cafe space had to carry a sense of connection, from the name of the cafe, to the company, to the owner’s hometown.
The target customer group was also identified early on: company employees, partners and guests coming for work, along with families living in the surrounding residential area. This is a loyal and stable customer group that does not need to be conquered on a mass scale. What it needs is a space warm enough to make people want to return.
2. Assessment of the existing site condition
The site is located on Nguyen Van Loc Street, Hanoi, a location with high commercial value. The special feature of this plot is that it is a corner villa with three front-facing sides, an extremely rare advantage in urban cafe design.
The total usable area of the first floor is approximately 140m². Since the site had already been renovated the previous year, the structure and technical infrastructure remained in good condition, with no major issues related to the foundation, electrical system or water system. This helped significantly reduce the time and cost required for the rough construction stage.
3. Design idea & style: from Me Linh to MeliMeli
The investor of MeliMeli comes from Me Linh, a land famous for its vast rose fields. H-Imex Company also operates in the agricultural sector, closely connected to land and crops. From there came the desire to create a rose-themed cafe, where the space would bring the feeling of stepping into a gentle, fresh garden while still being refined enough to serve business customers.
The name MeliMeli was not chosen by chance. It is an intentional phonetic variation of the two words Me Linh, making it familiar, memorable and full of its own identity.
From that story, KenDesign directed the design style toward a rustic-modern approach: making use of natural materials, preserving the friendly and warm feeling of wood and stone, and combining them with modern lines so the space would not become too classical or heavy. Roses became the soul running throughout the entire concept.
4. Layout planning solution
Looking at the overall layout perspective of MeliMeli, it is easy to see a very clear approach to functional zoning.
The overall floor plan is divided into two major zones: the indoor space and the outdoor space surrounding three sides. This division not only meets customers’ diverse seating needs but also helps maximize seating capacity on the same land area.
The entrance and circulation routes are designed to be open and airy, naturally guiding customers from the gate to the bar area, then branching out to different seating zones. Guests are not forced into a single movement route, creating a comfortable feeling from the very first step into the cafe.
The main indoor seating area is arranged flexibly with both two-person tables and group tables, making it suitable for individual customers as well as families or colleagues. The corner seating area has a warmer design with brick arches and focused lighting, suitable for private meetings.
The bar area is placed in a central position, with a view over the entire service space. This helps staff control and serve efficiently without having to move too much. The restroom area is neatly arranged to one side, without affecting the main service flow.
The solution for increasing seating capacity without losing openness is a noteworthy point: instead of squeezing more tables and chairs indoors, KenDesign chose to extend the space outward. The garden and sidewalk areas are fully utilized with low seating, stone tables and natural greenery, creating a pleasant buffer zone between the urban environment and the cafe space.
5. Three-sided facade design
The advantage of a corner property with three front-facing sides is not always used properly. With MeliMeli, KenDesign chose to remove the solid wall along the gate and replace it with an open seating area combined with a climbing rose fence, both creating openness and becoming a visual highlight that attracts passersby.
Two rose-covered gates are arranged to create entrances on two sides, with each gate acting as a “door” leading into the garden. The entire outdoor area along the three front-facing sides is designed as an outdoor seating belt, with seating placed close to the wall, surrounded by greenery and roses.
The main facade uses a large glass door system to create visual continuity between the inside and outside. At night, with warm-tone accent lighting, the entire exterior of the cafe glows in a warm amber shade, an extremely effective urban lighting effect for attracting walk-in customers.
6. Rustic interior materials
Every material choice in MeliMeli serves one goal: maintaining a friendly, natural feeling while still being easy to clean and durable in a business environment.
Wooden tables and chairs combined with simili leather form the backbone of the interior system. Wood brings a warm, rustic breath that matches the concept; simili leather ensures durability and easy cleaning in a cafe that serves a large number of customers every day. This is a practical and smart combination.
The large window system is handled in an interesting way: the lower section uses glass blocks to gently filter natural light and limit direct views from the street, giving guests inside the cafe a more private space; the upper section is designed as openable windows, ensuring natural ventilation and connection with the outdoor atmosphere.
Decorative ceramic shelves are arranged along the wall, a small detail that creates a feeling of life, like being inside a real home rather than a soulless commercial space. Decorative wooden columns divide the rhythm of the space and serve as an aesthetic element that warms up the entire interior volume.
7. Colors & lighting
The main color palette of MeliMeli revolves around earthy brown, beige and ivory white tones, accented by natural green patches and the soft pink of roses. This is a balanced palette: warm enough to create a friendly feeling, bright enough to keep the space from feeling stuffy.
The lighting system is divided into several layers:
Ambient lighting from recessed ceiling lights creates sufficient brightness for the entire space.
Accent lighting focuses on the bar counter, decorative shelves and special corners.
Fairy lights running along the facade and outdoor area create a gentle sparkling effect in the evening.
8. A design highlight that feels like stepping into a rose garden
If there is one element that defines the soul of MeliMeli, it is the rose.
Not roses placed on tables like in many other cafes. At MeliMeli, roses are brought into the architecture: climbing over the entrance gates, running along the fence, and accenting the exterior wall panels. When customers step into the cafe, they truly feel as if they are entering a garden.
This is the difference between a design with thinking and a design with a concept. Roses are not merely decoration, but a story about Me Linh, about the owner, and about the name MeliMeli.
The MeliMeli cafe design project is a clear demonstration of KenDesign’s working philosophy: every space needs a reason to exist. It is not about copying trends, not about following ready-made templates, but about listening to the real business problem, understanding the brand story, and transforming all of that into a space with a soul.
Are you planning a café project with a distinctive style of your own? Let us listen to your story first and then turn it into a real space together. Contact KenDesign today for a free design consultation.
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