We’ve 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 pretty darn good, so was the design. In fact, we actually thought a lot of it could translate into someone’s home (so it’s not just a “commercial” look that you can’t implement in your own kitchen). Let’s have a look around on this fine Wednesday afternoon, shall we?
When you walk in the awesome black-framed doors surrounded by black-framed windows and look to the left, there’s a rustic whitewashed plank wall with a prep area full of fun mint-green penny tiles. The hilarious thing is that after chatting up the owner he revealed he had seen our kitchen and that’s how he had chosen the penny tile, although he opted for the fun mint color. It’s such a small world. But we’ll get to showing you more of the awesome penny tiled area in a second. First lets linger on those marble counters. Veiny and delicious, eh?
So if you’re 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 pretty smokin’ combo. Especially when paired with a pop of peachy coral (in the sign) and those awesome glass-jug lights above the serving area. Maybe 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 pretty amazing…
Here’s a closer shot at that awesome 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’s get closer. Who’s craving a big ol’ cone? Just me?
This is the other side of the room, which is full of industrial metal + wood tables and chairs along with more of those awesome glass-jugs-turned-pendant-lights. And now you can see more of those giant black-trimmed windows that let in lots of light and seem to work really 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 awesome. And check out that sign in the back…
I couldn’t agree more.
Here’s a close up of those awesome jar pendants. I totally didn’t stand on a chair to get this picture. Nope, wasn’t me.
Here are a few more seating details for you, just in case the metal + wood + stripe of darker wood bench gives you any ideas – maybe for a breakfast nook or a banquette? I’ve 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 maybe it could work for your kitchen?
Of course this trip wasn’t all business. A girl’s gotta eat! For any locals, you HAVE to get “Just Ask” (it’s white chocolate ice cream with peanut butter and Oreos). In other words, IT WILL BLOW YOUR FREAKING MIND.
Sorry for the caps. It’s that good. And Clara’s pretty into their cake batter variety too. So there you have a rare little store crashing installment. Have you been to any stores that have actually inspired you when it comes to things you could do to your own home? It’s amazing 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 love giving props and sharing the local love, so for anyone else looking for help, the designer was Fraser Design Associates and the construction was done by THS Construction.
Psst- Wanna see everything we’ve crashed? Your wish is my command (just click here).
I never should have read this. I’m stuck at home because of a snow storm, and now I’m craving some ice cream! Is it weird that even thought it’s cold and snowy outside, I still want ice cream? I don’t think so! ;-)
Haha, I even had an ice cream craving while approving this post. No one is safe!
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I was just thinking the EXACT same thing.
you should make snow ice cream! It’s very simple! Also one of my favorite ‘Snow Day’ memories!
The design is pretty, LOVE the mint tile with coral accents, blah, blah, blah—you totally got me with the ICE CREAM PIC. Oh my God. I may add Richmond to my “must visit” list so I can get some of that…it looks divine. (Thankfully someone brought cupcakes in; otherwise I’d be drooling at my desk without any possibility of relief).
Haha, come on down!
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I’ve never heard of that store but love ice cream so it goes to reason that I will LOVE LOVE LOVE that store.
I think I need to DIY that sign (…without ice cream there would be chaos). Preach it baby! lol :-D
I want to say thanks for sharing….but I don’t have ice cream :-( …so really sharing that was a little mean. *joking…not really… ;-)
Hahaha! It’s worth a trip to Richmond! Not even kidding.
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Beautiful!! I love the green penny tile! Since I am weirdly very sensitive to milk and ice cream I cannot eat regular ice cream, I usually get frozen yogurt which is not as good but can taste like soft-serve!
Didn’t you guys also mention a while back that there was some hotel crashings from your book tour?
Oh yes, those are still in the hopper, just waiting to be written up (we’re building up the energy to sift through 1,000+ photos that we took while on tour – eeks!).
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This is so beautiful and even better that it’s an ice cream shop!
That quote, which I also love, is from Don Kardong, a runner who founded one of the largest races in the country right here in my town of Spokane. It’s a 12k and, John, you’d love it! Couldn’t resist some hometown props :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Kardong
Uff da! The race is called Bloomsday :)
So cool!
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Everything looks absolutely delicious. In addition to wanting to fill my kitchen with this decor, I’d like to fill my kitchen with ice cream. ONLY ICE CREAM! :D
That’s a solid idea!
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I am DYING over those jug and jar pendant lights! AH! Love, love, love them.
I love their ice cream, too! Any idea where they got those metal tub chairs? I’ve been scouring Craigslist for months trying to find a set of four for cheaper than World Market ($99 a piece).
I have no idea – maybe check overstock.com or cb2.com for something similar?
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They look like the Flanders chairs from Industry West: http://www.industrywest.com/shop/chairs/flanders-chair.html.
They are more expensive than World Market, but occasionally Industry West has good sales on select items. Just recently several colors of their Marais A Side Chairs were marked down to $72ish. We have two of their stools and two chairs (not the Flanders though) and love them, great quality and variety.
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat! you got this gluten intolerant girl craving all that glutenous filled ice cream :/
penny tile works sooo well in there!
Hey Karen!! The ice cream base is gluten free! So only the flavors that have other ingredients with gluten i.e. cookies, brownies, cake, etc… make them gluten intolerant. Otherwise, go for it!! They have a lot to offer with no gluten-y extras!
Love the mint and salmon! We’re planning a mint and coral girls nursery right now…sort of the same wavelength!
Do they really have an Olive Oil flavor?? That sounds…interesting haha
It’s actually really good! Sort of creamy if that makes sense :)
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I love it! Mint and coral are pretty much a dynamite combo in my book!
ice cream!! i think i might be one of the only people who does not enjoy fro-yo, and there seems to be a fro-yo place on every corner! i love a good ice cream shop though, yum!
I also love the lights…any idea how to make them? Do they sell a kit? Ya know…just in case you’re looking for a topic for a post. ;)
Ooh, check out Pinterest! I think there are lots of tutorials for how to make mason jar lights (same method as making old milk jars I would imagine).
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Wow…what a beautiful space! *Applause* to everyone who put it together :)
I just happen to have my Frequent Scooper card punched with 10 stamps for Purdy’s Ice Cream ~ 11th one is FREE! I was saving it for a special treat…in honour of this post, TODAY IS THAT DAY, FOLKS! :)
xox
Hahha!
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I love this space! Believe it or not but our local Starbucks is actually pretty impressive in the design department. There is a lot of mixed natural wood tones that my husband and I love. On another note, that “just ask” ice cream looks amazing! I actually have some homemade white chocolate custard waiting to be churned, I may just have to add in peanut butter and Oreos now!
Mmmm. DO IT.
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Is there a source for the wall art? The giant ice cream scoop would be perfect over my kitchen cabinets!
I think they had the sign designed or purchased it somewhere (direct, no resale) but I hope they see this post and spill the beans if it’s available!
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The signs were custom made by Worth Higgins in Richmond: https://www.facebook.com/WorthPrinting Peter Frasier was the designer for the store and created all the art for them!
great now I want a white kitchen and gelato!
I’m gathering ideas for my future kitchen overhaul, and I don’t know why the combo of dark floors, white cabinets, black window sashes, and colorful tile never jumped out at me before. It’s so simple! So genius! I guess it just took this post to spell it out for me. :-)
Aw, send pics of your kitchen when it’s done Lindsey! I’d love to see it!
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I would put that ice cream sign up in my kitchen in a heartbeat.
Mmmmmmmmmm! To the ice cream, and the decor.
Woo Hoo for the Albuquerque, NM dairy milk bottle!!!! That’s almost home. *yes, when you live in a big empty state you will consider somewhere 200 miles away home because there really isn’t anything in between home and ABQ. I have a small milk bottle collection from local dairies. Wish I had that one! And yes, now I want ice cream. <3 ya!
So sweet!
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Awesome store crashing!
If you are ever in the Pittsburgh area, you need to visit Sarris’s for the chocolate and old fashioned ice cream parlor. It’s amazing! It’s beautiful! Plus they have a chocolate castle at times in the main store (many feet high and wide, behind glass).
Another place for divine ice cream is Burch Creek Mercantile in Ogden, Utah. The store isn’t as classy and store crashing worth as Sarris, but the ice cream comes from just up the road (Farr West- home to Farr West ice cream).
Sounds delicious and amazing!
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Oh I’ve given up sugar for Lent (and I’m in Australia) but man am I craving some!! A sugar free chai will have to do.
I loved you spelling out the obvious – a built in bench seat will mean you need less space on one side of the table. You’ve just sparked a plan… something until now I’d never thought about – genius you are!
Wahoo! Send pics!
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I love the “Without ice cream there would be darkness and chaos” poster! Where did they find it? I’ve seen it before and looked online, but couldn’t find that exact print. Love the blog by the way, been am avid and dedicated reader since way back in 2010 :).
Hope they drop in with that info! I know they had it made and shipped to them, but I’m not sure if it’s from a place that you and I could shop as well (or if it was designed just for them). They should totally sell prints and shirts of it though – they’d make a killing!
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The signs were custom made by Worth Higgins in Richmond: https://www.facebook.com/WorthPrinting Peter Frasier was the designer for the store and created all the art for them! I think that quote has been on Pinterest a lot, but that particular sign is custom. Hope that helps!
Wow, that “Just Ask” looks DELISH!!!! So jealous — I wish I could try it! As a very zealous ice cream addict, I love that sign!
There’s a Gelati Celesti in southside now?!?! How did I miss this? I grew up on their chocolate peanut butter ice cream from their west end store. Delicious!! The shop looks amazing. I now need to find out the exact location and wait for this stupid snow to melt so I can go get some yumminess (if that’s even a word). I love, love, love the penny tile!
Mmm, yes come to the Southside! It’s right near Einstein Bagel on Hugenot Road (in the original Stonypoint Shopping Center).
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YAY! That is perfect! I’m not too far from there. :)
Hey Kendra! Address is: 3004 Stony Point Rd, Richmond VA 23235 Here is the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Official-Gelati-Celesti-Ice-Cream-Makers/134081743293245?fref=ts
So fun you crashed this place! When we lived in Richmond, we ventured over there with some friends one night and I, like y’all, was totally blown away by the awesome decor! Makes me want some ice cream right now…so so good.
Can I just say I want that ice cream sign in my house? That scale and everything. It’s how I feel every moment.
I know you’ve done similar posts to this for tv shows but the show that I’ve been coveting lately for its set design is House of Cards – that Netflix series. They have the best sets. I could live there! I wish I could find more photos of them online.
Ooh, anyone have shots of this? Or know of any posts about it? Julia at Hooked On Houses does an awesome series like that!
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I’ve got a trip that way coming up soon! 3 adults, 3 kids, and some free time on our hands. That kind of screams, “ice cream!” don’t you think?
Oh yeah, for sure!
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did you leave john at home? you didn’t share which one he liked
Same one. We fight over it (and then both order it, haha).
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We (Sweet Spot) were lucky to work with some of the same designers as Gelati Celesti! Love their ice cream shop and I saw on FB that they were thinking of a 3rd location. Yum!
No way! That’s so cool!
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All caps are allowed as their ice cream is ZOMG good. So good that there are good odds that other mom & pop shops serve their ice cream too.
Wow that place is so cute! I used to go to Sunday School over near there, and I am trying to remember what used to be there. Although its been probably 15 years! Haha. I do know that it was never anything that awesome, I would remember that!
Very cool design in that ice cream shop! I’ll add it to my list of places to check out next time I’m in Richmond.
In the meantime, if you ever come to Charlottesville and want to do a store crashing, keep me in mind! I just opened up a consignment clothing store called ReThreads. It has a kids’ section as well as housewares, books, men’s and women’s clothing, etc. Sadly, I don’t have ice cream…
~Melissa
Sounds awesome Melissa!
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my boyfriend made all the tables & chairs for that shop!!! he’s pretty talented, I must say :)
NO WAY! That’s awesome. He’s totally the man.
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Gelati Celesti! I went to college in Richmond (Go Spiders!) and my friends and I used to go there when we needed a treat. It was a bit of a splurge for broke college students, but we felt very sophisticated eating *gelato*!
And now I want some, too. I’ll have to settle for some hot chocolate instead.
I love the jar lights! So awesome! I’m totally going to tell all our cousins (who live in Richmond) about this place…just in case they haven’t heard about it. :)
O.M.G. How Gelati Celesti has grown up! To age myself drastically, I remember the first store on West Broad, near the Arby’s. My roommate and I used to go grocery shopping at the Hannaford’s (I think that’s what it was) and bet who would come closest to the correct amount on the grocery bill. Whoever lost picked up the tab at for gelati that night! Let me tell you, that first location had very little of the charm you are showing here! But I’m so glad they’ve survived and are doing great. Oh, and thanks for missing making me miss Richmond multiple times over the last week (the Richmond city print, best friend question).
Hey Kristin! The original store is still open and in the same place!! You should stop by :-)
Wow, that place is fantastic! How much do I want that giant picture of an ice cream scoop!?
We actually got an idea for some Christmas decorations a couple years ago from a display at the Gap, of all places. We are always on the lookout for something we love…and then try to figure out how to work some of that love into our house. It makes running errands/shopping/eating way more fun!
I love that!
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I was so excited to see Gelati Celesti featured here! I’ve never been to this newer location but I do frequent the West End store. The third location they teased is actually a food truck type deal! I doubt I’ll ever get over to the southside store so it was cool to see how awesome the design is!
That’s so exciting! We love food trucks!
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The Anthropologie on 29th St in Boulder Co has the coolest reclaimed wood (or at least reclaimed-wood-looking) wall inside that not only goes across the wall, but onto the ceiling. The outside facade is great too.
Sounds amazing!
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Yum! I’m with Clara on the cake batter flavors… they are definitely my weakness. It’s always funny when you realize how small of a world it really is. Their mint tile looks beautiful and with a name like mint how could you resist for an ice cream shop!
I had no idea they had a second shop!
I used to work at the Ukrop’s there in high school and my parents just moved from Grand Summit a few weeks ago. I wish it had been around in my Bon Air days!
Thanks for the reminder that great design inspiration can be found in all kinds of (yummy) places.
Delicious!! And the owners, Steve and Kim Rosser, are just the two sweetest people who love, love, love what they do :)
FYI Peter Frasier was the interior designer. He is local in Richmond. Does all kind of workshops!
Sounds awesome! We linked to his company at the end of the post, thanks to getting that info from Gelati Celesti. Love his stuff!
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So cute. Clean, fresh, simple. I love it. But they could be selling that ice cream in a tumbledown shack and I’d probably still stop in if I could. Yum.
Trophy Cupcakes in Seattle has a very lovely aesthetic. Very different from this shop, but super charming. Great colors, classic elements, good font even. Their cupcakes aren’t bad either ;)
jbhat
Sounds really cute!
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WOW you guys can really find a way to justify some ice cream. ;-) jk- love the post.
Haha! It’s the key to happiness.
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I love local shops that take more than 20 minutes to think about there decor and aesthetic. It’s what keeps the butts in the seats and people coming back for more! Case in point: two little old ladies opened up a Kettle Corn and Fudge shop down the road. Awesome concept because who doesn’t love either of those. Once you walk in the door the smell of funky socks or…..death? hits you right in the face. I felt terrible not ordering once I was stuck at the counter and she was so eager to sell me something. The food was DE-VINE but the lack of decor made it look like the interior of a slaughter house. Have I gone back? No. Do I want to go back and offer to spruce the place up a bit? Yes.
My best, Lynn
*I talk too much and now I want ice cream…
Aw man, someone needs to sneak in at night and decorate! Like Robin Hood – doing bad things for a good cause. Haha!
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