One of the requirements for opening the coffee shop was adding a fully ADA-compliant bathroom. We decided to treat it as another chance to bring color and personality into the space. Even though accessibility drove the layout, the design allowed it to still feel playful, intentional, and connected to the rest of the shop.
The coffee bar and sitting area were designed to carry the energy behind Mosaic’s name – colorful, lively, and full of personality. When we started, the space was a former retail shop with no infrastructure for a coffee bar. We had to rough-in all plumbing and electrical, build out the service line, and bring everything up to ADA standards before any design work could shine. We partnered with an architect to create the exact flow and layout of the space, then dove into design to bring the entire area to life.
Mosaic Coffee Co. began with three friends – Kadence, Cole, and Jimmy – who dreamed of opening a coffee shop that felt bright, welcoming, and deeply connected to the community. While they searched for the perfect location, we worked together designing the space and when they found a spot near the Minneapolis lakes, everything clicked. Their vision was to bring new life to Hennepin Ave: a colorful, inclusive place where everyone feels at home, fueled by their love of coffee and their desire to highlight Latin American beans. We designed the full service area, coffee bar, and bathroom, shaping a space that reflects the warmth, color, and community they wanted to build.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Built In 1917
Commercial Renovation
Our Client's Vision
Our clients always knew they wanted the coffee shop to be colorful, expressive, and connected to the Latin American landscapes where their favorite coffee grows. The owners loved the idea of using handmade tile, so we partnered with Mercury Mosaics and pulled boxes straight from their warehouse, choosing pieces with character and small imperfections that felt human and intentional. As we started laying out the tiles, the design naturally evolved into a volcanic landscape echoing the terrain where so much Latin American coffee is grown.
Salmon walls, green tile along the bar front, and a black-and-red granite countertop added even more warmth and earthiness, while rattan lighting softened the space. The vision wasn’t set in stone from the beginning – it came together piece by piece, just like a true mosaic – until the bar felt joyful, handmade, and deeply rooted in the story behind the coffee they serve.
The owners wanted the bathroom to feel like another moment of personality, not an afterthought. When we realized there wasn’t enough pink tile available to include in the main coffee shop mosaic, we knew the bathroom was the perfect place to use it instead. Their vision was a functional, ADA-compliant bathroom that still felt stylish. Pink fish-scale tile, deep green accents, and black layers on the floor, ceiling, and accents gave the room a look that felt bright, unexpected, and totally them.
Coffee Shop Color Palette
Coffee Shop Mood Board
Designing + Building a Dream Cafe
The final result is a coffee bar and gathering space that feels vibrant, handmade, and full of heart. Every detail reflects the land, color, and culture behind the coffee beans they love, and the space now carries a joyful, welcoming energy.
Selected tile directly from Mercury Mosaics’ warehouse, embracing imperfect, artisan pieces for an authentic look
Wrapped the bar front in layered greens and surrounded it with warm salmon walls for a lively, grounded palette
Installed black-and-red granite countertops that echo earth, soil, and the origins of the coffee served
Kept the palette connected to the rest of the shop while giving the bathroom its own moment
The Moonstone Effect
Coffee Shop Reveal
Before + After
Shop The Project
