A cherished café in Pialligo now pops with life after a revitalising renovation
COMMERCIAL RENOVATION
Built in 1996, the Kitchen Garden at Rodney’s in Pialligo has been a much-loved place to stop for Canberra’s garden lovers. With a strong reputation and high volume of traffic, the original café was in need of a facelift and modernisation for its growing demand.
The owners looked to VDARA to revitalise their beloved space with the goal to update the commercial kitchen and brighten up the café to reflect the growth of the surrounding nursery.
Stepping inside, we developed a custom timber and wrought iron entrance door, instantly setting the scene for the new space. To the left, large bi-fold doors carry the style of the entrance and open to a new Providore at Rodney’s Garden Nursery.
Fronting the café is a luxurious yet practical working area for Rodney’s front-of-house staff to utilise and for diners to admire. Stretching a custom-built counter across the length of the café, we opened the floor space and added frame moulding covered in fresh mint green paint to brighten up its overall look. At the centre is a glass cabinet showcasing Rodney’s delicious treats on offer, as well as open shelving and a rendered air unit to present a stunning facing for guests.
With a popping feature wall of fish scale tiles, the supporting walls and existing ceiling beams were covered in bright white paint to create a fresh new look. Across the floors, we laid patterned floor tiles, ensuring a precise, fluid continuation of the French-inspired pattern.
VDARA also addressed the café’s accessibility issues, building a wide entrance door to welcome diners and double doors opening onto a timber ramp.
Needing to update the commercial kitchen, we utilised the space available and extended into the existing café and nursery area, building additional storage and working zones to enable a practical workspace and room to grow.
The bustling café is now an open and welcoming place for locals to admire, and for Rodney’s team of staff to utilise and enjoy as the business continues to grow.
Photos by Kasey Funnell Photography