Macrina Bakery Mercer Island

Project Overview
A restrained palette of white oak, tile, and polished concrete shapes this contemporary neighborhood bakery. Daylight, open displays, and layered seating establish a welcoming café environment that celebrates craft, transparency, and the daily ritual of fresh bread.

Building Materials
The interior employs a durable, tactile palette that transforms a former frame shop into a bakery and café. Existing concrete floors were ground and polished to create a resilient surface that reflects daylight throughout the space. White herringbone tile lines the product display wall, introducing texture and brightness, while custom white oak millwork softens the industrial shell. Black aluminum storefront windows and exposed building systems provide contrast and reinforce the building’s industrial character.

Spatial Organization
The café interior is organized around a central service counter that establishes a clear sequence for ordering, pickup, and seating. The open plan maintains visual continuity between patrons, staff, and bakery displays while supporting efficient service flow.

Daylight and Transparency
Full-height storefront glazing lines the perimeter, drawing natural light deep into the interior and creating strong visual connections to the street and outdoor seating. This transparency reinforces the café’s role as an active neighborhood gathering space.

Service Counter and Retail Display
The primary counter is clad in vertically articulated wood slats and topped with green-veined stone, combining warmth with durability. Integrated display cases showcase breads and pastries while maintaining openness between staff and customers. Open shelving along the tiled wall provides space for packaged goods, while stepped display shelves at the counter corner highlight fresh products.

Ceiling and Lighting
Suspended linear fixtures and pendant lights create a layered lighting field across the ceiling plane. The lighting complements exposed mechanical systems and reinforces the contemporary industrial character of the interior.

Seating and Atmosphere
Seating supports multiple modes of use, ranging from café tables along the storefront to a lounge area with custom upholstered banquettes and outdoor seating. A large-scale botanical wallpaper anchors the rear wall, introducing color and softness that balance the precise material detailing. Plants, soft seating, and warm lighting introduce residential elements that temper the utilitarian aspects of the bakery environment, creating a comfortable space where guests are encouraged to linger.

Design: Floisand Studio Architects
Contractor: Wilcox Construction
Photography: Carlton Canary