Toby’s Potts Point is a vibrant local institution, serving breakfast and lunch with Toby’s Estate signature blends since 2007. In late 2011 changes to NSW licensing legislation motivated owners Mario Szucs and Josh Folden to extend their hours and add a wine menu to their offering.

At only 25 square meters, the tiny space needed a new look that could evolve from daytime café to evening wine bar. Szucs and Folden also added a kitchen redesign to their wish list and brought in Embark Design.

Embark freed up vital space by introducing an espresso servery window opening directly onto the street and installing custom pastry cabinets, and in the process made a striking entry feature of the retro chrome coffee machine from MIRAGE.

 Next, Embark clad the interior with plywood stained in Resene “Black Pepper” for a sense of warmth and to unify the palette, while a yellow leather banquette and recycled wood tables and painted stools were introduced for punches of colour & character.

Against this backdrop, Embark featured light industrial design elements with a brass self serve water tap, bronze mirror and deep teale pendant lights from Tom Dixon. A polished concrete floor completes the picture.

The result is a layered and warm space that transforms daily from a busy local breakfast spot to a popular after work drinks venue in one of Sydney’s fastest evolving neighbourhoods.