Dessert Store Before and After – Lulu’s Ice-Cream Social by Mindful Design Consulting

Once again, Mindful Design Consulting has transformed an unremarkable site into a stunning establishment—another ice cream shop that delights both the eye and the palate. Lulu’s Ice-Cream Social, located in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, is a homemade ice cream haven known for its simple, high-quality ingredients. The shop pairs its frozen creations with delectable treats like homemade waffle cones and cookies. Its transformation into a dainty, charming and visually striking space is a perfect example of a dessert store before and after, showcasing how thoughtful design can turn a blank canvas into an extraordinary interior.

We started with a bare work site, offering no hint of the store’s future charm.The space itself was long and narrow, but its open layout provided the opportunity for large windows.

Here is the interior of Lulu’s Ice Cream Social after the completion of the project. We started with the concept of a space that would be playful, dainty and elegant, with colors that would reflect the delicious flavors offered by the store. We opted for bold visual statements, such as vertical wall stripes and black-and-white geometric patterned floors, but balanced this with the use of pastel colors like soft pink and cream.

White served as the backdrop against which all these elements interacted, but we made sure to pair it with different textures, patterns or shades every time, so the canvas itself became visually interesting. The hexagonal wall tiles, terrazzo floor, geometric patterns, tone-on-tone striped wall and the simple painted ceiling above the service counter all play their part in a dynamic mix of patterns, colors and textures.

We made heavy use of stripes, which served several purposes. First, they became a leitmotif that connected different parts of the store, while allowing us to vary other elements like colors, width, length and placement, creating interest without resulting in a mishmash of patterns. Second, the stripes added visual drama. Third, they brought an element of elegance that vertical stripes naturally lend to interiors. Fourth, they provided a great and attractive backdrop for selfies. Finally, the stripes helped us create a simple accent wall that highlights both the store’s logo and the most comfortable, coveted seating area.

The long and narrow interior space presented both challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, it simplified the traffic flow and partially dictated the arrangement of the seating areas. The challenge, however, was to make such an interior visually interesting and avoid monotony.

We achieved this by creating distinct seating areas with a variety of seating options, from benches to chairs. Within these areas, we continued to diversify the elements by selecting different types of chairs—ranging from architectural wire silhouettes to traditional-inspired designs—along with various materials and colors.

A unique feature of the store is the “lounge” area, where armchairs and a couch provide an extra touch of comfort for those who want to linger over a sweet treat or enjoy a great conversation with friends. This concept is part of the broader idea of an ice cream social, which encourages relaxation and connection in a friendly, calming atmosphere.

The dramatic vertical stripes, with their wider width at the end of the store, create a bold accent wall that, together with the store’s logo, becomes a key branding element in the interior design.

The placement of the oversized logo above the counter and on the wall behind the “lounge” seating area serves more than just a branding purpose; it also provides customers with a simple opportunity to snap a selfie and share their pictures, offering free promotion for the store.

The merchandise display shelves act as a divider between two seating areas, offering a sense of privacy to the nearby clusters of tables and chairs while subtly breaking up the space.

A view from above showcases the arrangement of the various seating areas and options, clearly outlining their boundaries and highlighting the smooth flow throughout the store. The geometric floor pattern is cleverly utilized to define each area, making it visually distinct while seamlessly tying the design together.

The store interior is defined by the great attention to its distinctive details. Descending from the exposed ceilings, which are softened by a pleasant pink paint, a variety of pendant light fixtures hang over the space, from quirky cow-bell pendants to bright yellow and cage pendants.

In the midst of this expanse of pastel colors, the use of wood elements grounds the space. The vertical wooden slats on the counter sides, the exposed shelves behind it and the menu boards – all provide excellent opportunities to introduce the warmth and calming presence of wood.

A selfie wall in the corner of the store, featuring oversized ice cream cones and dripping ice cream, offers a fun spot for snapping pictures. The large windows on the opposite side let in abundant light, creating perfect conditions for photos.

We designed Lulu’s wall graphics as part of their branding, incorporating their brand colors and adding a fun, playful touch.

Lulu’s Ice Cream Social logo was also created by Mindful Design Consulting and provided to the client along with the Pantone color versions and the font used in the design for future reference.

If you are thinking to open a new business or are in the process of rebranding and remodeling your existing business, contact us to get a free consultation from Mindful Design Consulting. Click HERE to price your project design.