Mya & Brooklyn Cafe, Williamsburg, NY

This project transformed an existing basement commercial space within an old mass-timber building into a warm, light-filled neighborhood café. Design Innovations for Architecture served as architect of record and interior designer for the two-level space, carefully balancing the building’s industrial character with a welcoming, home-like atmosphere.

At street level, the entry introduces the espresso bar and frames views down to the main seating area just eight steps below. Large windows, cascading planters, and abundant greenery maximize natural light and visually lift the lower level, allowing the basement space to feel open and nearly at grade. The ground floor creates a vibrant first impression, while the lower level unfolds into a comfortable dining environment with a service bar and kitchen located toward the rear.

The design celebrates the existing structure by exposing and refinishing the original mass-timber posts, beams, and steel gusset plates. The concrete slab was restored and polished to reveal its raw texture, forming a dialogue between old and new. A restrained material palette is softened through warm, glare-free lighting, wooden furniture, upholstered seating, and a patterned wallpaper feature wall. Brick surfaces and biophilic elements further enhance the sense of warmth and texture throughout the space.

The result is a cozy yet contemporary café that blends industrial heritage with natural materials and greenery, creating an inviting and relaxed environment rooted in the character of Williamsburg’s historic building fabric.