BreadBlok Gluten Free Bakery in Santa Monica by Commune.

Loaves of crusted bread sit proudly on warm alder wood shelves, their golden forms seemingly melting into the layered, natural-toned palette of the bakery. Woven baskets hang suspended from above, their curved bodies poking out from the plaster treated ceiling almost as if they had always been there. Light falls through the small gaps in their interlocking shell, causing soft shadows to dance on top of the terracotta floor.

Commune has designed a beautifully restrained interior space for BreadBlok, a gluten-free bakery in Santa Monica. The shop stands as a physical manifestation of BreadBlok’s brand ethos, conveying quality, authenticity, and a strong sense of place.

The bakery’s inception is linked to generations of French provincial influences, prompting Commune to distil the essence of Southern California as well as Provence within the interior. Materials were largely selected based on their ability to age beautifully, all of which are allowed to exist in their raw state.

The walls feature a subtle pattern reminiscent of the stitched body of a patchwork quilt. Squares, each a slightly different soft hue to the next, are layered on top of one other, creating a simple but beautiful gesture adding visual interest to the space.

A counter floats on top of stone plinths in the centre in the store. Its raw, jagged edges contrasting to the smooth surfaces around it. The solidity of its form brings dimension to the scheme that ground the soft voice of the surrounding design.

BreadBlok gluten-free bakery is a space beautifully illuminated by sunlight, its warmth licking at its linen fabrics and curved timber furnishings. Its light-filled interiors feel like the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon.

Related: Flourist Bakery & Cafe in East Vancouver by Ste Marie

[Images courtesy of Commune. Photography by Laure Joliet.]