Australian outback vibes meet Nordic sensibilities at this new haunt in Chow Kit’s Tiong Nam neighbourhood.
House of Wheat’s second outlet has been capturing attention for not just its coffee and bakes, but also its distinct interior design, complete with a unique textured wall that mimics a canyon-like structure.
Speaking to furnished.my, the founder Wyman shared how the space came together.
Inspired by nature
They say a house doesn’t necessarily mean a home, but House of Wheat seeks to hone in on the homey ambiance of a neighbourhood cafe, a theme that it has pursued since its first outlet in Cheras. Its new Chow Kit outlet, set in a residential area, perfectly fits the agenda.
As for House of Wheat’s design, it was all done in-house—but that doesn’t mean there weren’t professionals involved.
“In Cheras, our first branch, we were lucky enough to meet one of our partners. He owns a texture wall company,” Wyman explained. “We had similar ideas, so we brainstormed what House of Wheat would look like for the next five outlets.”
The founder went on to explain the concept, “It’s an Australian outback vibe, because I picked up most of my barista skills in Melbourne.”
Due to his background, House of Wheat has always sought to be an Australian fusion cafe. But how can that concept be translated into the design? While scrolling through his photo albums, Wyman was reminded of his visits to Grampian National Park—and with that, he connected the dots. An Australian canyon would perfectly encapsulate the vibe.
That concept was first materialised at House of Wheat 1.0, and it worked. So, with the same theme, they approached the Chow Kit location. It didn’t take too long for the team to make things happen, with the whole renovation for the 3,000 sqft space completed in just four months or so.
Features of the house
Of course, one of the most iconic parts of the Chow Kit cafe is the cave or canyon-like wall. “It’s an upgraded facelift of our Cheras wall,” Wyman clarified. “With a better budget this time, why not make dreams happen? So we brought half of Grampians Hill here to Chow Kit.”
The wall certainly adds intrigue to the space, encapsulating the vibe of the brand. Creating a sort of enclave, it makes the home feel outdoorsy and yet cosy at the same time.
“Other than the massive cave-like structure, actually we have a spot that I adore a lot—the second floor museum room,” Wyman shared. “We have real pastries hanging towards the wall and all have a description plate on the side.”
Not only is this space visually interesting, it serves to honour what the team does best. Leaning into the “museum” ambiance, there are some decor pieces such as Greek-esque statues.
The al fresco seating area of the restaurant features gravel and faux wheat plants, perfectly embodying the essence of the brand.
Although the concept is carried forward from the Cheras location, there have been some improvements in the execution. Back at Cheras, the team used red marble on some of the tables as well as the bar.
For Chow Kit, though, to soften the intimidating cave structure, they opted for wood and cushions. All the tables and chairs were actually custom made.
Offering customers a sense of home
Space planning wasn’t too big an issue, as Wyman shared that the layout of the space had already been by the new owner. The owner had also changed the original residential title of the unit to a commercial one.
The spaciousness of the location serves as a plus point, especially considering that patrons had complained about the small space back in Cheras. It also serves as an opportunity to create different designs.
“For the loft area, we decided that it should be able to convert into a private area just the a flick of a finger,” Wyman shared. “Other than that, it is also to cater for customers who want to be at a much more chill area with not many people walking around.”
Although the House of Wheat team considers their food and drinks to be the soul of the company, it’s clear that the stores’ interior design is one of their specialties, too. After all, it’s an “IP” of theirs.
Paired with welcoming hospitality and good grub, House of Wheat aims to be a true home for patrons who come through their doors.
Learn more about House of Wheat here.
Also Read: Inside: Beanery, a wood and concrete-themed cafe in Cheras