Lunar Lounge

 
 

Lunar Lounge is a small cafe and espresso bar nestled inside the Mellow Moon Lodge in rural southern Colorado. Born from incremental evolution rather than a fixed design brief, the design vision was rooted by an original painting by Noelle Phares, inspired by the flora, fauna, and quiet color palette of the San Luis Valley. The project unfolded over multiple years, guided by iterative adjustments, careful restraint, and founder-driven vision.

Operating within a modest footprint and existing layout parameters, the Lunar Lounge posed spatial and operational constraints typical of an adaptive reuse project. The lounge was developed alongside the growth of Mellow Moon Lodge, a 15-key boutique motel, funded incrementally as the business expanded, allowing the design to breathe, adapt, and mature over time into a space that feels both intentional and refined.

 
 
 

Collaborators & Craft

The character of Lunar Lounge is shaped through materiality and craftsmanship:

  • Interior Design by Lauren Coleman (Mellow Moon Lodge and The Sursy)

  • Banquette Design by Jerri Hobdy of Meno Home

  • Banquette fabrication by Ryan Methfessel

  • Upholstery by Emily Lloyd of Violet Mae Upholstery

  • Design and Project Management by Alicia Rose Pastore

  • Moon Wall execution by Animas Artisans

  • Original artwork by Noelle Phares

Outcome

Lunar Lounge opened to the public in April 2025 as a specialty coffee shop and bake house, serving Queen City Collective Coffee and scratch-made pastries that have quickly positioned it as a destination within the San Luis Valley.

Within a compact footprint, the project demonstrates how disciplined spatial planning and layered materiality can coexist. Pattern mixing and a palette drawn from the surrounding landscape establish visual depth, while integrated storage, custom cabinetry, and precise workflow zoning ensure seamless bar operations.

Every square inch is intentional. Equipment placement, circulation, and service flow are resolved to support high-volume espresso service and scratch baking without visual congestion. The result is a commercially rigorous small space that performs efficiently while maintaining a strong design identity; technically resolved, materially expressive, and optimized for scale.