Former laundromats seem to make the best coffee shops; case-in-point, the Coin Laundry located in the Melbourne suburbs of Armadale.
Old school friends, Matt Vero and Steve Rowley, put a quiet neighborhood on the map when they took it upon themselves to renovate the Coin Laundry, a one time launderette. They exposed an original brick wall, installed a tiled counter and painting the place white turning the forlorn space into a happening coffee join. The duo have since sold the cafe but it's still firmly on the map serving coffee and "brekkie" (Aussie speak for breakfast). For more information, go to Coin Laundry.
Images by Rebecca Hughes for Melbourne Cafes Photo Blog and also via Facebook.
Above: The day's menu is displayed on a roll of kraft paper above the doorway. Vero and Rowley's signature blue trim can be seen on the door trim.
Above: Vero and Rowley balanced the acoustics of the concrete floor by cleverly hanging linen tea towels from the ceiling providing a decorative touch while also serving as sound absorbers.
Above: An expanse of white subway tile is enlivened with an apple-green stripe.
Above: The ceiling wrapped in linens.
Above: The building's original name was kept by the owners. The brew of choice down-under? New Zealand's All Press coffee.
Above; Bentwood style chair at a reclaimed table.
Above: A wall-mounted wire frame supports a group of small vases displaying flowers.
Above: The owners attached wooden shelves to the original exposed brick wall.
Above: The original laundry exterior is painted white with a cobalt blue door.
Check out Vergennes Laundry, another former laundromat-cum-coffee-shop.
Explore more of our finds from down under in our City Guides.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original post ran on January 5, 2012.