Shelving: | Ceiling: | Walls: | Photography by Kate Sears
Here at Farrow & Ball, we understand how colour and light can work together to create something almost magical. So we were thrilled to help designer Taavo Somer bring his vision for Little Goat to life.
This welcoming all-day cafe in Rhinebeck, New York, called for soft, subtle and endlessly chic shades. With a packed schedule, Taavo turned to our Virtual Colour Consultancy for help: proving that even over a video call, you can get expert advice on light, architecture and the perfect palette.
We spoke to Taavo about his journey, his collaboration with our Consultant – Alyssa Gray – and why decorating should delight all the senses.
Walls: | Ceiling:
Tell us about yourself and your design practice.
I'm a trained architect, and my early career gave me a deep respect for form, light, and materials. But over time, I found traditional architecture a bit limiting – it didn’t always offer the control or immediacy I was looking for creatively. That led me to hospitality design, where every element – from the layout to the music to the scent in the air – could be shaped as part of a complete experience.
How has your work within hospitality shaped your approach?
I approach each project not just as a designer, but as someone who’s deeply involved in how a place feels, functions, and brings people together. I’m drawn to the idea that every detail contributes to the feeling of a place. That means designing not just the space, but the plates, the glassware, the uniforms, the menus, the lighting, the music, even the matchbooks. I try to create immersive worlds – spaces that feel lived-in, layered, and emotionally resonant.
Walls: | Cabinetry:
Beam:
How does it compare to designing for a home?
I really only design projects for myself, so in many ways, they’re extensions of my own home – spaces I want to spend time in. I lean heavily on antiques and well-designed, timeless elements to bring warmth, richness, and a sense of history. That layering helps a space feel personal and lived-in from day one.
You collaborated with a Farrow & Ball colour consultant on this project. Can you tell us about your experience with our Colour Consultancy service and how it aided your process?
The space needed to feel beautiful all day – from breakfast through lunch into dinner – so I wanted a warm, monochrome palette that could shift with the light. I initially started with as the main color but wasn’t sure how many additional tones to bring in. Working with Alyssa from Farrow & Ball was a huge help. We explored a few bolder directions before ultimately landing on and . The combination has a golden, creamy quality that feels soft and inviting, and it glows beautifully from morning to night.
Walls & Door Trim: | Ceiling:
Bar Shelving & Panelling: | Panelling Behind Bar:
Your inspiration for the Little Goat project included Impressionists, Edgar Degas’s ballerinas, and Nancy Meyers films. How did the paint colours help bring these references to life?
I felt like the building – and the restaurant – wanted to be a lady. I kept having these soft, sunlit memories: glowing cream kitchens, women wrapped in beige cashmere cardigans over crisp white shirts, picking vegetables from a garden or strolling along the beach. At the end of the project, I realized all those memories were actually scenes from Nancy Meyers movies. The paint scheme ended up perfectly channeling that feeling – especially Meryl Streep’s character from It’s Complicated, Jane, cooking in her dreamy kitchen. That warm, effortless elegance became the emotional anchor for the space.
Do you have a favourite Farrow & Ball shade that perhaps wasn’t featured here?
When Alyssa and I were working through colors, we had in the mix for the bar. It’s a beautiful, rich tone, but ultimately it felt too far from the soft, monochrome color story we had landed on. Still, it stuck with me – it’s such a great archive color, and I’m already thinking about where I can use it next.
