Split is a city known for its good vibes, good weather, good food, and good drinks. Therefore, we were not at all surprised by the news that the "flower of the Mediterranean" is getting another top café, bl3nd. Locals will be especially delighted by the fact that this is not just another soulless place on the Riva, but a carefully designed and thoughtfully planned space in the Split 3 neighborhood.
"It’s a neighborhood that is alive, surrounded by faculties, offices, schools, and where many people live. It has a certain specific energy, but also a great lack of content of this type. That‘s exactly why it became clear to us that bl3nd is right where it should be, as a meeting place, a place for relaxation and inspiration for all generations," says Prosper Filipović, photographer and visual communications designer who embarked on this new business adventure with his twin brother Zoran.
It all actually started as Prosper’s desire for human contact. Namely, since his daily work is mostly digital, over time he started to miss a space where he could create and be surrounded by people. At first, he considered opening a photography studio, but soon realized that he actually prefers shooting in natural light and aesthetically pleasing interiors.
"Cafés have always been my everyday life, places where I socialize, work, photograph, and meet people. From this combination of interests and needs, the idea was born to open my own space where all of this would be combined. In a way, I feel like I’m opening my living room – a space where my friends, clients, and visitors will feel welcome, and I’ll be able to do what I love, without time and creative constraints. And as much as I love my job, I often jokingly used to say that one day I’d like to work in a bakery or a café," laughs the specialty coffee and matcha enthusiast whose wish has come true.
A diverse offer and a thoughtful interior
The very name bl3nd comes as a kind of homage to the café’s offer, where matcha, coffee, and cookies will prevail. The guiding thread throughout the project was balance, that is, the desire for every item on the menu to be carefully selected. Currently, they offer two types of matcha – one from the domestic brand Materia, which will be a permanent part of the offer, and limited series from brands such as New York’s Kettl. They prepare coffee from the Dutch brand A Matter Of Concrete, and in the diverse offer, alongside freshly squeezed orange juice and lemonade, you’ll also find German Fritz-Kola and Croatian kombucha Kultura. The café itself will be open on weekdays from 7 AM to 3 PM, while on Saturdays it will be a hit spot for morning coffee from 8 AM to 1 PM.
In addition to a different offer and an interesting location, what stands out the most is the interesting interior in neutral warm colors like brown, beige, and gray, with accents in green, blue, and red shades. This is thanks to Prosper himself, who first sought inspiration on Pinterest and in architectural magazines, until he realized that the best ideas come during the process.
"As we decorated the space piece by piece, ideas came spontaneously, through everyday situations, conversations, working with materials, and the space’s reactions to what we brought in. There was no strictly defined plan, but we tried to make sure everything we did was in harmony and that the space developed organically. In the end, everything fell into place. The space reflects that process: thoughtful, but not over-constructed, aesthetically consistent, but with enough freedom to breathe and live with time," explains the talented photographer who bought some of the furniture via Facebook Marketplace, but also in the popular Zara Home store.
However, the main pieces in the space are large lounge chairs from the Danish brand Frama paired with an aluminum table from the local architectural bureau Mijić Haklićka Studio. While selecting the furniture, he had the support of friends with whom he shares an aesthetic, but most of the decisions he made himself, following not only the vision of the space but also the feeling he wanted to achieve.
"I would especially highlight the stainless steel shelves that we designed ourselves and had made; they are very important to me because they bring an industrial but elegant touch. These shelves also have a functional role, serving as a small concept store within the café, where we will offer various products. The idea is for our guests to find inspiration for last-minute gifts or, if they wish, take a part of the bl3nd atmosphere home with them," says Prosper, who was actively involved in all the work during the decoration.
DIY decoration
Although he originally planned to hire someone to do the decoration on a turnkey basis, from architectural solution to execution, he realized that was out of his budget and decided to roll up his sleeves. So, with the help of friends, he tore down walls, painted woodwork, and decorated the interior. Professionals took care of installing drywall and walls, as well as all electrical and plumbing work, and it was also challenging to find the craftsmen who carried out the work.
"Although all that exhausted us, the feeling of satisfaction in the end is incomparable. For a first project of this type, I can honestly say that everything turned out better than we expected," admits the photographer, adding that they haven’t regretted this decision for a moment.
However, during the works, they encountered numerous obstacles. He recalled perhaps the "worst" incident, when he was truly disappointed with the situation and began to question the whole idea of a DIY approach to decorating.
"Halfway through the renovation, we decided to pour the floor ourselves using self-leveling compound, of course, all on the advice of friends, with carefully studied tutorials and precisely calculated quantities of material. Still, on the first day, we managed to cover only half the space. The next day, we quickly bought more compound, which, despite our best intentions, we applied so unevenly that it looks like it was planned that way. At first, the floor had a nice light gray color, but after varnishing, it became significantly darker. However, with time and once the space got its final look, that floor actually became one of my favorite elements, precisely because of its rawness and contrast with the perfect, carefully chosen furniture," says Prosper.
So, furnishing and preparing the space, which will open its doors on September 3, was a challenging process, but one that ultimately offers a sense of satisfaction, which the owner himself is extremely pleased with. "In the end, everything fell into place. The space reflects that process: thoughtful, but not over-constructed, aesthetically consistent, but with enough freedom to breathe and live with time," he concludes.
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