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It isn’t hard to gauge where Geraldine Ridaura stands on Millennial Pink. The buzzy color has come to define her brand, Holy Matcha—a viral cafe San Diegans have come to worship for its immune-boosting beverages and Instagrammable design. The hue plays a pivotal role at Holy Matcha’s inaugural location, and its new outpost in San Diego’s East Village follows suit. Except for this time, the palette is distinctly minimal.

“The new location is an evolved, more mature take on the North Park cafe, but the use of the color pink and plants keeps it all cohesive and on-brand,” says Ridaura. “At the same time, the custom pink terrazzo really sets the two locations apart.”

Once again, Ridaura tasked Bay Area architectural firm HOMEWORK with the design. Principals Susan and Ben Work championed the brand’s trademark color through a detailed approach.

Pink can either be over the top or calming, depending on how it’s used,” says Ben. “Unlike the first location where we paired Holy Matcha’s signature pink with complementary colors and accents for a more maximalist vibe, we chose to go a monochrome route for [this space].”

Even though pink takes precedence, there are plenty of sweet surprises to discover while you sip your drink. Read on for a few of our favorite design lessons and get the ’grammable look to-go.

Stadium-style seating looks especially chic in pink terrazzo…

Swathed in a delicate pink terrazzo, the store’s free-form terrace seating lets matcha lovers navigate the small space without worrying about bumping into a stranger’s chair. “I love every inch of this space, but hands down, my favorite design element is the stadium seating,” says Ridaura. “It brings me so much joy when the cafe is full of people and they’re staggered comfortably throughout the space just like we intended.”

The playful stone is accompanied by an equally whimsical Eskayel wall mural—a subtle nod to the lush forest of greenery that hangs above the bar.

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Pearl, Cedar and Moss ($239)
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Hey, faucets can be fun too…

In the wake of our current obsession with bright fixtures, we were delighted to discover a hot-pink hot water tap at the bar. The sharp surge of color is a low-risk, high-reward addition. A similar swap would look stunning in a streamlined bathroom that’s in need of a little variety.

Black, white, and pink make for an unsuspecting trio…

While the black-and-white bathroom is a bold departure from the rest of the space, Holy Matcha’s palette is not lost on the design. Millennial Pink seeps in through the grout and onto the toilet paper. But if that isn’t enough to put a smile on your face, the friendly faces that surround you will.

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Femme Mural, Drop It Modern ($99)
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Colorful dishes make for a happy kitchen…

Just because you take your morning tea routine seriously doesn’t mean your dishware has to reflect that. Bold kitchen accouterments look particularly fun when displayed on open shelving with a troop of greenery. The maximalist color feels decidedly minimalist when it is used in clean silhouettes.

“The space is rich and warm because of the minimal amount of materials and colors; it’s not jarring or overwhelming to the senses,” says Susan. “Millennial pink is definitely here to stay!”

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Pink Porcelain Espresso Cup by Twenty Nine Cups, Etsy ($13)
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