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Designing your own kitchen is like being a kid in a candy store. After so many years of living with other people’s decisions—from parents to landlords to previous owners—having the privilege to pick the materials is the grown-up version of selecting all your favorite treats. And if you’re looking for inspiration that really captures this sentiment, stop by Glace Candy in New York City. It’s the viral new sister shop to Glace—the adjoining ice cream parlor known for its seasonal soft serve and signature hot chocolate with a “marshmallow halo.”
Set on the Upper East Side near the Guggenheim Museum, the shops offer a setting that’s decidedly upscale for such kid-friendly fare. The design was completed by Brooklyn-based studio Faber/Hughes to feel like a double scoop of 19th-century Parisian apothecary and historic New York institution. “We wanted the candy store to be a special little jewel box that fits into its Madison Avenue context of high-end boutiques and museums,” says co-founder Audrey Hughes.
The unexpected mix of walnut paneling and mint tiling alongside striped stone and cloud-like lighting makes this destination distinctive—every detail feels a little bit rebellious, in the best way. Since no one wants their kitchen renovation to come across as vanilla, we asked Hughes and co-founder Levi Shaw-Faber to share how they’d sprinkle Glace’s style at home.
Give the Fifth Wall the Attention It Deserves
Let’s be honest: Kitchen ceilings usually get the short end of the stick. But this sweet shop proves they deserve just as much attention as your backsplash or countertops. Here, a curved walnut ceiling isn’t just there for looks—it creates a cozy, almost retro vibe that feels intentional. And the real genius? The wood paneling forms a grid that perfectly frames each cylinder light, turning what’s normally an afterthought into the main event.
“Because the candy and ice cream shops have such limited space, we made sure the ceiling was as intentionally designed as the rest of the space so the stores would feel all-encompassing,” Shaw-Faber says. “We wanted the two ceilings—the oculus with the fluffy pendants and the wood grid with mounted cylinders—to feel like inverses of each other, with one having the lighting behind the ceiling plane and the other having it in front.”
Take this as your sign to stop ignoring your kitchen ceiling. Match it to your cabinetry for a built-in feel, add trim to create texture, or just give it a fresh coat of paint that ties into the room’s palette. And whatever you do, swap your builder-grade can lights for mounted cylinders that actually add style. Because yes, lighting can (and should) double as decor.
Try Tile and Stone That Steal the Show
Look closely at the mint tiles surrounding the different candy options: Can you spot the crackle glaze? “The balance of glossy tile and matte walnut created a nice contrast, and we loved that the tile looked a bit candy-like,” Hughes notes. The trick is choosing a classic shape with just enough texture to make it pop.
If you really want to turn up the personality, look to the other side of the store. The ice cream counter’s striped stone facade feels bold but totally doable at home. “Stripes of stone could be great in a kitchen as the front of an island or even on the floor,” says Shaw-Faber. “Just make sure to use stones that are strong and less likely to crack, since cutting them into thin strips makes them less rigid.” Translation: Reach for granite, quartzite, basalt, or soapstone to get the look and keep it practical.
Make Durable Feel Daring
While Glace was designed to have an elevated feel, Hughes and Shaw-Faber made sure that the materials they chose could withstand the more mundane concerns of foot traffic, ice cream spills, and other everyday challenges. Their mix of stone, stainless steel, lacquer-coated wood, and tile would be just as forgiving in a home—but can be installed in a way that’s equally exciting.
“The kitchen is one of the most important spaces in a home, yet it also needs to be the most durable, so using non-porous materials can give a beautiful kitchen longevity,” Shaw-Faber says. Turns out, the real cherry on top is a finish that lasts.