Using Interior Paint to Bring a Vision to Life
Location: Glen Waverley, Melbourne, VIC
Design Partner: Studio Esteta
Paint Used: Taubmans Pure Performance Interior Paint
An inviting interior can elevate a dining experience, enhancing the atmosphere and supporting the restaurant’s identity. That’s exactly what the Workshop Brothers team set out to achieve with their fourth café location in Glen Waverley.
Owners Joe La and brothers Nolan and Brian Taing brought in Melbourne design studio Studio Esteta to reimagine a dated space. Their aim was to create an interior that felt both familiar and new—reflecting their contemporary Asian menu and operating seamlessly from morning coffee to evening service.
The Challenge: Aesthetic Appeal with Long-Term Durability
The design drew inspiration from retro Chinese restaurants, with a focus on creating a space that felt nostalgic yet modern. Colour selection was critical—not just for visual impact but for setting the tone of the venue. Surfaces also had to stand up to the demands of a busy café and restaurant, making a durable interior wall paint essential.
The Solution: Taubmans Pure Performance
To bring the vision to life, Studio Esteta used Taubmans Pure Performance—a low VOC, high-durability paint suited for commercial interiors. Known for its smooth finish and strong coverage, it was the ideal choice to deliver lasting results in a high-traffic environment.
Two carefully chosen colours helped define the mood:
Rose Nude was applied to walls, ceilings, and doors for a soft, cohesive backdrop.
Garnet added depth to joinery, bathroom areas, and the maître d’ station.
These tones reinterpreted traditional Chinese restaurant colours, balancing boldness with subtlety and working beautifully with the brass and marble finishes.
The Result: A Modern, Heritage-Inspired Interior
The final design blends contemporary styling with cultural references, using colour and materials to create a space that feels warm, familiar and modern. Details like vinyl seating and high-gloss finishes were reintroduced in a way that feels elevated, not outdated.
With the help of Taubmans Pure Performance paint, the Workshop Brothers Glen Waverley café now delivers a design that’s not only visually striking but also built to last.
