Project
A wine-route cafe in Stellenbosch used Banquette Wrap and Ceiling Cloud Felt to quieten their busy booths and add warmth to the space.
This wine-route cafe in Stellenbosch is known for its big windows, high ceilings and tiled floors, typical of the Winelands. When the morning rush hit, sound bounced between hard surfaces and made conversation tricky, especially around the banquette booths that fill up fast with families and groups.
Staff mentioned that echo and clatter were putting people off lingering, so the owners wanted something that made the booths cosier and easier on the ear, but still fit in with the pared-back look. They had seen felt in other Joburg and Cape Town cafes and wanted to try it for themselves.
We suggested a two-part approach for this layout: Banquette Wrap for the booths themselves, and Ceiling Cloud Felt above to catch more sound before it could bounce down onto tables. The Banquette Wrap gives each seat back a soft, tactile surface and a bound edge for durability, with a choice of calming colours that sit well against natural timber.
Ceiling Cloud Felt was fitted above the booth runs, suspended on a discrete rail system. This keeps the look light and airy, with no heavy bulkheads. The combination was picked to suit Stellenbosch’s mix of sunny winter days and busy festival weekends: felt softens reverb, is easy to keep clean, and brings warmth to what would otherwise be a chilly spot on cold mornings.
After three months, staff reported that the booths felt more welcoming and the overall noise level had dropped, even when the cafe was busy. Customers were no longer having to raise their voices, which kept the mood relaxed.
The felt surfaces take knocks and crumbs well. Regular brushing and a quick vacuum between seatings kept everything looking sharp. No mustiness or stains were noticed, but we did remind the team to keep an eye out for any spills and to use a cool, damp cloth for quick spot cleaning.
If you run a cafe or small restaurant with hard floors and open ceilings, felt can make a real difference to customer comfort without taking over the look of your space. Banquette Wrap works especially well where booth backs double as acoustic panels.
Ceiling Cloud Felt is easy to install and can be moved or expanded if you revise the layout. Ask for sample swatches to check colour in your light, and get our team to advise on a care routine that suits your turnover and climate.
Verified Google reviews
