The Amasa Brainerd House, built in 1784, is an example of the late Colonial Cape Style. Over the centuries, there have been numerous modifications and expansions. Signifying a present-day re-birth, the owner converted this house into a unique coffee house and café, opening in 2013. In turn, a shed-form addition was designed by FA along with renovations. The main entry gable and shed façades display a playful juxtaposition of clapboard siding with wide horizontal and vertical trim boards, coherently complementing the vocabulary of the original house. This composition is painted with a color palette of light green, yellow, dark blue, and light blue, and this scheme wraps around all of the building facades. As part of the design by FA, two large-scale cats, centered at the gable, act as welcoming symbolic gestures. This culmination serves to establish a visual sense of identity, offering a preliminary taste of the surprises within.

The interior of the coffee house reveals an honest expression of historical remnants including exposed wood timber joists and beams, wide board plank floors and walls, and fireplaces. A prevalent cat theme is also whimsically and playfully celebrated with a cornucopia of feline artworks, figurines, toys, and all types of related décor. All of this serves as a wonderful blend that creates a welcoming informal ambiance that inspires one’s memory and stimulates the imagination. This shop is truly a community place for art groups, gallery art, music events, poetry readings, book signings, presentations, and meetings/events for local organizations and social groups.