Yet we wanted to cultivate our own identity. Joshua Tree has a common aesthetic, and we didn’t want to be disharmonious or out-of-place with the region. We designed it to be an intentionally approachable yet elegant atmosphere. We wanted the space to capture the desert’s essence while becoming a haven for locals and wayfarers. What were your references of inspiration? It’s always busy, and it has become a watering hole for the area. It attracts the neighborhood, local college students, and travelers passing by. It’s in the middle of nowhere and truly is an oasis in the desert. I’ve been surprised by the community that the bar has created. What stands out to you the most now that you’ve finished it? We repurposed salvaged materials, such as Douglas fir lumber, for outdoor furniture, tabletops, concrete pillars, and doors to lend to the area’s rugged feel while staying within budget. We chose clay-based materials and sourced furniture from Mexican designers and fabricators to celebrate the desert’s unique charm. What colors and materials are central to the visual identity? Our vision was to maintain the authentic 1952 architectural style of the desert dwelling’s facade while harmoniously integrating it into the surrounding landscape. We had to work with limited funds to turn a shoebox-sized building into a beautiful, welcoming space. Our challenge was transforming a small space into a functional and aesthetically pleasing bar. Practice Location: Bay Area, Wine Country Here, we took a closer look at the project.

The refined interior is tempered with a playful menu: alongside pour-overs and flat whites, the bar also serves coffee negronis and irish coffee all morning long before transitioning to a full evening cocktail menu. An alabaster façade furnished with bespoke Douglas fir seating gives way to an interior resplendent with handmade tiles laid to reference the captivating desert sunsets. Siblings Brit Epperson of Studio Plow and Barrett Karber of Grain Construction were commissioned to transform a 1952-era residence that was painted a severe shade of red into a light-filled, all-day hangout evocative of its desert surroundings. Dare to blink while driving west towards Joshua Tree on California’s 29 Palms Highway, and you just might miss café-bar Màs o Menos.

Mas o menos restaurant