itself to snuggling up with a good book, meeting with confidantes or just plain hanging out with friends. Rock Island Coffee not only serves the best in fresh roasted coffee and natural teas in the warm atmosphere of a west-coast style cafe, it is a unique roasting house similar to those hip coffee chains found in North America. The locale, which is rented to Rock Island Coffee owners Miss Susannah Frith and Mr. Mark Kaufmann, was formerly an old machine garage-type warehouse. Tranquility Studio architect Mr. John Kaufmann designed the coffee bar as well as the stair ramp leading to the loft, which houses the raw coffee beans and office. He also designed the layout of the cafe, noted Mr. Kaufmann. Contractors involved in the construction process included F.

Lewis Maintenance Ltd., Dennis Cherry's Custom Carpentry and James Constable Design. External conduits for the electricals were used to give the cafe an industrial feel, said Mr. Kaufmann. "It's very unique for a retail space to showcase the externals,'' he said. "But it goes with the look of the roaster.'' The coffee house, which is painted in a cloth ragged effect of golden yellow and beet-red hues, is reminiscent of old European cafes.

Decorated by freelance artists/designers Mr. James Cooper and Miss Fritha Wolsak, the cafe sports a sundry of alternative items. A paper-mache fish head once used by the Society of Arts in a City Hall production enhances one corner. And old bottles dug up from the depths of the sea dress up the window ledge. Various abstract art pieces on loan from local artist Miss Cynthia Kirkwood and the Masterworks Society adorn the walls. "The idea is to keep the cafe interior different and exciting -- there will be a turnover of art,'' said Mr. Kaufmann, adding that Wolfworks will also loan the cafe a hand-painted bench. One of the decor highlights is the coffee bar counter designed by Miss Wolsak, who used various Bermuda leaves as stencils. She also created a conversation piece in a small table top which she covered in a collage-type surface. Mr. Kaufmann said some of the furniture found in the cafe was acquired at auctions and other pieces were donated. Regardless, the diverse selection adds to the cafe's appeal. Rock Island Coffee provides fresh roasted coffee, friendly service and best of all, the atmosphere is truly unique. PHOTO DIFFERENT BY DESIGN -- Mr. Mark Kaufmann and Miss Susannah Frith at work in their new cafe. Unique decorative effects can be seen in the coffee bar counter, which has been stencilled with Bermuda leaves.