“There’s a rock in the sink!” was the reaction shared last winter when the East Coast crew of an Eater newsletter gathered for brunch at Flynn McGarry’s Gem Home in lower Manhattan. While the group waited for a Danish-style breakfast, Francky Knapp slipped away to the restroom and returned, visibly excited about an unexpected discovery. Curious, the writer went to inspect the claim. The stone slab filled the entire industrial-look basin, with a rust-colored mineral streak at the point where the water struck.
Rocking the Space
Later, a writer met a friend for coffee at Rhythm Zero in Greenpoint, Brooklyn—an interior that resembles an art-gallery room more than a typical café. There, a sizable chunk of stone rested before a large mirror beside the counter. Another piece occupied the bathroom, positioned between the sink and the toilet, as if to catch the drips from hands heading to the dryer. Two venues featuring prominent rocks: coincidence or deliberate styling?
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The story continued at Pizza 4P’s, a meticulously crafted Vietnamese-inspired pizza concept that imported six literal boulders from a New Jersey stone dealer. That made three locations with notable rocks. The Brooklyn outpost, which opened in the summer, showcases the trend in an extreme form within its lofty, industrial-styled space.
“After we found the stones, we changed the position,” explained global branding director Kazuya Kubota during a tour. None of the rocks were cut; each was chosen for its innate dimensions and shape, and the restaurant was designed around them. Some boulders are supported by thick metal wires that press them against wooden wall frames supporting hanging plants. The biggest stone, about two tons and situated near the center of the room, beside a table, is said to weigh roughly the same as the pizza oven, according to Kubota. Together with the suspended greenery, the stones lend a hint of nature to an otherwise stark industrial setting, bridging Brooklyn’s urban vibe with the pastoral farms referenced on the menu.
Rhythm Zero owner Ivana Somorai cited Japanese design’s use of natural materials as inspiration for her own rock selections. She told the writer by email that she also wanted to introduce a “natural, unexpected element” into the café’s décor. The Greenpoint shop originally featured several stones, minimal seating, and a large tangerine tree. When she later revamped the interior, adding a sizable couch and more chairs, the rocks remained, largely because they were too heavy to relocate. “I knew they would not be leaving the space for a while,” Somorai wrote.
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Design Philosophy and Cultural Inspiration
Owners and designers apply similar logic to these stone placements. Ivana Somorai selected rocks for Rhythm Zero based on Japanese design principles. She aimed to introduce a natural, unexpected element to the interior. The stones were chosen for their innate dimensions, and the layout was adjusted to accommodate them. This approach contrasts with the typical modernist preference for smooth concrete and polished metal.
Design Philosophy and Cultural Inspiration
A representative confirmed that similar rock installations appear in restroom sinks at Gem Wine and Cove, indicating a shared design language across the brand’s venues.
