Creative Studio Case Study:
Breakfast for Dinner
A creative studio office, reimagined in bold blue with Kokeena
When Breakfast for Dinner Studios bought a former factory building in Chicago for their headquarters, they weren’t just looking for more room. They wanted to create a space that would support a growing creative business while reflecting the bold visual identity that defines their work. Known for colorful, imaginative projects for brands including Rice Krispies Treats, Cheez-Its, Pringles, Intuit, and Mailchimp, the studio needed an office that felt just as distinctive as the campaigns they produced.
Because the team was designing a working studio rather than a traditional office, they needed storage that could be flexible, practical, and of course visual. In other words, not the usual off-the-shelf solution.
For the cabinet boxes, the team chose IKEA. The system offered the versatility they needed for office storage, with flexible interior configurations that could accommodate supplies, equipment, and the day-to-day needs of their creative workspace. But while the functionality was there, the standard fronts weren’t. For a studio built around color and visual storytelling, the default options didn’t feel like the right fit.
That’s where Kokeena came in.
The Kokeena Difference
Using IKEA boxes as the foundation, Kokeena helped Breakfast for Dinner Studios create a more tailored solution with our Paint-It-Yourself slab fronts (available for IKEA Sektion, Akurum and Godmorgon) and custom-sized PIY panels for shelving and casework. The Paint-It-Yourself option helped keep the project budget-conscious, offered a quicker turnaround, and gave the creative studio some serious flexibility to create a finish that felt right for the space.
Kokeena’s involvement also went beyond simply supplying fronts. The project included custom-sized panels that allowed the team to build out shelving and other casework, helping the final design feel more integrated and less off-the-shelf. As the renovation took shape, the cabinetry plan evolved along with it.
Once installed, the fronts and panels were painted a vivid cobalt blue, transforming the cabinetry into one of the standout features of the office. The final design combines closed storage with open shelving and uses color in a way that feels bold, intentional, and completely at home in a creative studio setting.
In fact, the cabinetry has even become part of the backdrop for the studio’s photo shoots, proving that in the right environment, storage doesn’t have to fade into the background.
This project is a good example of what makes the IKEA-and-Kokeena combination so effective: practical storage on the inside, a more customized expression on the outside, the flexibility to create something that feels specific to the space from the start, and a team that will help you walk through your project.
It truly is the Kokeena difference.
Big, bold, and blue
Design solutions for every business.
By working with Kokeena, Breakfast for dinner achieved a space that is both beautiful and durable. For business owners, designers, developers, and even small commercial businesses like coffee shop owners, this project shows how Kokeena can bridge design vision with practical needs. Whether the goal is to create a welcoming clinic, a lively café, or a branded office space, Kokeena can help businesses like yours get the most out of their budget while helping transform your space.
STATS
Name of project: Breakfast for Dinner
Completion date: Summer 2025
Square footage: Studio 12,000 square feet
Products:
Kokeena Cabinet Doors: PIY
Photography:
Breakfast for Dinner