The Sherrill and Williams Cafeteria
(S & W Cafeteria)

52-58 Patton Avenue

1929
 

The front of the S&W Cafeteria is an exotic arrangement of geometrical and classical motifs. Terra cotta and brass inlays add to the already complex patterning. Douglas Ellington characteristically avoided creating a flat roofline through the use of teal colored tiles set in a bold zigzag pattern.the main entryway is flanked by two curved arches with windows. To the left, is a second entrance to the left is framed with a tile border of blue chevrons. Throught the building, Ellington makes use of abstracted floral and feather designs. Inside the main dining room is elegantly designed. Twin staircases descend from an upper level down to a check patterned, teal colored tile floor. Mirrors and snowflake glass screens are the chief decorative elements. Ellington felt that the result was an outstanding integration of style, color and texture that expressed “deliberate gaiety” appropriate to the age-old ritual of people dining together.

Photograph and drawing of the S&W Cafeteria collection of the Asheville Art Museum. All rights reserved. Images and text may not be reproduced by any means without prior permission of the Asheville Art Museum.