Tide, Table, Umbrella: Coastal Cues with Richmond Roots
Factory buildings are getting a second act in Richmond, VA. Once an old horse stable, Ballast is now home to a few new tenants. Each space feels distinct, yet tethered to one another by materiality and smart interior design moves.
In Richmond’s Scott’s Addition Historic District—where factory buildings are getting a second act—an old horse stable has been cleverly transformed into something much more delicious. The building’s newest identity, Ballast, is now home to a few new tenants: Yellow Umbrella, Slack Tide, and Cirrus Vodka While all three now share the same address, it was the local team at 510 Architects who designed Yellow Umbrella and Slack Tide, bringing them to life through a thoughtful mix of historic character, coastal references, and strong visual identities. Each space feels distinct, yet tethered to one another by materiality and smart design moves.
And about that name: “Ballast” isn’t just a catchy umbrella term (pun very much intended)—it’s also a reference to the stones used to stabilize ships. In transatlantic trade cities like Richmond, these stones often wound up repurposed in the built environment. Instead of covering up the past, they let it shine through. The team leaned into the building’s bones—highlighting original textures like exposed cobblestone and allowing those weathered, tactile details to steer the story. That connection to the sea and to place—both literal and symbolic—became the design thread that pulls everything together.
Slack Tide: Indirectly Nautical
Slack Tide leans into its maritime inspiration—but not in a kitschy, fishnet-on-the-walls kind of way. The overhead wood structure hints at the underside of a ship, while natural tones and organic textures underfoot suggest the sea floor. It’s calm, cohesive, and just salty enough.
Those coastal cues carry into the furniture. Sigsbee barstools, finished with subtle marina-inspired details, echo ship rigging without being too on the nose. Upholstery acts as subtle nod to yellow—a color borrowed from its sister restaurant next door—pops up in unexpected ways, like a wink to the more casual concept across the courtyard.
The layout keeps things flexible and airy. A roll-up door connects the raw bar to the courtyard, where Sadie II Outdoor chairs and stools in a dusty blue hue create a chromatic bridge between inside and out. The palette stays neutral, letting the furniture do just enough talking.
Yellow Umbrella: Bright, Bold, Playfully Literal
If Slack Tide is a polished sailor, Yellow Umbrella is its carefree cousin in flip-flops. Already beloved as a Richmond seafood market, Yellow Umbrella’s brand identity was well established—which gave 510 Architects a strong foundation to build from. The design approach focused on accessibility, flow, and cleanability—plus a major outdoor moment to anchor the entrance.
That moment? 510 Architects fully embraced the brand story: “it all started with a yellow umbrella,” as their site proudly proclaims, and made it the visual handshake of the property. Bright yellow Opla outdoor chairs and stools, paired with matching umbrellas, double down on the brand’s namesake in a way that’s literal, confident, and just plain fun.
Color wasn’t the only thing making a statement on the patio. Once the bright yellow boxes were checked, the next priority was weight—because what’s the point of a bold setup if it blows away with the first gust of wind? Bowen outdoor tables and benches brought both form and function, offering the warmth of wood-look HDPE slats and the kind of heft that stands up to foot traffic, weather, and whatever else Mother Nature decides to throw at it.
Built to Last—and Designed to Stand Out
Across the property, the design is doing a lot of quiet heavy lifting. From weather-hardy seating to finishes that can handle high-traffic weekends and high-tide humidity, every choice was made with longevity and personality in mind. The furniture plays a key role in telling each tenant’s story—Slack Tide’s calm neutrals and textural nods to the coast, Yellow Umbrella’s unapologetically sunny palette. Even without a sign, you know exactly where you are.
It’s a perfect example of what happens when strong branding meets thoughtful design: distinct spaces that hold their own but still feel connected. Just like ballast stones under a ship, the right foundation makes everything feel a little more grounded—even when the breeze picks up.
