Set in a turn-of-the century premises that formerly housed
an antiques warehouse in Pasadena, the new showroom for Décor is positioned as
a contemporary take on the traditional furniture and artifacts store concept.
The 7,500-squarefoot space is defined by its large open interior with exposed
brick walls and a restored curved ceiling with sandblasted wood trusses that
give this place its unique architectural character. On the exterior, big
glass-fronted widows highlight the façade of this freestanding building.
Within this idyllic setting, the retail showroom aspires to
create a destination gallery atmosphere for presenting an extensive collection
of handcrafted rustic furniture, artifacts and soft furnishings that are
primarily sourced from the Indian subcontinent.
Although the main space has a few designated areas for
permanent use, the walls and the floor space have been designed in such a way
as to allow for easy alteration of the layout and groupings of the products on
sale. For this reason, the retail floor space is reconstructed into a series of
“stage sets” to create flexible combinations and encouraging customer
interaction within this eclectic shell.
The interior has been intentionally kept simple, light and
neutral, to accommodate the amalgamation of styles and materials of the
merchandise on display. A colorful wall located in the middle of the space,
painted in a strong fuchsia hue, adds a visual and sensory interest to capture
the eye. Behind this wall, a former bathroom space has been transformed into a
textile room to display the extensive collection of colorful and eye-catching
handmade fabrics that forms an inclusive collection of this showroom. A medley
of different materials, from polished concrete floors and distressed wood
shelves to rustic steel frames, has been selectively used to assist in
providing a warm and inviting atmosphere.
To accommodate De•Cor’s collection of
handmade fabrics and small-sized offerings and paraphernalia, custom-made
fixtures using stained plywood material and raw steel have been positioned
along the perimeter walls and inside the textile room.
AkarStudios also created the branding and graphic design, in
addition to the interiors, and the end result is a retail venue that mixes old
and new to a great effect.