At TRIO we get the initial store design ideas from our clients in every stage of gestation. So it wasn’t entirely surprising when Dimples, an upscale baby furniture boutique in New York, came to us with only a rough sketch of a floor with dimensions penciled in the margins and a photo of the existing storefront. Head designer Jeff Grant quickly accessed similar projects in TRIO’s portfolio and started a phone and email dialogue with the client. Sketches and elevations were exchanged via email and from this dialogue Jeff designed a stylish, contemporary showcase for high-end cribs, bassinets, strollers, and high chairs.

Old New York brick buildings and their idiosyncratic design can prove to be problematic when it comes to retail lay-out, and this project was no exception. The offending “feature” in this case of was a brick 68”-wide opening bisecting the middle of the space. The opening couldn’t be widened to make it an uninterrupted space, so the TRIO design team turned a negative into a positive by placing a custom fixture centered just on the other side of the opening. The opening became a doorway, the floor fixture inviting customers to pass through to the back of the store, subtly elevating the product therein by its implied exclusivity.

Per the modern, urban design, the color palette tended towards light, mild hues, and plenty of wood finishes were used throughout. Open shelves were designed where traditional store design may have suggested cubbies. This lent versatility to merchandising and contributed toward creating an impression of space.

The rough sketch we started with should be fully three-dimensional and open for business sometime early this fall.