Layrd Design: Creating a Warm and Earthy Salon

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a warm and earthy salon design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Layrd Design.

Layrd Design completed this bespoke salon scheme for Douce. Douce is a 5 seat Salon, Cafe and Bar, this is a truly unique offering for Cambridge. The space is very welcoming with warm earthy tones throughout, from the walnut surfaces, concrete floor, dusty pink, deep greens and coffee colours. They designed a curved bar that was compact and functional to allow for both coffee service and alcoholic drinks. The front of this is clad in stainless steel as a nod to the former Air-Stream that was converted as a mobile salon and was located near to the new space.

What was the client’s brief? 

The brief was to take the clients vision for the space and turn this into a feasible and achievable scheme withing their budget. We were tasked with creating a unique salon space that also encompassed a small café/bar space which didn’t overlook or make the salon customers feel uncomfortable. Douce were looking to create a warm and welcoming setting so natural tones and earthy red and green tones were incorporated into the space.

The existing salon space was a mobile airstream located close to the new salon, they wanted the airstream to be included in the design in subtle ways as a hint to the heritage to the company.

What inspired the design of the project?

The existing airstreams and the values of Douce were big inspirations for the design. The need to create a calming, welcoming and timeless interior space.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The client had an incredible vision for their concept store. Creating this clear vision into a functioning design that met all of the necessary regulations, within budget, was a hurdle. Also creating a space that worked as a salon and a cafe at the same time and felt cohesive.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing the bespoke Joinery elements all come together and work as they had been designed to work. There is a lot of bespoke elements to the space and you only see it all come together when they are installed.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We have been finalists on two other occasions and the recognition and awareness from this is really great for our company growth and exposure. Company and team recognition for the completed project, as well as awareness of the concept store itself, Douce.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

We are immensely proud to be nominated for the third successive year, it has elevated our profile and brand exposure massively and contributed to our growth as a company.

Questions answered by Will Mayes, Director of Layrd Design.

In 2023, Marmo were invited to supply and install the Venetian Plaster finishes for the Louis Vuitton store in Heathrow’s Terminal 3. This was an exciting opportunity for us, and one of our most bespoke projects to date.

For this project, the client was specifying Venetian Plaster as an alternative to wallpaper, due to the strict fire regulations in place at Heathrow Airport. We were therefore tasked with creating Venetian Plaster finishes to replicate several wallpaper samples provided by the client, utilising innovative tools and application techniques in order to meet the project’s unique design requirements.

One of the finishes specified for the store ceiling was an adaptation of Louis Vuitton’s signature monogram canvas. This was a complex effect to replicate, requiring a custom stencil, a bespoke colour match, and application of two contrasting Venetian Plaster finishes, our Marmorino Spatula and Pitted Venetian Plaster.

Alongside this stencilled design, we created a several other bespoke samples including a glossy wave finish, a raked finish, a brushed metallic finish, and a finish replicating the effect of embossed metal, each specified for various wall areas and accent panels throughout the store.

Our works were phased over three months, from June to September 2023. The accent panels were delivered to our workshop in Epsom to be coated, whilst the remainder of the works were completed on site during night shifts. The ceiling design was particularly labour-intensive, involving the application of 175 sheets of vinyl stencil and the manual removal of 72,000 vinyl petals! The team worked tirelessly to meet tight deadlines, and the final phase of the installation was completed whilst the store was open and trading. Despite facing significant challenges, this was a hugely rewarding project to be involved with, and the results were remarkable.

As we reflect on this extraordinary project, we are reminded of what a privilege it is to collaborate with iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, and we look forward to many more successful partnerships in the future.

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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a minimalist laundry service design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, 4SPACE Design.

Whites sets the benchmark as a next-generation premium dry-cleaning and laundry service, known for its unwavering commitment to the highest standards of garment care. The design of the shop is pivotal in attracting customers and providing a comfortable and functional space. It plays a crucial role in creating an inviting atmosphere that reflects Whites’ commitment to excellence while ensuring customers feel at ease during their visits. The design embodies a refined and thoughtful approach creating Whites a modern and functional space that is both inviting and inspiring.

What was the client’s brief? 

The client’s brief for Whites was to create a distinctive dry-cleaning and laundry service located within Dubai Hills Mall that defies conventional expectations. The aim was to design an environment that encourages visitors to embark on a conceptual exploration while utilizing garment care services.

What inspired the design of the project?

The design of Whites was inspired by a fusion of modernity, tranquility, and sustainability. The carefully curated color palette of pristine white and serene sky blue imparts a harmonious and open ambiance. The mesmerising epoxy flooring, with its gradient of blue, mirrors the transformative nature of Whites’ services. Sustainability was a driving inspiration, evident in the selection of state-of-the-art equipment and a commitment to minimising environmental impact.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The toughest hurdle our team overcame during the project was achieving the delicate balance between minimalism and functionality. Ensuring that every chosen element held significance and purpose while maintaining a clean and uncluttered space required meticulous design and planning.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight of our team’s journey with Whites was the creation of the main counter, a sophisticated blend of Corian and acrylic accents. This elegant centerpiece, illuminated by gentle, indirect lighting, symbolises the intimate connection between our knowledgeable staff and valued patrons.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We entered the SBID Awards driven by the exceptional standout of Whites’ design. The project’s unique combination of conceptual exploration, sustainability, and its transformative impact on the garment care experience we believe in the project’s unique standout.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being chosen as an Award Finalist in the SBID Awards is a testament to the remarkable standout of Whites’ design. It reaffirms our commitment to innovative and purposeful design that leaves a lasting impression. This recognition elevates our reputation in the design community and underscores our dedication to sustainability and excellence, enhancing our appeal to potential clients and partners.

Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Co-Founder and Design Director at 4SPACE Design.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a neutral and biophilic salon design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Cocoon & Bauer.

Additional Lengths, a leading hair extension and hair care products brand based in Teesside, sought to relocate their salon and store from their original site on the outskirts of Stockton to a more central location in the town centre. They approached Cocoon & Bauer with a straightforward yet powerful brief: to create a unique and awe-inspiring ‘Super Salon’ that had never been seen before in the region. The client wanted their new building in Wellington Square to be stripped back to its bare bones, creating a breath taking and unforgettable environment which would leave customers in awe the moment they walked through the door.

What was the client’s brief? 

Our client approached us with a brief of bringing their vision to life and designing a space that was functional for Additional Lengths. Previously, Additional Lengths had a retail store and a salon, but these spaces were separated. Our task was to combine the two spaces, allowing them to expand their retail and salon space.

Photo backdrops were an important factor to the space, which will be changed every season and will allow clients to get their photographs taken in front of different backdrops for social media with their new hair. Lighting was an important feature that the client requested, as it was important for the space to be appropriately lit for purpose, but also to allow each bespoke element to become a feature. The overall aesthetics needed to hit the brief of being modern, clean, and neutral but reflect pops of colour from the branding.

What inspired the design of the project?

The beginning of any project is so exciting – it’s the stage where we can lay all our initial ideas on the table and start sketching on a blank plan. We got the layout to work and then we started to add some meat to the bones. To keep the space neutral, we used a lot of oak in the space, which compliments the neutral tones and allows the pinks and purples throughout the interior to pop. With the space having high ceilings, we knew the display and salon area had to make a real impact. To contrast the neutrals, the design also features greenery and introduces biophilic design. Quirky features such as the ‘Fuel Bar’ and the ‘Additional Lengths’ phone box added a fun element – (unfortunately, if you call AL the phone box doesn’t ring).

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Due to the concrete flooring of the space, we couldn’t move the services or amend the fall of the pipe work. We added a step up to the backwash area, so this coincided with the plumbing. The backwash area sits on a step up, which zones off this area and makes it a real feature.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

I have a few highlights, there were a lot of bespoke elements (pretty much everything) to this project and seeing this project stage by stage, was so exciting! Our team going in at the end and cleaning, staging, and making final touches just made the whole project complete. Seeing the Additional Lengths team’s reaction was also a highlight, as this had been kept a secret from most! Having happy clients is one of the best feelings.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We wanted to showcase this project and enter the SBID awards to show off our hard work that we are very proud of.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being a finalist is a huge deal for all of us – we were all so excited when we got the news. We’re very thrilled to attend the awards and be part of this opportunity.

Questions answered by Casey Hall, Interior Designer at Cocoon & Bauer.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a traditional and tranquil retail design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Aurora Design.

By using bamboo as the main theme, Jin Tea creates a modern retail environment for tea. The projection of bamboo leaves sets a serene atmosphere, while varying heights of bamboo leaves and slabs and bamboo shadow glass walls, adding texture and an oriental charm. Transitioning through the bamboo shadow creates a deep landscape, with the design integrating modern and traditional elements, hidden functionalities, and an enhanced sense of dimension. Jin Tea embodies the dynamic vitality and charm of traditional culture.

What was the client’s brief? 

The client wants to create a wonderfully blended tea retail space infused with Eastern culture, offering a harmonious integration of tradition and modernity, and providing visitors with a tranquil and emotionally resonant experiential environment.

What inspired the design of the project?

Eastern Elegance and Balance:
We emphasize the infusion of Eastern elegance into the design, utilising elements like bamboo shadows and green lighting to create a sense of beauty rooted in Eastern culture. Simultaneously, the article underscores the significance of balance by integrating ancient civilisations with modern aesthetics, thereby crafting a romantic and joyful space that offers urban dwellers a relaxing environment.

Feminine Perspective and Emotional Expression:
We have honed an ethereal beauty from a feminine perspective, projecting emotional perception. The design strives for simplicity and understated elegance, conveying a sense of inner calm and contentment while resonating with the modern urban dweller’s yearning for nature and tranquility.

Modern Interpretation of Tea Culture:
We endeavor to draw inspiration from Yunnan’s rich tea culture, intertwining traditional tea heritage with contemporary space to present fresh design concepts. By eschewing conventional embellishments in the tea space, we create a pleasant and tranquil ambiance, allowing individuals to experience serenity and relaxation amidst the bustling cityscape.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The design challenge lies in seamlessly integrating traditional tea culture with modern aesthetics while catering to diverse market demands. Among these, the material aspect challenge involves identifying materials that can effectively depict bamboo leaf shadows and bamboo silhouettes, as well as combining the bar counter’s slate and the green bamboo shadow glass wall, ensuring texture and a natural effect. On the other hand, understanding market demands requires us to fully consider consumers’ experiential and emotional triggers in the tea space, while providing personalised shopping experiences. Timing and communication are also challenges, seizing the right timing in design execution and thorough communication with clients to ensure alignment between design direction and expected goals. In facing these challenges, creativity and innovation will be key factors for success.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The innovation of this project lies in its ingenious fusion of traditional tea culture and modern design. Through the projection and interplay of bamboo leaf shadows, an ethereal and tranquil atmosphere is crafted, imparting consumers with the serene and distant tranquility of nature. Moreover, the bar counter combines rock slabs and green bamboo shadow glass walls, infusing an Oriental charm that enriches the space with tactile richness and natural variation. Expansive installations of bamboo-mimicking hard materials envelop the surroundings, creating a deep and immersive scenic arrangement that imparts a sense of dimensionality and dynamic “illusions.” Utilising a minimalist approach with concise leaf-like contours and gradient green lighting, an aesthetic of understated simplicity is established between reality and illusion. This distinctive design combines tea culture and modern aesthetics, yielding fresh outcomes in the market and captivating consumers seeking unconventional experiences.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

SBID International Design Award is a highly regarded international design awards, participation allows our work to gain broader international recognition and exposure. It enables our design creations to undergo professional evaluation, offering feedback from experts and peers. This helps us understand the strengths of our design and areas for improvement, fostering personal growth and enhancement. SBID International Design Award’s ceremony, exhibitions, and events also provide designers with a platform to engage with peers, industry professionals, and potential clients. This can lead to the emergence of new business opportunities and collaborative partnerships.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

The shortlisted entries are showcased globally, offering an opportunity to capture the attention of industry professionals, media, and potential clients. Winning this award can serve as a source of pride for the team, boosting confidence and bestowing us with honor. By shortlisted in high-level design competitions like SBID International Design Awards, we can set an example for the entire design industry, propelling its advancement and elevating design standards.

Questions answered by Yang Xuewan, Chief Designer and Founder of Aurora Design.

London’s Carnaby Street is famous worldwide as home to Britain’s most iconic names in fashion and popular culture, so when progressive fashion brand RIXO paired up with Karndean Designflooring to design its latest store the result was always going to be effortlessly stylish and elegant.

One of the coolest destinations associated with 1960s London, Carnaby was, and still remains, the epicentre of culture and lifestyle, from ground-breaking fashion brands such as Mary Quant, Vivienne Westwood and Cranks vegetarian restaurant to underground music bars which hosted future stars including The Who and The Rolling Stones.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

In this week’s interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Retail Design category, L’Atelier Five, Jasmine Bagaria talks about portraying the brand’s heritage in a modern way, using technology to aid storytelling, and the challenges of working in a pop-up space.

The team elevated the brand’s assets through digital and luxury art installations in an immersive digital tunnel, which portrayed the rich heritage and storytelling of the Panthère. 

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

The brief was to create an interactive and luxury experience in the Harrods Exhibition windows. Celebrating the story and heritage of Panthère de Cartier through a series of experiential rooms and playful takeaways. We used the internal Cartier guidelines to start the initial storytelling and then elevated the experience in true LA5 style. Pushing the boundaries and showing the client how we can create an impactful and modern pop-up.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

The most challenging part of this project was having to design during a lockdown. Most of the design was done over zoom meetings and phone calls whilst we were all under government orders to stay at home. This was the first project where we had to consider social distancing, covid screens and general covid safety into the design. It was a completely new scope to introduce and of course we wanted to ensure the features moulded well with the concept and didn’t seem an afterthought.

Another challenge was to develop the strong heritage of the Panthere de Cartier and showcase the assets in a modern and immersive way. We had a lot of assets to work with and we wanted to create an area for engaging with them, that allowed the story to shine but in a contemporary way. We came up with the infinity tunnel and turned the assets into an impactful digital timeline that took over the space. Using a series of digital tiles and mirror, we managed to create the first ever digital room in the Harrods exhibition windows. As it was the first, there were also some challenges in terms of production. However we worked closely with all parties involved to ensure perfect execution.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

We are honoured to have won the award as it shows our hard work, dedication and passion for what we do. As a business it has inspired us to continue to go further and push to create unique experiences.

The design of the space uses a lot of digital elements and installations. How do you think technology can help tell the brand’s story and connect with the customers?

The use of digital allows you to showcase content in new and exciting ways. Compiling all the assets in a dynamic, moving visual, that pulls people in to explore. You only have a few moments to catch someone’s attention and playing with these elements creates more intrigue than plain text.

What are some considerations of working on a pop-up space design? What are the biggest challenges and how do you overcome them?

We always want to provide a 360 experience, so the visitor can take home a piece of the pop up with a memorable takeaway. Whether through branded giveaways or bespoke photo moments.

It can be challenging at times to translate the Brand guidelines into a space that has their own guidelines. We love to push the boundaries and ensure the pop-up is unique and stands out as a brand activation. Hence why we work closely with all parties to create the ultimate experience.

How do you hope Panthère de Cartier design will impact the customer? What impression are you hoping to leave?

With all our projects, we hope to leave a memorable impression on all visitors. We love creating modern and impactful experiences that engage the visitors and ensure commercial success and brand awareness.

Questions answered by Jasmine Bagaria, Lead Designer, L’Atelier Five.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a confectionery tools store design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, KAMITOPEN.

What was the client’s brief? 

Founded in 1951, the company Majimaya has been selling confectionery tools in Kappabashi for over 70 years. There were 3000 different types of molds that I needed to showcase with the design.

What inspired the design of the project?

The design is rooted in the client’s enthusiasm to continue selling confectionery tools in the same place for the next 100 years.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The main problem I had to solve was the limited space. I suggested setting up the evacuation stairs and protective fences in a way for them to display 3000 molds, right in the center of the building. In addition, I also arranged 3000 tin boxes there. By linking the display with the number printed on the box, it was made easy for the customers to choose one themselves and take out the required number from the stock.

During the planning of the building, all floors were connected by split-level floors, and while choosing molds, customers were guided to move up and down subconsciously. This solved the unique problem of arcade area, which is a stress-free place for customers to move up and down inside the building.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

3,000 confectionery tools molds in the middle that were installed together with the client.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

I thought it could be an inspiration for arcade shopping buildings all over the world.

Questions answered by Masahiro Yoshida, Representative, KAMITOPEN.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a bright and colourful retail design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Seen Displays.

What was the client’s brief? 

Following the launch of the Bally Haus Concept Store in Milan, we were briefed to create a space for Bally in New York’s Meatpacking District that transcended the traditional purposes of retail, acting as a creative grounding force for the area. It was important to us and Bally that their traditional design pillars of art, architecture and craftsmanship were included in the design, celebrating their Swiss roots and forward-thinking practice.

What inspired the design of the project?

Our creative narrative was inspired by the angular lines of Manhattan’s grid, which uniquely pivots in the Meatpacking district, causing Gansevoort Street to be bathed in a warm hard light during the spring and autumn equinox. Bally’s values of combining nature with the contemporary ensured that our approach to materialism was innovative, circular, and quintessentially Bally, using materials from Tessa Silva and Paper-Factor.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Designing and supporting the delivery of the project in a very short time frame, whilst collaborating remotely during covid lockdowns, certainly came with its challenges but the team weren’t deterred from achieving our vision for innovative materiality and experience from the very start. Our ongoing support of circular artists and relationships with bio materialist, Tessa Silva and PaperFactor, enabled us to achieve unique finishes and qualities rarely seen in retail design.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The realisation of our design detailing demonstrated how a luxury environment can remain both finely finished and offer an adaptable brand environment. Details included accurately placed curtain seams and material clad wall plugs, meaning our fixture system was seamlessly disguised, offering a premium finish overall whilst giving the brand flexibility to adapt the environment from a store to a community-based event space. Delivering this level of detail from start to finish with the challenge of using exciting and innovative materials in such a short time frame was probably one of our biggest highlights.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

One of the most prestigious, international design awards in the calendar, we entered as we appreciate the importance SBID places in celebrating unique design solutions across various disciplines. Thank you for having us!

Questions answered by Andrew Quinn, Lead Designer, Seen Displays.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features a retail space design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Makhno Studio.

What was the client’s brief? 

The customer wanted to create a showroom in a Ukrainian contemporary style.

What inspired the design of the project?

Natural materials and ancient Ukrainian traditions.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Despite the small area, the creation and realisation of the project had some real challenges. We had two weeks and only two online meetings to discuss and approve the visualisations. We also had limited time for the project realisation — 30 days sharp. Moreover, it was only possible to carry out the construction work at night time. The architects lost their sleep for a month, but for the sake of the result, we happily made this sacrifice.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We understood that there was no room for error, so the night before the store opened we controlled the final construction until five in the morning.

The interior is wrapped in materials typical of Ukrainian culture — ceramics and wood. In the centre of the composition, there is a table with a cracked ceramic base made in our workshop. A vase from Serhii Makhno complements the colour scheme of the table. All the walls are decorated with clay plaster — it is a modern version of the technology used in the days of our great-grandparents. The main wall is decorated with Tetrapod 3D tiles, which won the international Red Dot Design Award in 2017. Soft accents are added by the snow-white Khmara lamps made in our ceramic workshop.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

This is one of the most prestigious international design awards. The jury of the competition are professionals in their field, trendsetters and very interesting personalities. It is an honour to present our work to them and receive recognition. We also respect SBID Awards for the organizational aspects that make submissions a real pleasure.

Questions answered by Serhii Makhno, Founder, Makhno Studio.