Founded in 1887, Smythson of Bond Street is a London-based stationer whose clients over the years have included Queen Victoria, Sir Edmund Hillary, Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, Madonna and Monica Lewinsky. The retailer recently decided to open its first freestanding store in the United States, and selected a 1300-square-foot space on West 57th Street near Fifth Avenue in New York. SawickiTarella Architecture Design (New York) was hired to design the shop.
A space was created utilizing an aesthetic of simple lines and colors that would not detract from or compete with the store's product lines of stationery and leather-bound books, diaries and accessories, which are all relatively small in size. The design utilizes a subdued palette of two cream color variations throughout, serving as a background for the vivid-colored merchandise. The rear of the store features a faux fireplace topped by a mirror that provides a focus and destination for customers.
In contrast to the muted color scheme inside the shop, the Smythson storefront features a deep royal blue-colored canopy to capture the attention of passersby. The overall result is a boutique that combines the traditional styling of Bond Street with the contemporary chic of 21st Century New York.
Client Design: Smythson of Bond Street, London – Samantha Cameron, creative director
Design Team: SawickiTarella Architecture Design, New York – George Sawicki, principal-in-charge; Jill Emerson, project manager
Suppliers: Dimensional Communications, Northvale, N.J. (fixturing); Corporate Floors Inc., New Hyde Park, N.Y. (flooring); Dale Travis Associates, New York (signage); Smythson of Bond Street, London (wall linens, graphics and props/decoratives)