Streamlined Strut

Mendocino, a trendy Toronto retailer celebrating its 20th anniversary, finally landed a coveted spot to strut its stuff on Bloor Street, in the city’s high-fashion Yorkville district. However, the new location on the city’s “mink mile” was burdened by a major drawback: It consisted of three separate spaces that had been amalgamated into a single entity – with a resulting awkward footprint that was effectively divided in two.

To help streamline and unify the 3000-square-foot store, designers from Perennial Inc. (Toronto) installed a staggered series of focal walls throughout it. “The walls create rhythm, draw customers through the space and eliminate potential ‘dead zones,’ ” says Donna Lawson, a director of design, environments, at Perennial.

Designers also wanted to imbue the space with a gallery-like feel that would allow the merchandise to stand out. To that end, the materials palette was kept to a minimum, with a layered white-stained wood, laminate and pearlescent wallcovering on the perimeter, with red accents strategically placed to call attention to the store’s fitting rooms, cashwrap and feature face-out wall.

Client: Mendocino Clothing Co., Toronto – Norma Caron, owner; Jan Kaplan, president

Design: Perennial Inc., Toronto, Ont. – Donna Lawson, director of design, environments; Nadia Cannataro, senior interior designer, environments; Kimberly Wickham, junior interior designer, environments: Wendy Barner, design intern, environments; Marjorie Ogden, business director

Electrical and Electrical Engineer: Prophase Engineering Inc., Toronto

General Contractor: Penalta Group Ltd., Oakville, Ont.

Fixtures: MG Welding and Fabrication, Scarborough, Ont.

Flooring: I.C.R. Inc., Baltimore, Ont.

Furniture: Penalta Group Ltd., Oakville, Ont.

Lighting: TPL Lighting, Toronto; Juno Lighting Group, Brampton, Ont.; MP Lighting, Thornhill, Ont.

Mannequins/Forms: Adel Rootstein USA Inc., New York; Gender Mannequins, Montreal

Millwork: Middlebrook Woodworking Ltd., Fergus, Ont.

Signage: Gould Signs, London, Ont.

Stools: Metro Business Interiors, North York, Ont.

Wallcoverings and Materials: Maharam, Toronto

Photography: Ben Rahn, A-Frame Inc., Toronto