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Signaling a return to the elegance and luxury of the golden age of travel, Crystal Cruise Lines (voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Travel+Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler more than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history) undertook a monumental refurbishment of its on-ship retail stores and suites during a two week, $25 million dry dock in November 2013.
The Facets boutique jewelry store mirrors an exquisite jewelry box, with a mother-of-pearl feature wall, beveled chrome vitrines and a private sales area designed with a classic elegance that appeals to a clientele of confident, worldly and affluent travelers.
To reflect the high level of custom service offered by the store, II BY IV DESIGN found inspiration in the top retail districts of London and New York and looked to the origins of fine jewelry.
Themed around the brilliant cut facets of a diamond, the existing store front was renewed from within by the addition of highly polished, chrome plated aluminum screens punctuated by window-like vitrines, whose lighting power source is embedded within the facet pattern.
Upon entry, the guest is greeted by a wall panelled in mother of pearl with angled ebony metal detailing surrounding alternating horizontal and vertical inset vitrines.
The wall panels serve to disguising magnetic locked storage units which provide additional and much needed space to the high-end shipboard retailer. MR-16 spot lights focus directly on charcoal lacquered cases shaped as irregular octagons with single or dual drawers accented by hand made chrome faceted drawer pulls.
Additional thin baton lighting reflects against the wall and casts a delicate shimmer on anyone sitting in the custom cream leather chairs.
Flowing throughout the space is a British made custom carpet which carries on the facet theme with an almost imperceptible transition from lighter to darker grey as you move further into the store.
Buttressing opposite ends of the space are large armoire-like showcases in dark lacquer with an inner finish of light wood wallcovering lit from all angles. The finishing touch of curated elegance is provided through free standing octagonal prism like pedestals of acid etched back-painted bevelled mirror lined with leatherette pads to match the seating.
The private sales area is imbued with a heighted and refined elegance through a splash of abstract and unobtrusive colour found in the commissioned artwork which was executed onsite.
A custom wood-framed desk inlaid with leather and supported by chrome legs with opposing curvatures sits below an oversized drum light of ebony metal and cream linen. Linking everything together, the facet patterned screen flanking the doorway, acts as both separator and segue into the main shop.
II BY IV DESIGN
Internationally renowned, II BY IV DESIGN was founded in 1990 by partners Dan Menchions and Keith Rushbrook; both Dan and Keith dreamed of a creative firm that was deeply rooted in design and guided by a passion for constant innovation. Today the firm is distinguished by a balanced approach that captures the essence of each client’s vision rather than a predictable ‘signature’ look.
Their staff of 50 sprawls in a brick-and-beam industrial loft space in Toronto’s Liberty Village, in lower Manhattan’s fashionable TriBeCa district, and in a separate “secret” studio devoted to their latest venture, product design. Renowned as industry leaders II BY IV DESIGN celebrates a widespread portfolio that demonstrates an expert interpretation of current and emerging consumer lifestyles, attitudes and expectations applied to the design of Retail, Hospitality, Condominium and Commercial Interiors, as well as Design.
Photos courtesy Ian Schemper
by AN shopfitting magazine no.134 ©
