Our team worked hand-in-glove with jewellery designer Anne Sportun and co-owner and daughter Haley Woodbury to execute an updated design and brand refresh for the eponymous store’s Queen Street West location. We prioritized lighting, natural materials, neutral tones, and organic forms and textures to create a tranquil and graceful retail experience, conceived as a journey in three acts.

The first encounter with the shop occurs at its new threshold. A revitalized storefront communicates an updated brand identity designed to pique the curiosity of prospective and returning customers. Our holistic approach to signage, materials, and lighting includes a revamped typeface and quiet statement materials: soft-white large-format porcelain tile, brushed bronze metal accents for the custom lighting and lettering, and bronze-anodized aluminum on the new front door and window. The reimagined façade exudes distinction and warmth, enhancing the store’s presence on Queen West.

The porcelain tile and bronze details extend inside the store, forging a coherent experience from exterior to interior as one crosses into the front-of-house space. This retail zone includes in-house collections as well as notable jewellery designers handpicked by the Anne Sportun team presented in white matte display cases as well as a freestanding white-oak one that we designed to anchor the room. Illuminated cases with recessed shelves float off the walls, which are finished in a textured Marrakech paint. The ceilings are sculpted, featuring coves and soft curves that pay homage to the natural shapes characteristic of Anne’s designs. Cove lighting along the perimeter of the ceiling bathes the walls in an ambient glow, whereas overhead lighting focuses soft beams directly onto the jewellery itself. 

The transition to the final act occurs at another threshold: a small step-up to the consultation space. With refinished wood floors, new millwork for custom displays, and a Calacatta Super White marble central display and consultation counter, this intimate section of the store is characterized by feature elements: organic-shaped mirrors with bronze trim; cluster pendants by Canadian lighting designers Luminaire Authentik; a wood-framed felt wall behind the counter, with an integrated planter; and pleated felt walls on the north and west. The rhythmic felt folds add a textural quality to the overall space while also achieving acoustic dampening for conversations with clients.  

Images: Scott Norsworthy