Friday 14 June 2013

Chanel opens flagship store in London - World Interior Design Network

Chanel opens flagship store in London

Luxury fashion accessories brand Chanel has opened a new flagship store on New Bond Street, London, which is said to be the brand’s largest store."


Located in the former Nicole Farhi space on New Bond Street, the Chanel boutique is situated directly across from Louis Vuitton’s London flagship and next door to Dior.
Spanning 12,600 square foot over three floors, the store has been designed by New York-based architect Peter Marino and is adorned with artwork inspired by Coco Chanel’s life and the symbols of the brand.
Creating a homely feel, each section of the store is divided into separate rooms, featuring coffee tables adorned with Chanel books, fireplaces, plush carpets and unique décor. Carrying the brand’s full range of clothing, make up and accessories, it features handbag bar on the ground floor with ready-to-wear and footwear on the first floor. Features unique to the store include dedicated walls for scarves, belts and ties, with a particular focus on accessories.
Adding beauty as well as sophistication, the store features a central atrium, which is dominated by a giant, twisting pearl necklace sculpture made entirely from hand-blown Venetian glass by the French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel. The sculpture appears to be suspended from the ceiling, rising from the ground to the top of the third floor. The piece is flanked by the boutique’s gravity-defying staircases, which appear to float due to no visible underlying support.
Its marble staircase featuring handmade matte bronze railings, walls covered with tactile tweed and bouclé fabrics accentuate the look and feel of the place. The glass and mirrored walls of the store feature gold ribbon encased within. The curtains have hand-stitched pearls while the chandeliers feature real crystals. Each piece of furniture has been specially made for the store, while each piece of artwork was commissioned by Marino.
Adorned with works by artists including Donald Baechler, Idris Khan, Liza Lou and the brand’s head designer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld, the store creates an inviting atmosphere for the shoppers