MYSTILO

TC Carpet was a Hong Kong company that wanted to venture into the retail of ready made and made to order carpets and rugs  for the booming residential real estate market in China. The clients were also already an established distributor of well known wall covering brands in Hong Kong but under another company name.

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The design brief was to create a concept bible on the look and feel of their future store. They wanted a design that would make their brand recognisable as they projected to open more stores in China. They needed a guide on how to display rugs and carpets that would entice the buyers to use them not only the usual traditional way.  They also wanted some of their wall coverings featured, but the main product of the store will be their rugs and carpets.

This design bible was essential as their guide when choosing future retail spaces.

A "loose art gallery concept" fit their requirements. I wanted the customer to feel that the products were like art but still accessible. I used their rugs like art work and placed them loosely almost randomly on the walls and floor. Furniture like sofas and tables would be artistically upholstered in their rich rugs, but should be easily replaced with a new pattern if needed. A long work bench would be the heart of the retail environment and would be the one unique feature in every store. It would be covered in different patterns of their rugs and carpets and would seemingly overflow down to the floor.Under this bench will be the catalogues the customers can choose from. This bench would also be very useful for designers aiding their clients in choosing their rugs, carpets and wall coverings. Some feature walls, columns or beams will be covered in patch work pattern of their signature wall coverings.

Of course there is an area where ready made rugs would be hung and displayed in an organised manner. Because of the menagerie of patterns and textures it was important to balance this with a calm & plain backdrop in order not to overwhelm visually.