Abel Design Group was selected to design the new Houston showroom location for Roche Bobois, a French designer furniture company. The space not only needed an update to keep pace with the competing European furniture stores nearby, the project challenged the design team to create a cohesive space out of three disparate buildings.
The Abel Design Group design team relied on ceiling treatments, coordinating color palettes, and contemporary lighting to create one cohesive environment that still offers several zones, nooks, and feature areas to highlight different pieces and collections. Additionally, many of the spaces had very low ceilings due to the existing conditions, therefore the design team left the building envelope and gutted the entire interior to maximize natural light and increase the volume of the space. The creative placement of a skylight emphasizes a new outdoor collection the retailer wanted to feature. To keep in tune with the modern and sophisticated design of the space, the company’s branding is both impactful and minimalistic. A backlit logo is displayed on a mirrored wall upon entrance.
Given the variety and seasonality of the merchandise, the design team was also challenged to create a retail environment that echoed the sophistication level of the designer collections on display, yet seamlessly integrated into the background, allowing the product to take center stage.
A coffee bar in the rear of the showroom provides customers a place to relax with a complimentary espresso and let the many designer furniture options available soak in.
