Connect with us

Message in a Mural

Page Sargisson calls her corner location in Brooklyn, NY, one of the “compelling elements” of her eponymous store. Not only does it allow people walking by to look in the side-street window and see her bench jewelers at work but it gave her an entire brick wall to design, free from the merchandising constraints that often limit interior decoration. “The brick wall had more room for color and design. We didn’t want to be literal with diamonds or rings so the artist came up with shapes and an abstract flower motif with bright colors next to one another. It came out beautifully and gives the idea of color and modernity before even setting foot in the store. We also added a drawing of my dog, Junebug, to give a little levity and show that we were a dog friendly store.”

Water Feature

Tom Kraft wanted his jewelry store, Legacy Diamond & Gems in Sheridan, WY, to reflect the warm but rugged ethos of his state. His solution? A large black and white granite water feature that takes up much of an interior wall. Not only is it visually imposing but the “soothing sound of trickling water has a calming effect on even the most nervous of clients,” says Kraft. “This is a truly unique feature that really gave the town something to talk about,” he says.

Promises, Promises

A hallway at McCoy Goldsmith & Jeweler in Dubuque, IA, doesn’t just do double duty, it does triple, starting with its functional role as a passage connecting the retail and repair space to a bridal salon. At the same time, it hosts a sprawling moss display on one side, and opposite, photos of McCoy couples and their “promises” to each other, “establishing this as a space where love grows,” says owner Jonathan McCoy. “Our clients transition from the busy front of the store, through the peaceful hallway of greenery and promises into the bridal salon,” he explains.

An Issue of Trust

REEDS Jewelers has come a long way since its founding in 1946, now operating more than 60 locations across the U.S. It goes to pains, however, to reassure its customers that it hasn’t lost any of its commitment to its roots or founding principles. “While we continue to drive advancement, growth, and modernization, we never lose sight of the personal connections and trust that have defined REEDS for nearly 80 years,” says Genna Zimmer, vice president of operations and strategy and a member of the third generation of the family-owned company. Hence, their legacy wall at their Wilmington, NC, “landmark” location.

Good Vibrations

The vibe at JBJ Fine Jewelry, is laid back; or as owner Jill Jarmel says, “coastal meets Northern California.” To support that, she worked with designer Kerri Rosenthal to develop a delightful accent wall for her store in Walnut Creek, CA. As can be seen from the work, Rosenthal specializes in “happy and fun.”

Name in Lights

The sales journey at Rumanoff’s Jewelers in Hamden, CT, is built around a stunning showroom supported by a bridal area, lounge and a private consultation room. Then it’s down to business. “The entire showroom culminates into the main sales transaction area designed as a focal point, separated by more white oak woodwork and a feature wall composed of backlit moonstone and our logo in gold,” explains fourth-generation co-owner Doug Rumanoff. The message is clear: Rumanoff’s stands by its name.

A Bright Outlook

Local muralist Anat Ronen spent three days transforming the patio wall of Shaftel Diamonds in Houston into a vibrant gem-filled field of color. The spacious patio is designed to be a secure and pleasant environment that allows the sales team to show diamonds and fine colored gemstones in natural light. Store designer Jesse Balaity’s vision for the entire store is to be “fun and engaging,” a reflection of the personalities of owners Keith Shaftel and his son, Danny.

Natural Attraction

Owners Brian and Nancy Nelson of King’s Fine Jewellery in Alberta, Canada, have creatively filled a wall with a 22-foot preserved moss and geode art installation. There’s also a 7-foot aquarium that features a large school of cardinals, four varieties of angel fish, and Cory catfish in a naturally planted tank.

Selfie Station

At Just Desi in Beverly Hills, a dried flower wall adds organic texture while serving as a favorite spot for visitors to take a selfie. Along the same theme, a proposal box with a dried centerpiece creates lasting memory for the customer and serves as a reminder, too, of where they bought the ring and when.

Read Between the Lines

A library nook, where guests can relax and read about the history of jewelry and body adornment of all kinds, demonstrates owner Viviana Langhoff’s dedication to education and the “theory” component of jewelry at Adornment + Theory in Chicago. The display also has a 3D component in the form of miniature jewelry showcases on the wall.

The Writing on the Wall

Trisha Kennedy-Thompson and her brother, James A. Kennedy, own Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers in Blue Springs, MO. Trisha designed the 4,000 square-foot space with the goal of having a casual, welcoming environment. A message scrawled on the wall fits the vibe perfectly.

Pops of Color

In the Fiat Lux San Francisco showroom, colorful trees and animals frolicking on the walls appear to be part of a mural but actually are an expensive wallpaper design. The master stroke is gold resin drips, painted by local artist Caroline Lizarraga, that start at the top of the wall panels and trickle downward, an idea proposed by interior designer Noz Nozawa. Owner Marie McCarthy thought it was the perfect touch since Fiat Lux’s other location has a reputation for being a little bit punk rock.

A Little Bit Gritty

After much debate, the winning idea for the back wall at Greenwich St. Jewelers in New York City came from muralist Mason Nye, who pressed a custom subway grate stencil into the plaster. Owner Jennifer Gandia says that since everything else in the store was very pretty, the design team thought they needed to scuff it up a little. “New York is pretty, but gritty. We needed that bit of grittiness.”

Bottled Charm

For 30 years, Julez Ward had collected colorful glass bottles, which have become a distinctive feature of the decor at Julez Bryant in Solana Beach, CA. Julez changes the colors of the bottles she displays seasonally for a simple mood shift. “It’s fun to see them come to life in this setting, these bottles collected from all around the world. That, to tell you the truth, is what people come in to look at.”

Pretty Practical

A focal point at Moonrise Jewelry in Cape Charles, VA, is a back-wall installation that serves as an interactive swatch board for the 150 different types of fish leather in stock, which is a specialty jewelry material for owner Meredith Lusk. Clients are encouraged to customize colors, which are represented as a large school of magnetic fish that “swim” across a hand-painted river covering the entire wall. Most impressive of all: Her team made it.

Instant Credibility

William Travis Kukovich has turned an entire wall of his Chapel Hill, NC, jewelry store into an eye-catching display of myriad awards and press clippings, which highlight his experience and expertise as a bench jeweler and jewelry designer. His honors include 18 Spectrum Awards for jewelry design.

How 16 Creative Jewelry Retailers Make the Most of Blank Walls [Photo Gallery]
1 | 16
Benchmarks

How 16 Creative Jewelry Retailers Make the Most of Blank Walls [Photo Gallery]

Message in a Mural

Page Sargisson calls her corner location in Brooklyn, NY, one of the “compelling elements” of her eponymous store. Not only does it allow people walking by to look in the side-street window and see her bench jewelers at work but it gave her an entire brick wall to design, free from the merchandising constraints that often limit interior decoration. “The brick wall had more room for color and design. We didn’t want to be literal with diamonds or rings so the artist came up with shapes and an abstract flower motif with bright colors next to one another. It came out beautifully and gives the idea of color and modernity before even setting foot in the store. We also added a drawing of my dog, Junebug, to give a little levity and show that we were a dog friendly store.”