New Look Optical is an optical store specializing in prescription glasses, sunglasses, and accessories and carries an excellent range of designer frames. The store first opened on the main street of Alliston, a mid-size rural community 45 minutes north of Toronto. With success came the need to expand and they turned to 3stones to design their new interior space. Their goal was a modern and exciting interior, which would have the same appeal to their clients as the designer frames they carried.

The new store is located in a new retail plaza development and contains both the retail frame component and an optician’s office with eye exam room. Among the challenges was a legal requirement whereby customers must be able to go to the optician’s space without going through the retail store.

The concept was to create a “landing zone” inside the entry door where the patron would be able to choose between the optician’s office and the store. Spatial cues for moving through the space are provided by flooring and a suspended wood ceiling, which guides the eye to the lead edge of the “gallery wall” which contains the frame displays. The display extends the entire length of the store. The displays are designed and lit like museum cases to be at once appealing and precious yet accessible. The curved wood ceiling and lighting draws the visitor along the “gallery wall” along the one side and opens up to the retail space in the middle of the store. The finishes are clean and crisp, focusing attention on the product. The store was enthusiastically received by the customers and has been extremely successful.

Photography by: Sean O’Reilly