This CBD Shop project in Avon, IN was a great learning experience for my first official Embarking On Design client. I didn’t quite have all my business processes in place yet so the execution could have been smoother, but I have since nailed everything down to the letter.
Even so, the clients were incredibly nice and had a fun vision for the space.
Photos of the completed shop
Inspiration
The client had a lot of industrial inspiration images with open shelves, iron finishes, and the occasional rustic piece of furniture. They also had a signature faux boxwood wall in their previous shop that they felt was essential to their branding. We carried these elements into the new shop in a few different ways.
Iron work was implemented in the shelf brackets of the main display wall. We kept the lighting from the previous shop which was black and gold and tied in nicely with the other black touches such as the cooler or the registers.
For the product by category displays, we went with white shelves to help keep this dark corner a little lighter.
Open shelves were narrow in depth since they wanted them mostly for display purposes only, instead of stacking products deep. For this same reason, a larger cash-wrap area was important so a closed storage cart could be wheeled out each day to easily grab back-stocked products. We did this cart in a cool walnut to add some warmth to this otherwise white wall.
Product display shelves and backstock storage cabinet
A boxwood feature wall acted a backdrop in their previous shop, behind the counter. It was the first thing guests saw when they walked in. They wanted a more private space in their new location, so they closed in part for a consultation room. I thought this would be a perfect spot to implement that boxwood feature wall.
In the inspiration photos we initially reviewed, there was a feature wall with diamond shaped wood panels. This inspired the diamond shape for the consultation room.
The rest of the walls were painted a light warm gray except for the wallpapered merch wall and the plastered teal wall.
Consultation room seating and accent wall
Colors & Scale
A featured plaster wall became a must when the client saw one in another local shop. They were also in the midst of creating their own product with teal packaging. This featured product wall was a main focal area when you walk in the shop.
I wanted to carry this blue color throughout the space, not only on the plaster wall, but in the wallpaper pattern. We did a patterned wallpaper on a large blank wall to the right of the cash-wrap to add interest and act as a backdrop to a t-shirt/merch wall in the future. I initially had the entire cash-wrap covered in the same wallpaper when I presented the design, but the clients wanted to keep their new display as is for now.
Original concept board design for the cash-wrap area
Hints of mint green, like the consultation room doors, help bridge the color spectrum from teal to evergreen..
The business's logo was an evergreen color which added some depth and warmth to the color pallet. This green makes the consultation room feel cozy and luxe especially with this easy to clean luxe rug.
Styling
The Client’s daughter is an artist, so they had a collection of her artwork they wanted to display. The Consultation room had a fair amount of blank wall space which was just calling out for a gallery wall.
The opposing wall was visible from when you walked in the shop, so we kept it simple with a rustic console they already owned as well as some product styling.
A high top for the table was requested for this room and I wanted to introduce a glossy material to balance out the rustic feel. In came this marble and black pedestal table. I paired it up with some more rustic colored counter stools from Pottery Barn to match the console.
Since I stepped into this project during the early remodeling stages, we were able to pick floor and lighting placement as well. Lighting placement was slightly limited with the tile ceiling, but we were able to bring in some track lighting to better highlight the product walls.
Concept board and final photos of the consultation room
Now Step Back
Originally, this client requested assistance with merchandising the space to best showcase all their products. Versatile display tables and cabinets were imperative for easy growth as they brought in new products. This meant some shelves were lacking and were filled with signage or minimal styling for now.
Some of their customers have limited mobility, so multiple seating options, especially by the front door, was very important. These gray chairs and faceted side table came over from the previous shop.
Even with an overhang outside, the south facing windows needed some shades to help cut the brightness and heat. A white linen material kept them feeling airy.
Featured products and seating area
All in all, the space feels big, bright, and welcoming. The client wanted a high end feeling, like they got after visiting similar product stores in Los Angeles, but also wanted to make sure it was still approachable for their Indianapolis suburb clientele.
My Takeaways
I took on this project while I was still working another full-time job and figuring out how to start my business with a baby on my lap.
I am so thankful for this opportunity as it taught me the importance of having my own design processes in place. I was so used to working for someone else, I didn’t have those check points set for myself.
So much hard work has gone into Embarking On Design since, to make sure I have a functioning website, transparent pricing, a welcome guide for each step of the design adventure, and all the other little checklists to ensure my clients have the best experience possible.
Commercial design projects come with their own set of rules, but also a lot of freedoms when it comes to color and pattern.
Let me know if you have questions about my design process!
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