A “grand” space and ample time saw Andrew Waller create a premium interior for the Zjoosh flagship store in Bondi Junction, in time for Sydney's emergence from lockdown.

An elegant and refined space, the Zjoosh flagship store in Bondi Junction by Andrew Waller is a nod to his boudoir-style design language and the brand’s Parisian aesthetic.

Upon entering the Zjoosh Bondi Junction store, four and a half metre high ceilings are amplified by a dramatic vintage bronze chandelier, an embellished element that strongly references the Zjoosh style. In a less adorned vein, brass outdoor wall lights are used for the rest of the store, referencing the significant sunlight and terrace-like atmosphere of the location.

A neutral palette of Dior-grey walls provide a backdrop for the store’s luxury homewares. Cashmere carpet lines the change room floors, and mosaic tiling features on the centre structural beam. A clean-line contemporary shelving system is paired with more ornate features, such as the beauty bar, and the counters are constructed from traditional joinery.

“We know [the client] is going to layer the interiors with their product and their product can be quite ornate. So we need to hit the balance where we reference that and present that well but also pull back and have a cleaner aesthetic that isn’t competing with the product,” says Waller.

The design of the flagship store follows in the footsteps of its Zjoosh predecessors, many of which have been designed by Waller, yet is differentiated by higher quality materials and more layering – a testament to the calibre of the flagship store.

The fitout was not without its challenges. The shop’s “erratic” shape, with a concave facade and a multitude of walls created a challenging canvas for the store. Rising to the challenge, Waller embraced the inherent beautiful qualities of the space.

“We don’t normally get such massive daylight windows at the back. At the shopfront in the mall there’s a big glass roof as well, and the ceiling is four and a half metres high. So it was quite a grand space to work with,” he says.

Sydney’s current lockdown started at the same time as construction on the store was meant to begin, pushing back the start date. The lockdown also meant that the fittings chosen had to be readily available.

In contrast to many of the retail jobs Andrew normally does, where a lot of the install needs to be pre-built before the space is even available, Sydney’s current Covid-19 lockdown meant he had ample time to refine the details of this elegant homewares store for Zjoosh.

“We were actually able to focus more on the quality install, the layering of the materials and the detailing,” says Waller.

“There were logistically things like that which were challenging and difficult that we were able to take advantage of in order to push the envelope a little bit more than we had been able to in the past,” says Waller.

Andrew Waller established his boutique interior design practice, Mr Waller, in 2003 and specialises in retail and residential projects.

Mr Waller
mrwaller.com

Buildashop
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