Located in the tight knit neighborhood of Nolita in New York, this tiny traditional storefront showed all its years of service to the Italian immigrant population and its gradual shift to gentrification. The mom & pop stores have given way to a mix of sophisticated brands and start up retail businesses.

The long narrow space immediately lent itself to the notion of a nineteenth century trader’s store with long counters and shelves filed with exotic merchandise from around the world. We took this cue and designed a space as a 21st century apothecary experience. 

Through the antique storefront we wanted to create a kaleidoscope of simple contrasting forms. Long narrow white marble service counters, hover over blackened wood cabinets and a black granite floor, they front a wall of aluminum cubby holes where M+G products can be arranged in categories, or any combination of presentation. The walls and ceiling are all painted mat black to create the illusion of space, as the products thrust themselves to the forefront, A floating detached ceiling in high gloss black enhances the illusion of space and hides necessary mechanical and lighting. The eye is drawn to the back of the space, where a crated wall of small aluminum cubbies display candles in their colorful boxes.

The contrasting two tone of black and white is enhanced by pools of intense light, the silver metallic forms and shiny black mirrored surfaces, contrast with the mat black shell of the space. The illusion created is calming and focused.