Pliable lighting, rounded types and impartial colors create a welcoming ambiance inside this intercourse store in Kyiv by Ukrainian designers Sofiia Hupalovska and Nataliya Stukonog, with playful particulars together with a phallic pouf.
Hupalovska and Stukonog, who labored collectively at structure and interiors studio Balbek Bureau earlier than Hupalovska arrange her personal agency in 2021, needed to create an inclusive and enticing inside that stands aside from the gaudy type of most grownup shops.
“The idea behind Inside was to create a intercourse store expertise that defies the everyday, cliche aesthetics related to such areas,” Hupalovska defined.
“As an alternative of the same old neon lights and stereotypical symbols like strawberries, Inside was designed to supply a refined, refined surroundings.”
To attain this goal, the designers used a muted palette comprising shades of cream and gray that enable the merchandise to face out.
Metallic finishes lend a hand to brighten the house by reflecting delicate whereas contributing to the contemporary aesthetic. These surfaces, primarily used for wall panelling and accents, additionally distinction with softer particulars reminiscent of curtains and upholstered furnishings.
The store is about in a basement with none pure delicate, so the designers determined to include a backlit ceiling panel that gives a gentle, even glow just like daylight.
Guests are welcomed by a reception desk, positioned in entrance of a metallic backdrop to create a glowing and alluring house with a semi-private really feel.
Within the reception space, a curvaceous couch is embellished with the stylised define of a feminine physique. Right here, prospects can loosen up whereas looking merchandise or awaiting help.
The principle retail house offers a plain and impartial setting for presenting merchandise on built-in cabinets. A central counter with rounded edges offers a floor for workers to help prospects with product enquiries.
“The gentle edges of the counter cut back visible harshness, selling a sense of approachability,” stated Hupalovska.
“Its central location would possibly encourage a movement of motion across the house, guiding guests naturally towards varied sections and product shows.”
The cabinets had been designed to fight one other subject arising from the shop’s basement setting. The present partitions lacked straight surfaces, making it difficult to put in standalone shelving items, so built-in storage offered a sensible and extra streamlined resolution.
The built-in cabinets contribute to the clean-lined look of the inside, with curved edges on the higher niches mirroring the contours used all through the house.
The store’s furnishings and fixtures had been largely custom-made by Ukrainian contractors, with many items designed utilizing rounded, natural shapes. Examples embody a playful pouf within the becoming room that resembles a penis.
The becoming room additionally options curtains that may be drawn for privateness and a curving delicate wall that gives uniform lighting for purchasers attempting on objects.
A sink in the primary show space was designed as a monolithic aspect with a concrete end that enhances the store’s uncooked, industrial theme, alongside the uncovered pipes and ducting.
Total, the store’s inside seeks to steadiness performance and a minimalist aesthetic with softer touches to contribute to a prudent and satisfying procuring expertise.
“The house strikes a steadiness between sophistication and playfulness, achieved by fastidiously chosen supplies, colors and shapes that really feel luxurious but accessible,” Hupalovska stated.
Throughout her time at Kyiv-based Balbek Bureau, Hupalovska labored on initiatives together with an inside for a gender-neutral salon and cocktail bar with concrete surfaces and gold accents.
Different initiatives from the studio embody a contemporary restaurant that comes with traditional Ukrainian types and a home that reinterprets the established log cabin utilizing chrome steel and concrete.
