Our design for Oak n'Barrel in Newton, MA is open, come visit.
We set out to make a store that arouses the senses as does whiskey. So, we created a warm, woody environment inspired by the color, flavor, and body of this amber spirit, along with the texture and materiality of distillery barrels, in a way that feels hand-crafted and sophisticated. To be evocative of the taste of whiskey, we used golden-coppery tones and warm, rustic wood. In the evening the amber glow of the store emanates onto the sidewalk, enticing and inviting customers, echoing the cordiality of the neighborhood bar down the street proprietor brothers Aprit and Ankur Patel also run. This carefully curated spirits boutique has nonetheless almost a thousand SKUs, so we designed the store with a simple organization, both in plan and the third dimension, to make the variety of products understandable to either a novice or a discerning customer. Low display shelves in the storefront windows feature promotional items and provide a foreground for visibility into the offerings beyond. Walking in, the tasting station is front and center; this heart of the store features specialties during the day and tasting socials during the evening, activating the shop for passers-by. Customers are welcomed by the proprietor at the cashwrap on the right, backdropped with the most premium product nestled securely in a bank of lit lockers. Staff personally guide customers to products—establishing relationships with local customers is important for this in-store, boutique shopping experience. Behind the tasting station, the store’s focal point is an architectural motif of black dome pendants with copper interiors mounted onto a reclaimed-wood-like sound-absorbent Tectum ceiling cloud; the pendants shed warm light onto partial-height wine displays beneath. The store is framed on either side by full-height perimeter wall shelving systems organized into zones by spirit. Shelving is crafted from oak planks and black metal outriggers, inspired by the materials of distillery barrels. Jewel-boxes suspended between outriggers highlight specialty products, and endcaps are rounded and lit for additional star features. The primacy of the golden tone of the primary product reverberates through the store, amplified by warm lighting, the whiskey hue of the end wall, and the amber glow of the perimeter soffit cove lighting, radiating fiery warmth across backdrops of the store’s floor, walls, and ceiling, which fade into dark gray. Pricing is subtly hidden under bottles to avoid the clutter of placards and tags. Importantly, local distilleries, wineries, breweries, and charities are featured and promoted throughout the store with a brand voice which is educating and informative, never snobbish—an amber taste on a golden tongue.
GC: Boston Best Construction
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