Evanston, Illinois

The owner of a fashionable boutique that caters to young adults often fielded complaints from older women who felt the clothes were too “young” for them. So she decided to give them a shop of their own, right next door!

Modern, aluminum–framed storefront windows set into the existing brick façade draw passers–by into this upscale, European–style boutique. Locating the sales counter toward the back of the space and recessing the dressing rooms alongside it creates the effect of a large, clean, rectangular box formed by the unbroken planes of floor, ceiling and walls — an understated showcase for the array of colorful clothing and accessories within. Further exploration reveals a single niche that houses t–shirts and accessories, and provides employees with discreet access to the adjoining boutique.