Bookstore Dreaming

Today on the blog we’re taking a sneak peek behind the scenes of what goes into designing a bookstore.

It was early 2023 when we reached out to GroH! Playrooms for a design consultation. We talked about our project timelines and goals, and decided to work together that spring. A year later and we’re almost to the finish line! Check out some of the steps involved with dialing in the bookstore of our dreams:

Discovery 

Pinterest deep dives, a design discovery call, on-site visits for conversations on all things aesthetic. Our first phase was loose and exploratory. GroH! guided us through presentations and took feedback of our initial reactions to certain styles, colors, finishes, and fixtures. 

One of our goals from the start was to connect the new space to our existing store, which meant keeping brand colors and fixtures in mind for a cohesive look and feel. 

Layout 

Since we were keen on squeezing in as many books as possible, the second phase of the design process was to nail down the floor plan. We worked with Franklin Fixtures to figure out the bookcases and the cash wrap before moving on to the even more fun stuff - the whimsical and magical design details! 

An example of an early iteration of the floor plan, which changed more times than we care to admit (sorry, team GroH!) 

Sketches  

After settling on a floor plan we got to move on to interpreting some sketches. There was some revisiting of our inspiration boards, and lots of discussion around the look and feel we imagined for the store. In the below example Ally imagined a gallery wall with frames in the baby book section, to call to mind a cute and cozy nursery. Somehow this sketchy-sketch of Ally’s will get interpreted into a real retail sales floor! Impressive. 

Somehow this sketchy-sketch of Ally’s will get interpreted into a real retail sales floor! Impressive. 

Final Fixtures 

With details of floor layout and some design touches underway, we got to settle on our final plan for retail fixtures. Check out this cool rendering of our bookshelves!

A look at one angle of the new shop, complete with a shipping receiving nook in the corner (no more stairs, yay!)

The Magical Finishing Touches 

Now we’re in the final phase of the design process, when GroH! is working their magic with the last of the design elements like wallpaper, paint color, and light fixtures. 

We’re also working on our oak tree! This big beautiful tree sculpture is made out of sturdy steel by the artists at Nature Makers. We can’t wait to hang out with out beneath it’s branches to read! 

More soon! To stay in the loop on all things Old Town Books Junior, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter on oldtownbooks.com, and follow us on Instagram @oldtownbooks.

Best, 

Team OTB