We know that barrels cannot be square, and so when a brand like ‘Square Barrel’ comes along, we can most definitely expect stuff that is clearly out of the box!
The designers have worked on familiar looking items and given them an intricate and thoughtful treatment, thus transforming their very ethos.
This is exactly what Pratik and Shikha Barasia had in mind when they started ‘Square Barrel’. Translating their vision of ‘funky’ and ‘quirky’, they wanted a brand name that would fit their creative thinking.
“We chose the name Square Barrel because barrels are normally round and our ‘barrels’ are anything but that. We create objects that are anything but ordinary, objects that force you to look twice because they have a differentiating element,” explain the duo, talking about the products they house in their charming 500 square feet store.
The décor is extremely eye-catching. Right from the time the customers get their first peek into the store through one of the long windows, they are inspired to step in and scan the entire space. The entrance has a charming old-industrial feel about it. The main door is huge and transparent. It leads to a little area, where stands a huge red arch, welcoming the visitor into the world of ‘Square Barrel’.
To further engage with visitors, the store has fun quotes written all over the walls. It puts a smile on their faces as they navigate their way around the space. The display of frames on one entire wall is a clever way to add to the décor as well as showcase the products.
Good old wooden flooring provides a warm and comforting base on which the store stands. The ceiling with dark wooden beams lends a special charm and contrasts with the floor.
A unique feature of the design is that the walls are dressed up beautifully. “We have hammered in life sized chairs finished in our brand colours onto one of the walls. The hand painted characters in different positions give customers a feel of our state of mind while we rack our brains to come up with quirky, out of the box designs,” they say.
A wire drawing on the wall also catches attention. The thought behind it was simple – they needed a lamp, so they pulled a wire and gave it a ‘twist’!
In this space, colour assumes a very important role. Each furniture piece has a different colour combination and together they completely brighten up the space. The walls are neutral in off-white, and aid in being the perfect backdrop for the products.
This is a store where the USP lies in the design of the products, and hence the display of the same becomes equally important. Every product in the store is designed and manufactured in-house.
The store owners have also tried to infuse their unique sense of aesthetics into the display of the products. “Keeping the quirkiness of each piece in mind, we wanted to encourage the customer to experience each design individually. We have attempted to position them in a way that allows their uniqueness to come through and not get trumped by the quirky elements of the adjacent pieces,” they explain.
When ordinary stuff is given an extraordinary touch, the object shines out, as can be seen in the products.
It goes without saying that they constantly change the position of the furniture in the shop because new designs are introduced almost every few weeks.
In short, the look of the store is almost like that of an art gallery. When one has products, each of which is a work of art in itself, it does make good sense!
Text By Dhanishta Shah
Photographs Himanshuu Sheth
Contact
web: www.squarebarrel.in
