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Over the Top or Just Right

Linda Cahan -- Gifts and Dec, 5/20/2011 2:34:14 AM

LINDA CAHAN is a retail visual design consultant based in West Linn, OR.On my most recent trip to San Francisco my close friend of 57 years took me to a few of her favorite stores. Her taste is eclectic and whimsical.
Our first stop was Tail of the Yak. I had no idea what to expect from that name, but was completely delighted when I walked into a store filled with unique items and bursts of color. Carefully honed areas were, in a way, altars to unusual merchandise. Next was Lola. The visual merchandising and store design are the exact opposite of "Yak." It's clean, simple and sparse. Finally, we visited Gardenseed. A girly store full of pinks and reds, tinsel and tiaras, it's a visual buffet that overwhelms the senses in a delightful way.
Horizontal lines are calming and easy to read. At Lola in Berkeley, CA, these asymmetrical white shelves are perfectly positioned. The wood box alone on the top shelf mimics the prints As different as they look, all three stores have exquisite editing of merchandise and placement. Each offers a distinctly different shopping experience yet can attract the same customer. What makes all three stores stand out is their attention to detail. Even in a highly stocked store, the use of repetitive images, strong color stories and color spotting allows us to make visual sense of what we're seeing. When pieces are placed together thoughtfully, customers see them as going or working together. This will, hopefully encourage multiple sales.•The geometric presentation of birdhouses on Lola

Horizontal lines are calming and easy to read. At Lola in Berkeley, CA, these asymmetrical white shelves are perfectly positioned. The wood box alone on the top shelf mimics the prints' shape. Below, round orange placemats and wood crisscross racks add definition. Orange ties the row to the pillow below and prints above.

A Tiny Treat for the Eyes
The geometric presentation of birdhouses on Lola's wall encourages customers to choose their favorite color. The green birdhouse and moss balls tie in to the merchandise below.

Faux greenery and a jewelry form create an unexpected but delightful display for this necklace at Gardenseed in Danville, CA. This is easy to make but what makes it work are the rough edges on the form, which could be made of papier-mache or fiberglass.	Tail of the Yak’s combination of wooden articulated forms with mini musical instruments, bright plastic birds and chocolates is music to my eyes. Add the scalloped edged paper chevrons and we have a great combination of sweet, kitsch and very sophisticated.
Faux greenery and a jewelry form create an unexpected but delightful display for this necklace at Gardenseed in Danville, CA. This is easy to make but what makes it work are the rough edges on the form, which could be made of papier-mache or fiberglass.	The umbrella room at Gardenseed does such a great job of creating an ambience that I never noticed the heating duct running along the ceiling until I studied this photo. The workings of the store become invisible and we

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