The Barnes Bookshop Design

The Barnes Bookshop had been established on this site for many years and sales had stalled. The whole shop was poorly fitted with a basement that was damp and difficult for customers to access.

The location of the bookshop, however, was great and the new owner had the courage to invest and expand the stock volume.

The design brief required the ground floor balance a children’s area with a general section that had a stock large and varied enough to interest a committed reader.

A central staircase was installed to make the basement properly accessible and the counter fitted to run along one side, freeing all the surrounding wall space for bookshelves.

In the basement we expanded under the pavement and installed glazed windowbeds to give lines of sight from outside. The whole area was lit generously and the walls were shelved from floor to ceiling. High island units shelved on all four sides were mounted on castors to allow flexible use of the floor space. A new canopy was installed and exterior graphics applied to windows and fascia.

The sales are up 50% in year one. They are selling more in every area category. It has become a pleasant place to work and customers are enjoying the shop.