Style statement

The enthusiastic response from designer frame suppliers at the opening of the Mallon & Taub practice on Marylebone High Street was a seal of approval to the style and ambience of the new venture.
The wide shop premises, next to the BBC, had been a Japanese furnishing store before optometrists Joan Mallon and Shanah Taub carried out the refurbishment for their boutique-style practice late last year. The finished result is something of a minimalist temple to style, with its grey slate floor, dark wooden cabinets, white walls and floral displays.
The two practitioners met eight years ago when working together in London, and had the aim of eventually opening their own business. Their search for premises took in the West End, and they had been interested in the Marylebone area in particular for a number of years.
When they secured the shop premises, the refit took some six weeks, including the removal of a suspended ceiling, the creation of a new back wall with inset display space and the laying of the slate floor. The large slabs were imported from Belgium, and carry though the ground floor to the consulting room, bathroom and storeroom.
As both optometrists had experience of working as locums in recent years, being crammed into small consulting rooms, they insisted on a spacious test room, with the only compromise being a smaller storeroom.
The main practice furniture is a wall of American walnut onto which rows of small backlit frame-display boxes are set, interspersed with mirrors. Designer Huw Davies, was inspired by the Victorian way of displaying butterflies.
'It's the first opticians I've ever done and I have always thought that frames get lost when they are stacked together on shelves. You cannot really see them.'
His aim was therefore not to have too many frames on display. 'By putting them as individual objects in little cases they look more special,' he says.
The display boxes certainly give the eyewear a jewellery-like feel and it is not surprising to find out that Davies already has experience of fitting out a jewellery store. The same display boxes are used in the practice front, with a row set on top of industrial-looking metal pipes on one side, and suspended from the ceiling on the other.

contrasting finishes
The smooth finish of the walnut units and reception desk contrasts with the rough, un-skimmed white-painted walls on either side. 'We wanted a contrast with industrial-looking walls and industrial shutters, for an earthy, raw feel. We didn't want it to be totally sleek,' says Mallon.
This point is backed up by Davies who explains that the design aim for the practice was to look contemporary without being intimidating.
Fresh flowers on a weekly basis add to the relaxed feel of the practice, which has an open, uncluttered look. They also give more warmth to the premises which have quite a high ceiling. A low cabinet across from the main display area is attached to the wall and, without legs, gives the impression of being suspended, creating the illusion of more space.
While the cabinets are all hand-made, the floor was the next biggest investment in the practice refit and the only aspect of the design that resulted in any debate. They had thought about using highly polished concrete, but decided that would have been too cold, so slate was sourced instead.
So pleased are the partners with the slate that they have bought Philippe Starck 'Ghost' chairs, that are see-through and do not obstruct the view.
Mallon and Taub admit they always wanted to get more into the fashion side of optics and point out that having their own practice means that they can have any frame they want. The practice even has its own occasional fashion stylist in Jon Michael Harrison, who explains that the more unusual the frame, the better it sells, for example brightly coloured acetates of Alain Mikli.
As befits the store design, the frames and sunglasses on display are suitably impressive, from IC! Berlin to Freudenhaus, Alain Mikli to Face ˆ Face. There are even some vintage styles collected by the founders in recent years when they were planning to open the practice, augmented with some Cutler & Gross vintage designs.
'We wanted to create a boutique where we would have fun dressing eyes and it has paid off getting in all the different product,' adds Taub.
Another attractive feature of the practice is that none of the frames and sunglasses is locked away, thanks to the security tagging system, which enables customers to browse without having to ask for a cabinet to be unlocked.
The practice has already been frequented by BBC stylists and presenters who, along with other visitors, have welcomed the trendy frame selection, the user-friendly design and the relaxed atmosphere.