A new chapter for The New Trend's Armadale flagship at 1038 High Street, with a considered redesign by Studio Elliott that brings together architecture, interiors and a richly layered material palette.
The project marks an evolution of The New Trend’s original Melbourne boutique, creating a calmer, more immersive environment while retaining the intimacy and sense of discovery that have long defined the retailer’s approach. Every detail has been thoughtfully refined to allow the collections and the experience of discovering them to take centre stage.
Working closely with The New Trend, Studio Elliott approached the existing space through a lens of contrast, restraint and longevity, balancing refined materials with moments of character and warmth.
Entering the boutique, tumbled travertine cobblestones meet timber flooring underfoot, establishing a quiet foundation for the material gestures that follow. Blackened steel punctuates the space through sculptural racks and a grounding central table, bringing weight and depth against the warmth of the surrounding palette.
Timber burl veneer and ornate stone introduce richness through moments of joinery, while a grand-scale timber burl shelving unit anchors the store’s double-height volume as a defining feature of the space. Alongside it, two fitting rooms framed by organic tiger-print curtains introduce an unexpected moment of softness and levity, offsetting the more restrained architectural language.
The material story shifts again towards the rear of the boutique. Floating aluminium shelving brings a sense of lightness against blackened steel structures detailed with mosaic tile work, while curved fitting rooms in a deep, glossy finish provide a considered counterpoint to the neutral, straw-toned walls leading through the space.
Rather than relying on a singular material or design gesture, the interior is defined by the relationship between contrasting elements: old and new, warm and cool, refined and unexpected.
“The New Trend has always been about creating a retail experience that feels considered and personal. As the business has evolved, it felt like the right time for our original Armadale store to evolve with us. We wanted the new space to feel refined and contemporary while retaining the warmth and sense of discovery that have always been central to The New Trend.”
- Vanessa Spencer, Co-Founder and Brand Director, The New Trend
“The palette is built around contrast and restraint: travertine and timber underfoot, sculptural moments in blackened steel and aluminium, and a grand-scale timber burl veneer shelving unit anchoring the double-height volume. Alongside the neutral colour palette, we introduced small moments of softness through the tiger-print fitting room curtains and curved forms, resolving the space with a glossy finish at the rear.”
- Harriet Elliott, Founder, Studio Elliott
The completed space reflects a shared appreciation for materiality, craftsmanship
and the role of considered design in shaping the retail experience.
The New Trend Armadale is located at 1038 High Street, Armadale, Melbourne.
Interior Design by Studio Elliott @studioelliott
Photography by Lillie Thompson @lillie_thompson @theartline___
