Neiman Marcus

The Neiman Marcus specialty apparel store at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California, involved the total renovation and expansion of an existing three-level store originally built in 1978 and remodeled in 1985. The expanded and remodeled 163,000-square-foot store was completed in seven phases in May 2005. The design challenge was to create a contemporary, but not hard-edge, design concept, reflective of the distinctive Southern California lifestyle. Exclusive to this location, Charles Sparks + Company created a comfortably modern design that the firm terms “casual luxe.” The design style emphasizes open space and use of natural light, color, and materials indigenous to the coastal region.

The store layout was planned for easy navigation, and the design enhances the overall customer shopping experience by using color and details to accent and identify locations. Luxurious fitting rooms are designed for speed and convenience, with an emphasis on unique amenities. The main escalator, situated in the spacious, light-filled three-level atrium, transports customers up through the center of the store while providing a panoramic view of all the merchandise areas. From the new grand window in the main dining room of the Mariposa Restaurant, diners gaze out onto a garden terrace with outdoor seating and beyond to a view of the Pacific Ocean.

Throughout the store, subtle textures are used in combination with polished stones, custom-designed area rugs, etched glass, artisan glass tiles, stainless steel elements, special plaster finishes, and other unexpected combinations of materials that contribute to a feeling of sophistication. The illusion of space is sometimes enhanced by using translucent glass walls to define spaces and backgrounds. Integrating an eclectic mix of furniture, fixture details, and a regional collection of modern and fine art add to the store’s unique personality.