Marrow Fine’s new Chicago boutique is brand creative director Jillian Sassone’s dream, blending her love for rubies and her vision of a lavish fantasy world where jewelry plays the most important role.
The company‘s first boutique outside founder Sassone’s home state of California had to be special, Sassone says. “Chicago is a sexy town, and I have always found the architecture so inspiring there,” she says. “We wanted to lean in to a moodier feel. Think hand-plastered deep rusts and reds throughout and bold three-dimensional wall elements that are meant to echo design aspects of our jewelry—just blown up on a massive scale.”
Sassone went all-out in terms of finishes, color scheme, and special features in the interior design of the Chicago boutique, and as a result it feels playful and luxurious at the same time. A prime example of how Sassone balanced those two qualities is the Babe Cave, an intimate salon at the rear of the store designed with the idea of transporting clients to the center of a hollowed-out ruby, Sassone says. The space is a monochromatic wonderland, saturated in red with a semicircular velvet banquette and walls.
The Babe Cave’s centerpiece is a custom-marble table where couples as well as girl gangs can gather to join Sassone’s universe, complete with a champagne cart ready to serve them bubbly and celebrate whatever special occasion brought them into the store, Sassone says.
“The Babe Cave feels incredibly luxe,” she says of her signature design feature. “Each of our showrooms features a Babe Cave, a special place to chat through custom ideas, make stone selections, or create a dream ring stack.”
The Chicago store opened Nov. 21, at 9 W. Walton St. in the Gold Coast neighborhood. It is Marrow Fine’s third location; the brand’s California stores are in Newport Beach and San Diego.
Design firm Bells + Whistles has worked on all of Marrow Fine’s stores, and the designers and Sassone took cues from the art deco era for the Chicago space. Bells + Whistles specializes in hotel lobbies and restaurants, so the Marrow Fine showrooms always feels welcoming.
“It’s important to us that our clients and brand enthusiasts feel welcome when they enter the space,” Sassone says. “Our stylist team treats you like they’re welcoming you into their home. They take your coat, offer you a beverage, have the right music playing, and candles burning. Jewelry shopping shouldn’t feel intimidating or like you’re being judged.”
Sassone says she cannot pick one favorite design element at the Chicago store, but its vintage chandeliers are in the running. Mostly, she says, she loves how each surface is carefully curated.
“Every square inch, including the ceiling, was hand-finished by Sasha Seyb out of San Diego. She’s an incredible artist,” Sassone says. “All of the custom cases and insane wall elements from Austin McAdams Design elevated the space beyond anything I could have hoped for.
“I am truly grateful and so proud of how far the brand has come. What began at our kitchen table has grown to three locations—it’s simply surreal,” Sassone adds. “This is such an exciting time for Marrow, and it’s exciting to think about where the brand will go from here.”
Top: Marrow Fine recently opened its third store—and its first outside California—in Chicago. (Photos courtesy of Marrow Fine)
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