Aesop retail stores are so consistently and predictably AWESOME that it’s actually becoming a little bit boring. Except – WHAT am I taking about – awesome is totally never ever boring! Period. From the very beginning, Aesop have understood the value of design and have managed to build a covetable world-wide brand by exploring and utilising every aspect of design excellence to their advantage. Their stores are their ultimate brand extension and fine examples of interior branding at it’s best. So clever, so inspiring, so AWESOME and never boring.

Back in September, Aesop opened their first standalone store in New York in the Nolita area (images above). Designed by New York architect Jeremy Barbour, who also created Aesop’s Grand Central Terminal kiosk, the interior “further explores construction possibilities of newspaper by using reclaimed copies of the New …