Sydney-based interior design duo Tania Handelsmann and Gillian Khaw, founders of studio Handelsmann + Khaw, unveiled the latest boutique for Australian fashion favourites Bec + Bridge – a space that leans into sensuality and theatre. Designed as a series of unfolding rooms rather than a single open-plan store, the boutique invites guests to move through it as though they were stepping into a fashion-forward apartment.
At its core, the space is defined by a rich, tactile palette and sculptural detailing. Curved stainless steel surfaces set the tone on entry, softened by plush carpet and suede-lined walls in a deep “Coca-Cola” hue. A French 1940s Jean Royère-style light traces the architraves with a soft, cinematic glow, while an early 20th-century Austrian pendant in the window adds a final note of vintage drama. Together, these elements create a world that feels both nostalgic and unmistakably modern.
Below, Handelsmann and Khaw speak on translating the Bec + Bridge identity into an interior, balancing bold visual moments with function, and the design decisions that shaped the finished space.
When you begin working on a new retail space like this one, what does your initial ideation process look like and where did you draw inspiration for this store?
We sat down with Bec and Bridge [founders, Rebecca Cooper and Bridget Yorston] and talked about their vision for the store and direction for the brand as well as who the Bec + Bridge woman is. I remember the meeting was at their headquarters and we were surrounded by mood boards showing their next collections and racks of samples. It was the fun fashion moment you'd imagine.
We drew inspiration from a mix of eras and places: from a Milanese street's shopfront to the theatre of a circular change room one might have seen in Bergdorfs in the 1930s. We liked the idea of creating a sequence of rooms, like a classic European apartment but with the sharp modernism seen in a 1970s New York skyscraper.
Bec + Bridge has such a distinct brand identity – how did you translate that into the interior design while still creating something fresh?
We wanted an interior that was sexy, unexpected, nonchalant. Because we mainly do residential work, we saw the shop more through the prism of what space would you expect to find a Bec + Bridge woman, rather than how do we embody her in a space.
How did you balance creating a visually striking space with keeping it functional?
Our concept was based on the customer experiencing the store a bit like they were walking into an apartment – with one room leading on from another. Fortuitously, by creating more walls against which to anchor clothing rails, our floor plan turned out to be functional also. One thing we learned is that the more empty-looking the store, the more visually striking it is – but the less functional it is. One has to balance these requirements.
Were there any architectural features of the building that influenced the final design direction?
Shopping centres are great because they are blank canvases. We had only the centre's neutral stone palette as a backdrop, which really allowed us to lean into the stainless steel entrance, which is both a nod to the grand entrances of Miami's Art Deco buildings and a louche Parisian nightclub. If anything, our scheme was designed to create architectural features where there weren't any bones or features to play with. Hence also, the architectural 'skylight' we placed in the centre room.
Collaboration is often key in projects like this – what was the process like working with the Bec + Bridge team, and how aligned were you on the vision?
It's funny because we expected Bec and Bridge to be very hands on, but actually what I have learned is that our most creative clients give us the most space to run the process; there is, I guess, a mutual respect for what other creatives do. I do think this elicits the best results.
As you'd imagine, they're very design literate: they instantly understand any references, but they also articulated what they wanted from the design in a clear and direct way, such that it was easy to align with their vision. I would say our team are big fans of the brand, so our aesthetics were quite aligned from the beginning.
Were there any unexpected challenges during the design or build, and how did you work through them?
Fitting out a retail space happens in such a very short, intensive time period that there are decisions which need to be made that hour, lest it holds up the program. This is so different to building a house. The pressure is actually quite exciting and to that extent, some compromises had to be made, because we were building a shop and not someone's forever home. I actually enjoyed finding commercial ways to do beautiful details.
Looking back now that the space is complete, what is your personal favourite moment or detail in the store?
One design guideline in a centre is that the shop's structure can't stick out into the mall area itself. We felt strongly about the entrance being a sculptural protrusion, so we had to think creatively about how to do this. In the end, we angled the shopfront back to stay within the guidelines. I think the interest that the front of the store creates was worth it and it has become my favourite moment. I also love the stainless steel lined shop windows with its art nouveau light fitting (thank you for saying yes to that, Bec and Bridge!)
