When we first walked into what is now the Lulu + Belle boutique in Skerries, I’ll admit I wondered if we had taken on too much. The space had been a fish shop for many years and as you might imagine, the smell of its previous life lingered. Before we could think about all the exciting stuff like paint colours, shelving or lighting, the very first job was weeks of deep cleaning, scrubbing, airing, and refreshing the space until every last trace of its past was gone. Only then could I begin to imagine how the shop could be transformed into the light, airy, Scandinavian-inspired boutique I had envisioned.
Why Scandinavian Design?
Scandinavian interiors have always resonated with me. They embody a sense of calm, simplicity and functionality — qualities that are also captured in our jewellery. I knew that by leaning into these design principles, we could create a boutique that would feel welcoming, bright, and uncluttered, despite the shop’s modest footprint and the need to house both a workshop and a retail space.
In Scandinavian homes, design choices are intentional. Nothing is fussy or overdone. Spaces can be pared back, but they never feel cold — the use of natural textures, warm lighting, and carefully chosen furniture gives a sense of both calmness and comfort. For a retail space like ours, where jewellery needs to shine, this approach felt like the perfect balance.
Natural Wood and Clean Lines
The backbone of the boutique design is a simple white interior and natural wood. We built our central display table and shelving from a solid oak kitchen worktop, which immediately brings warmth to the space. The wood grain adds texture and interest, but its light tones prevent the shop from feeling heavy. We sourced the beautiful, interesting table legs from a Polish company on etsy which add a lovely twist to what is otherwise a minimal design. The rest of the kitchen workshop was used as a top for a generic white shop counter, giving it more character.
We wanted our furniture to be both practical and timeless, and this led us to the Lundia sideboard, sourced from the Finnish Design Shop. Lundia has long been a champion of modular, functional Scandinavian furniture, and their designs fit beautifully with our ethos. The sideboard is slim with gorgeous solid oak feet and gives us tonnes of additional storage for gift boxes and other packaging and display materials while also being a perfect way to display our jewellery collections. This is one of my most loved pieces of furniture in the shop and has become a focal point.
The bleached oak glass display cabinets in our windows were chosen with the same philosophy. They are simple and unfussy, allowing light to flow in freely while creating an elegant frame for our jewellery. The marriage of the oak display boxes from Hubsch on our handmade with display plinths makes a simple, modern display showcase in the window. We use giant glass vases from Ikea for seasonal flowers and foliage to keep the window in season.
Our beautiful display table was handmade from an oak kitchen counter top and some custom made legs sourced on etsy
Lighting for Long Winters
Lighting was perhaps the most important design decision. As anyone who lives in Ireland will know, winter days can feel short and grey, so we took inspiration from how Scandinavian interiors counteract their long, dark winters.
We budget a consideration – we had to go high-low with the lighting. We are huge fans of the lighting brand Nordlux, which offers wonderful designer style lighting on budget. We sourced these gorgeous very small hanging pendant lights soft-glow pendant lamps and warm-toned lighting from the brand – fitting nine pendants in total in the shop windows. We paired these with four larger Nordlux pendants hung diagonally across our display table. The effect is subtle but powerful: the space feels cosy and welcoming, even on a rainy afternoon in January. Light reflects off pale walls and natural wood, making the shop feel bigger and brighter than it really is. All of the lights have a subtle brushed brass fitting which brings them together and adds a little luxury to the jewellery window displays. Over our counter we went for an aysmetrical brushed brass pendant light which gives good task lighting for gift packing jewellery but which lends a little wow factor to the lighting.
Working with a Small Footprint
Another challenge was the scale of the space. The space also houses our jewellery workshop, so the boutique area had to be carefully planned to avoid feeling cramped. Scandinavian design principles once again came to the rescue.
We kept walls and floors light in colour to enhance brightness, avoided clutter, and stuck to a very intentional layout. Every shelf, drawer and surface has a purpose. By resisting the temptation to overfill the shop, we created breathing room, which not only makes the boutique feel larger but also gives our jewellery the space to stand out.
There are just four cabinets in the shop and the rest of the jewellery is on reclaimed wood shelving that’s free to touch and try on.
We had the problem of how to seperate the workshop from the retail space without committing to a partition wall or a more permanent solution. After many, many hours of research – we came up with the idea of hanging laser cut mdf panels in our custom size from the ceiling. We painted these white to keep the space light and bright. They are a perfect solution as they screen off the workshop, giving our staff privacy while still letting plenty of light through and keeping our landlord happy !
Creating Atmosphere
When customers step inside today, they often remark on how calm and inviting the shop feels. That’s the magic of Scandinavian design: it’s not just about what you see, but how a space makes you feel. The combination of natural wood, warm light, and clean lines creates an environment where people can slow down, breathe, and take time to choose a piece of jewellery that has meaning for them.
From Fish Shop to Boutique
Looking back, it’s hard to believe that this light-filled, Nordic-inspired space was once a dark fish shop with lingering odours and very little charm. The transformation has been a lesson in the power of design. With the right materials, furniture, and lighting, even the most unpromising of spaces can be reimagined into something beautiful.
For me, our Lulu + Belle boutique is more than just a shop. It’s a space where Scandinavian design principles meet Irish craftsmanship. Every display, every piece of furniture, and every glow of light has been chosen with intention — and together, they create a boutique that feels both functional, full of soul and continues to change with us.
You can see our jewellery at luluandbelle.com or visit our shop on Strand Street, in Skerries, Dublin.
About Me
