Search

Inspiring Interiors: The Aisle

Business16-May-2023

The Aisle Bridal, based in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, is a luxury bridal boutique perfectly curated with the styles brides will love. We chat with Katie to find out more about their boutique.

Name of store: The Aisle
Store owner: Katie Brewer
Number of years trading: 6
Brands stocked: Made With Love, Jane Hill, Alena Leena, Hera Couture, Love Honor, Savannah Miller and Georgia Young.
Location: We are based inside Craven Court, a Victorian shopping arcade in the centre of Skipton, gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.

Tell us a little bit about your boutique, company history and where you are based.

We are a trend-led, fashion-forward bridal studio, offering the best bridal designers from around the world. We reject tradition, we celebrate individuals, and we explore creativity. We are for the dreamers, the free-spirited and the fashion-conscious.
Born from a vision The Aisle’s founder Katie had back in 2018, Yorkshire bridal boutique The Aisle not only endeavours to bring brides a completely unique and memorable shopping experience, but an experience that sartorially seduces even the most trend-conscious bride.
Enveloped in the bustling heart of Skipton’s Craven Court, The Aisle’s new Yorkshire bridal shop not only delivers all of the signature elements it’s known and loved for (that laid back experience, a sleek interior you’ll instantly want to capture for the gram and - of course - that truly unforgettable service) but all on an even bigger scale. And, once you’ve set foot inside you’ll realise that Craven Court (and its incredible, character-laced architecture) makes for the perfect location for our Yorkshire bridal boutique to continue causing a stir.

Where did you find your inspiration for the interior design of your shop?

I absolutely LOVED designing the new studio! I spent hours on Pinterest, sourcing interior imagery and inspiration. I also visited loads of small boutiques in the local area that have really cool laid back vibes as I wanted a calm relaxing feel, and something that was in-keeping with the grade II listed building, so felt the Scandi, minimal vibe would work well for us.

What was your process in designing your shops interior? Which bits did you enjoy, and which bits did you find hard?

The new space is in a grade II listed shopping arcade, and previously, the second floor had never been used, apart from for storage, however when I saw the original beams, high ceilings and the light flooding in, I knew it was an amazing space for brides. I had to apply for planning permission as I wanted to split the room into 3 areas and replace a balcony area with a floor. This took AGES! I had almost given up hope of getting the space, when finally, the plans got accepted.
I got the keys on the 1st November 2022, and the builders were straight in.
I luckily had an amazing team working on the renovation, it was so lovely to come in and see the progress every few days – as I can’t say I can do DIY!
The bit I found hard was sticking to a budget…I went so over what I initially planned to spend…oops! However, I am so pleased with everything that I don’t regret making these expensive choices – the little things have made all the difference.

What are the key features of the new interior? Are there any interior staples (for example a sofa or Instagram photo area etc)? Why are they so important for your interior? And how do they capture a bride’s attention?

We are very minimal – neutral tones, white walls and black elements. I worked closely with the joiner and his team to create some truly custom elements for The Aisle. Our rails are all engraved with our logo, and our desk has been custom with a beautiful curve panelled side to match our sofa.
I love texture, some of our walls have a really cool raised texture, and I love the contrast against the smooth new walls.
My lovely Grandma passed away in 2022, I saved some beautiful dressing room chairs that I had re-covered in a cream boucle that now sit pride of place in one of our fitting rooms – every time I look at them it puts a smile on my face.
In our Ilkley store we had a neon sign feature wall - this has been overdone so much now - but I still wanted a feature wall where Brides could take photos. I had a company who make signage for superyachts create a backlit sign for us, which sits on a wood panelled wall our joiner custom made, that also ties into our custom-made desk.

What kind of space have you created? Is it cool, relaxing, aspirational, inspirational, welcoming? Please explain how your interior conveys this feeling.

Meticulously designed around the cool, contemporary taste of the modern, fashion-forward bride, The Aisle experience is like no other. Completely personal to each and every bride who visits, you’ll love how our laid back, luxury vibe envelopes you in a welcoming embrace the minute you arrive.
Brides walk in and every single time comment on the space, how unique, light and calming it feels – which is exactly what I wanted to create.

Is there anything in your interior that makes your boutique stand out?

How much space we have! The dresses are really spaced out, and every bride gets a huge exclusive fitting room, so even though we may have a few brides in at once, they never see each other!
Our original features are incredible too – the beams and original windows let so much light in. We even have the original weaving wheel in our main dressing room as a feature.

How do you approach your window displays?

Minimal to match our interior – I am a massive believer in less is more. We have neutral dried flower arrangements in the window that also run throughout the interior, and then change the dresses every couple of weeks. We do have a huge window front now, so it is quite a task!

Finally, can you give us your tops three tips for creating a stunning interior?

Less is more.
Be true to your brand – it has to be relevant for your style.
Pick a theme/style and stick to it, this will mean it all matches and flows throughout the store.