If you’re a fan of Celine’s chic and edgy style, you’ll love the brand’s stunning retail spaces, designed by creative director Hedi Slimane alongside Celine’s in-house design team. Each Celine store interior is a feast for the eyes, with sleek steel and mirrored surfaces, natural stone accents, and specially commissioned art installations. In this article we’re going to explore some modern decor ideas inspired by Celine’s unique interior style, and how we can bring some of Slimane’s aesthetic into our own homes. From natural stone countertops to floating shelves and geometric furniture, there are so many ways to add a touch of this interior design style into your space.
These are the five interior design elements we’ll look at in this article:
- Industrial Elements
- Natural / Rustic Wood Elements
- Bold Abstract Art & Sculpture
- Neutral & Warm Color Palette
- Clean Lines & Negative Space
1. ADD INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS INTO YOUR HOME DESIGN
In the Celine stores, industrial elements are tastefully incorporated, lending an edgy feel to the space. Matte black metal framing is used to create sleek glass display cases, while commercial-style suspended LED lights add a modern industrial touch. Accent walls clad in steel panels and the Basaltina limestone tiles used on the floors, though they are actually a natural stone, give a raw concrete feel with their cool grey tone, further contributing to the aesthetic.
To incorporate industrial elements into your home design, take inspiration from the Celine stores and opt for metal-framed shelving units or sideboards with glass or mirrored shelves. Architectural LED light fixtures suspended from the ceiling can replace traditional fixtures over a dining table or kitchen island, while cladding an accent wall in dark mirrored or aluminum paneling can add a feature element to a lounge or other feature room in the home. Finally, further add to the industrial decor style by using porcelain tiles like these ones that mimic the look of an old concrete floor.
- Freemont Sideboard, Cult Furniture
- Thin-Line™ 1 – Light LED Kitchen Island Linear Pendant, Sonneman on Wayfair
- Desmond Block End Table, Joss & Main
Incorporating these industrial elements is a great starting point for capturing the essence of the Celine stores in your own home, and we’ll explore additional design elements in the next section to expand on this as we explore and dissect this unique design style.
2. INCORPORATE NATURAL WOOD TONES & RUSTIC ACCENTS
Natural wood elements can be used as accents to create a warm and organic feel in an otherwise stark industrial modern interior design. In Hedi Slimane’s Celine boutiques, raw wood blocks are used as stools and brutalist natural oak chairs add warmth and character to the otherwise black, grey and mirrored elements in the space. This use of natural wood as an accent adds texture and visual interest to an interior.
To bring this look into your own home, consider incorporating natural wood elements sparingly. A minimal natural white oak dining table, like this one from Crate & Barrel, or a simple plywood block side table can add a touch of warmth and texture. Accents of more rustic elements like a raw wood block can be used to display a sculpture or a sliced piece of teak wood can be hung as art on the wall. These design elements can create a clean modern feel that also has a touch of natural warmth.
- Brutalist Cowan Primitive Dining Chair, France & Son
- Bûche Side Table, MUST Société
- Paradox 89″ Natural Oak Dining Table, Crate & Barrel
Incorporating natural wood elements as accents and mixing materials and patterns can help contrast some of the industrial elements we discussed in section one, and whether you choose to use wood tones sparingly or more prominently, it can be a great way to add warmth and texture to the space.
3. GET BOLD WITH ABSTRACT ART AND SCULPTURE
Contemporary art is a defining feature of the Celine stores, with the Celine Art Project showcasing a diverse range of works by both established and emerging artists. One notable aspect of these pieces is their ability to not only capture the eye, but also engage the viewer in a tactile and experiential way. For example, American artist Rindon Johnson’s yellowed rawhide cube wrapped in rope on display in the Rue de Grenelle store invites a tactile experience, while Shawn Kuruneru’s ink-and-acrylic painting, inspired by traditional Chinese landscape art, complements the decor and adds geometric movement and interest.
These types of bold and interactive artworks can also be incorporated into home design. When selecting pieces for your own space, consider artworks that not only visually appeal to you, but also encourage engagement and interaction. Mixing and matching works from mainstream stores like RH or West Elm with original pieces by established or rising local artists can add depth and interest to your collection, and incorporating sculptures displayed on raw wood pedestals or bold abstract black and white paintings can create a striking focal point in a room much like the vibe created in the Celine boutiques.
- Abstract Wooden Sculpture, Galleria62
- ‘Dark Modern Moment’ Framed Hand-Painted Raw Canvas Wall Art, Crate & Barrel
- ‘Slice’ Teak Wall Art 19″x35″, Crate & Barrel
Incorporating bold and interactive artworks adds depth an interest to these otherwise sparse modern interiors, and is just one of the layers of design in these stunning spaces. As we move on to the next section, we’ll discuss the importance of a neutral and warm color palette in creating a cohesive and inviting space, and how Celine’s design team has used this palette as the foundation for the feel of these unique spaces.
4. KEEP THE COLOR PALETTE NEUTRAL AND WARM
When it comes to the color palette of Hedi Slimane’s Celine stores, the overall vibe is decidedly warmer and more subdued compared to the stark black and white aesthetic of the Saint Laurent stores designed during his tenure at YSL. The use of glass and mirrored surfaces is still prominent, but with a mix of greys, creams, and natural wood tones, at times accented with glossy brass elements and black and white marble slabs.
To capture this warm and neutral feel in your home design, consider using whites with creamier undertones instead of cooler gray undertones. Tan-colored leather can add warmth to furniture pieces like benches or sofas. A light natural oak hardwood throughout the house can tie everything together, while light greys in tile selections for spaces like the mudroom or bathrooms can mimic the feel of the lime stone floors of the Celine boutiques.
To create depth, accent the lighter wood tones and grays with some darker or brighter wood tones such as natural teak in the form of art, sculpture, or focal pieces of furniture. You can also add some bolder black and white marble, but be sure to avoid using too much stark black, as the goal is to keep the palette neutral and warm.
- Lava Stone, Basaltina
- Cream Boucle Swivel Chair, Gallerie Noir
- Komodo Mid-Century Modern Rectangular Genuine Leather Bench in Tan, Walmart
The key takeaway is to focus on creating a balanced color palette that exudes warmth and depth while avoiding any harsh, cool tones. Incorporating these subtle but impactful design elements can help you capture the general essence of the Celine boutiques in your own home.
5. USE CLEAN LINES AND NEGATIVE SPACE
The design of Celine stores is marked by a sense of weightlessness and openness, achieved through the use of clean lines and negative space. The display cases and shelves in the stores appear to float off the ground, creating a feeling of weightlessness that is both modern and visually stunning. You can incorporate this aesthetic into your own home by choosing furniture pieces with thin modern metal framing and glass or mirrored shelves. Think about using this style for sideboards, shelving units, and other storage pieces.
In addition to the floating display cases, Celine stores also make use of large mirrored panels to create openness and a sense of space. You can incorporate this design element into your own home by using mirrored elements not only in furniture pieces but also in wall paneling. This can be especially effective in smaller spaces, where it can make the room feel larger and more open.
The stores also feature light fixtures with thin modern profiles that suspend from the ceiling, creating space compared to bulkier standard light fixtures. This style of fixture can be used in your home to create a similar effect. Look for fixtures with sleek lines and minimalist designs to achieve the same sense of openness and space.
- Brusly Floating Shelf, Ebern Designs on Wayfair
- Delaney 42″ Marble Media Console Bronze, Pottery Barn
- Minimalist Linear Pendant, Inspira Lifestyles
Finally, Celine stores use floating shelves to display their products, which is a great way to create a sense of openness and to keep your space uncluttered. You can use floating shelves in your home to display your own art or decorative objects, or to store books and other items.
Incorporating these design elements into your home will give it a modern and visually stunning look, while also creating a sense of openness and space that is both beautiful and functional.
MORE ON THE STYLE – MIXING ERAS AND STYLES
Celine describes the stores as having a style of “21st-century brutalism,” which refers to the 1960s architectural movement that rejected traditional concepts of simplicity, harmony, and beauty in favor of large, imposing structures. The stores’ design is characterized by crisp, geometric shapes and open, rectangular plans that are reminiscent of classic modernist style. These design elements are particularly evident in the Madison Avenue flagship store in New York’s Manhattan, but can also be seen in the brand’s other locations in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Milan, and Tokyo.
The stores have a touch of brutality in their midcentury aesthetic, which is conveyed through the use of luxurious materials such as black granite and marble. However, the stores also incorporate other materials and design elements from different time periods, such as brass and gold from the 1970s, blond oak furniture from the 1980s, and high-tech 90s inspired light fixtures, adding layers and depth to the space.
SHOP THE LOOK
Shop the products featured in our latest article to achieve the showcased style. Our editors have handpicked a selection of quality and stylish items that are sure to inspire. Click on any of the images below to be taken to an external website where you can purchase the items. Please note that some of the links may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. We hope you enjoy our picks.
