TEAM MEMBERS Ruth Mellergaard, BID, CID, FIIDA – Principal • Bachelor of Interior Design, University of Manitoba • NCIDQ qualified, #008719 • NY State Certified, #000236 • Design consultant for IJO (Independent Jewelers Organization) • Lighting expert • Colour and materials originator • Designer with environmental awareness • Experienced speaker and workshop presenter ………………………………………………………………………………………… Diamond Dream Fine Jewelers, Bernardsville, NJ When clients Faina and Edward Shapiro bought a century-old building in downtown Bernardsville, GRID/3 helped them retrofit it.  A new roofline updated the building, turning the 2 existing buildings into one. A newly refinished front, using Dryvit, an insulation and finish system updated the image. The result: an entirely new storefront. Inside, a coved ceiling hides a structural beam. Energy efficient lighting, circuited so that Edward can control what lighting is used during the day, keeps jewelry well illuminated and assists with keeping the store cool. Retrofitted old and new showcases contribute a classic look with a central selling island: an economic environmentally friendly solution for the interior space of this diamond and precious stone jeweler. Clients and customers are pleased with the retrofitted building: it contributes to the town’s historic downtown district. ………………………………………………………………………………………… IJO and JCK in Las Vegas Maintaining a designer presence at both trade shows, GRID/3 International meets and assists jewelers to design, renovate and retrofit their stores, large and small.  Designs that improve the look, flow, layout and functionality of the store strengthen the bottom line. Ruth Mellergaard is an experienced talker and workshop presenter, offering practical visual advice and design information.  Answering questions from the audience assays her ideas from concept to reality. GRID/3 International specializes in work with family jewelers. Years of experience benefit the successful segue from parents to offspring.  “Stores need a fresh look at this time of change, while maintaining and enhancing the familial brand,” says Ruth Mellergaard. ………………………………………………………………………………………… DeNatale Jewelers, New York City When the family store moved to the historic Trinity Building, NYC, the three brothers, who inherited the store, wanted interior design that respected tradition while providing a clear message about their modern jewelry design.  This family jewelry store, 104 years old, specializes in custom design, antiques and designer brands.  The store design melds tradition and contemporary design seamlessly. GRID/3 capitalized on natural light in the 700 sq. ft. showroom by refurbishing old showcases, adding new museum cases with minimal cabinetry and maximum glass. The showcases contribute to the sense of openness and light.  Mellergaard illuminated the store with a bronze track utilizing Solux 3500 Kelvin low-voltage lamps interspersed with classic pendant lamps retrofitted for energy efficiency.  The result: light to make the jewelry sparkle plus focus on the human scale within the 18-foot vaulted ceilings. ………………………………………………………………………………………… WORTH New York Design Studio, Fashion District, NYC Expanding its design studio for two lines of personal-shopping women’s wear, WORTH conveys a message of greater brand awareness.  The firm creates beautiful styling, attention to detail and natural materials in its clothes.  Aluminum drapery and signage plus orange Bertoia side chairs enrich two-toned taupe tile floor and white walls.  The result: a minimalist design aesthetic which reflects the WORTH brand of fashion design. Mellergaard specified aluminum, the world’s most recycled material for drapery and doors to hide closets, with Armstrong’s bio-based MIGRATIONS tile for an efficient ecologically sound floor solution.  The result: a design which functions well for design staff and projects the firm’s developed design aesthetic.  ………………………………………………………………………………………… Northeastern Jewelers, Schenectady, NY When Ray Bleser bought the store next door and expanded his building, structural columns impeded integration of the two buildings. Mellergaard wrapped the columns in glass and mosaic square tile, creating a focal point.  The result: the two buildings appear as one space.  This 3rd store for Northeastern features diamonds, watches and numerous vendors. Integrating a variety of vendors, all with different spatial and visual requirements posed another challenge.  Mellergaard chose light-coloured walls and pale wood to offset darker vendors like Pandora black fixtures plus Omega, Roberto Coin and Le Vian.  Boutiques line the outer walls; the owners’ strong diamond and watch departments anchor the store.  The result: showroom successfully balances vendors’ needs, while focusing on the Northeastern brand. ………………………………………………………………………………………… The GRID/3 Partnership/Joint Projects Kevin’s Fine Jewelry, Totowa, NJ When Kevin Seele moved into an upscale strip center, he wanted his store to project the warmth of a Tuscan villa.  Walk-up wall cases and museum cases on the wall facilitate side-by-side selling.  The result: the warm terracotta interior filled with residential curved cases imparts the warmth and down-to-earth quality of its owner. A hand-painted mural along the back of the cash-and-repair take-in, which spills onto the ceiling identifies the area and provides a focus. The final result: an aquarium filled with salt-water fish contributes to the personality of the space and transforms a strip-mall store into an exciting space which customers enjoy visiting and shopping. …………………………………………………………………………………………   Independent Jewelers, Winnipeg, MB, Canada When Ernie Epp turned over his business to his two sons, they needed to reflect the generational change by designing a customer-friendly store, which appeals to younger customers, without compromising its recognized brand.  The result: a combination of walk-up and three-sided cases encourages browsing.  This store design segues a family jewelry store from one generation to another, in the city’s oldest interior shopping mall. Lighting of interior space needs to be efficient without compromising the sparkle of the jewelry.  Bright contemporary materials plus metallic and dark colours create interest and visual commitment.  Staff and customers alike enjoy the store’s efficiency and aesthetic.