# VARA Modern Material and Lighting System

## Existing architecture to retain

- Keep all existing dark-oak doors, frames, stair handrail, carved newel posts, base details, and fixed trim.
- Restore the retained oak with a low-sheen clear finish; do not stain it pale or cover it.
- Keep the surveyed low ceilings, cassette AC units, columns, steps, glass partitions, and circulation routes accessible.

## New material hierarchy

- Walls: warm beige or greige mineral plaster with a matte, softly mottled finish.
- Floor: deep cool wine or black-cherry contract carpet with a plain, directional suede-like nap and no visible motif.
- New wood: pale oak or bleached ash only at the checkout front, selective wall inserts, and the inner reveals of shallow ceiling panels.
- Counter: pale vertical-grain oak front with a clearly separate honed warm-white marble top and restrained grey-beige veining.
- Racks: brushed stainless steel, open on all sides, with four slim legs and no cabinet, dresser, shelf, plinth, or box beneath.
- Accent: oxblood translucent or lacquered VARA photo wall; smoked mirror may be used sparingly.

## Lighting

- Main sales-floor ambient layer: a thin retained-dark-oak coffer grid with pale-oak inner reveals and large, flush, dimmable 2700K luminous panels. The illuminated grid must cover the complete ceiling plane from wall to wall and front to back; a central strip, island, or partial feature is not acceptable. The construction must remain close to the slab because the real ceiling is low.
- Compact-room ambient layer: dimmable 2700K concealed cove lighting and shallow flush opaline fixtures sized around existing services.
- Main sales-floor merchandise layer: exactly two continuous matte-black tracks, one per side, with restrained 3000K, CRI 95+ adjustable spots aimed at garments rather than the aisle floor.
- Portrait layer: soft frontal or cross-light at mirrors and the rear VARA photo wall; avoid overhead shadows on faces.
- Place every ceiling grid, panel, track, and fixture around existing AC units and access panels. Never cover service equipment.
- Warm the room through light sources, not an orange image cast; whites and skin tones must remain accurate.

## Merchandising and space

- Use one open center rack per main room and leave broad negative space around it for photographs.
- Perimeter displays stay edited rather than fully packed; each garment needs visible separation.
- Use women's designer clothing, dresses, handbags, and shoes only.
- Keep all seating in the rear photo salon. The front sales rooms remain sofa-free.
- The two former restrooms become complete dressing rooms with curtains, mirrors, hooks, a shelf, and a small stool.