The original sandstone walls, fireplaces and hidden doorways of a former Balmain bakery have been exposed in the renovation of skincare brand Aesop’s Sydney retail space.

Australian-based, Henry Wilson Studio attempted to retain and expose as much of the original features as possible, working them into the new design as a reference to the location and history of the building.

The designers chose Australian timbers and a pale colour palette for the interior to compliment the sandstone walls and reworked ‘off the shelf’ industrial components to create interior fittings such as shelving and sink frames.

Sheets of metal and bottle green glass have been used as shelving units to display Aesop’s products, while vintage furniture, hanging plant baskets and exposed copper pipes fill the rest of the shop’s interior.

A newer slab of locally sourced sandstone has also been brought in as a stand for the front register.

Courtesy Dezeen and Henry Wilson Studio