Taank Optometrists
Taank is an award-winning independent optometrist on Cambridge’s Mill Road. After a neighbouring fire in 2019 caused extensive damage to the building, Layrd was brought in to reimagine and fully restore the three-storey site.
We led both interior design and project management, working alongside the wider consultant and contractor team to ensure smooth delivery. The brief was to radically modernise the space while preserving its historic character, creating a luxury experience that remains warm, approachable and true to the Taank identity.
Natural materials and layered textures were key to the new scheme: marble, oak, brass and ‘Taank navy’ work together to elevate the interiors. We reinstated traditional details such as cornicing and wall panelling, and celebrated the original fireplaces and Victorian staircase. At the same time, the client’s service-led ethos drove a retail space designed with precision, comfort and craft in mind.
From a coffee-bar-style reception to custom oak display cabinets, the space was built around bespoke joinery designed for both function and flair.
One of the most memorable features is a hidden frame repair workshop, concealed in a chimney recess behind mirrored doors that light up to reveal a brass worktop and tools!
A bespoke oak display cabinet with integrated lighting adds a warm, refined focal point to the interior, blending texture, function and quiet detail.
The project is completed with considered details that elevate the experience from start to finish. A softly lit consultation snug offers a calm, private space for clients, while subtle brass treads on the oak stairs echo the material palette used throughout, bringing cohesion and refinement to every corner.
Layrd are highly collaborative in their approach, regularly communicating ideas and plans while incorporating my visions into the project.
Although I have had input along the way, there’s nothing quite like stepping into store once it’s complete.
