11 stores in India where materials steal the show

The best thing on display isn't always on the shelf

26 Aug 2026

Every brand has a story. Increasingly, that story begins long before you pick up a product. Freed from the conventions of run-of-the-mill showrooms, today’s stores experiment with materiality, circulation and sensory experiences to communicate a brand’s identity. Brick, stone, timber, terrazzo, metal and light: today’s most compelling retail spaces begin with a material palette where every surface, detail and spatial gesture shapes the shopping experience. Here’s ELLE DECOR India’s edit of retail stores across India where design is every bit as compelling as what’s on display.

11 retail stores where materials steal the show:

Ezhomz Experience Centre, Delhi

Designed by architects Kapil Razdan and Seema Pandey, co-founders of Arquite, the Ezhomz Experience Centre in Okhla reimagines the home automation showroom through an architectural lens. Instead of flashy displays, advanced automation systems are pleated within a series of brick vaults connected by a granite pathway. Recycled materials and perforated brick screens create a tactile setting where technology intertwines with the built environment, demonstrating how smart living can feel intuitive.

Tressoro Bombay, Mumbai

Designed by DR&W, Tressoro Bombay uncovers the latent character of a space left untouched for nearly four decades. Stripping the interiors back revealed soaring 16-foot ceilings framed by original teak girders, while the store’s challenging triangular footprint was softened through sculptural curves and bespoke insertions. A monolithic Kota stone backdrop, aquamarine terrazzo flooring and a dramatic staircase leading to the mezzanine define the experience, with a concealed bar tucked beneath adding an unexpected layer of hospitality. The redesign feels like an elegant revelation of the building’s existing character.

Osaanj, New Delhi

Designed by Studio Dot, the Osaanj experience is shaped by movement and discovery. Accessible from three sides, the booth unfolds through a sequence of tile-clad surfaces, mosaic installations and carefully composed display niches that gradually reveal the breadth of the brand’s surface collection. Sculptural interventions, custom lighting and an interactive tile-printing station enrich the journey, transforming a product showcase into an engaging exploration of craftsmanship.

Tianu Furniture, Hyderabad

Rather than resembling a conventional furniture showroom, the Tianu Furniture store in Hyderabad, designed by Dev & Kaushik Architects, feels like stepping into a thoughtfully designed home. The architects stripped away the typical retail framework, using teakwood and glass partitions to define spaces with domestic warmth. Leather-finished black granite floors provide a rich backdrop for the furniture. At the same time, occasional timber flooring and layered material transitions soften the experience, allowing each piece to feel naturally at home within its setting.

Vanto, Hyderabad

Spanning 50,000 sq ft across four levels in Jubilee Hills, Vanto’s flagship store brings together furniture, kitchens, wardrobes and doors within a single design destination. Building on the legacy of Furniture World, the showroom designed by Riaz Qureshi of Moriq Designs presents fully customisable solutions through a series of staged interiors that help visitors envision products in real homes. Oversized entrance doors, technology-enabled storage systems, bespoke furnishings- every space reflects the brand’s emphasis on functionality, personalisation and contemporary living.

Vault by SGP, Gurugram

Designed by Creatives by Rimaa, Vault by SGP evokes the grandeur of a regal residence while maintaining the clarity of a contemporary retail space. Earth-toned interiors, softly illuminated arches and elegant glass partitions allow the jewellery to remain the focal point. From the entrance, uninterrupted sightlines guide visitors towards a central spine that anchors the store, creating a shopping experience that feels both intimate and ceremonial.

Timberkala, New Delhi

At the heart of Timberkala’s experiential gallery by Aavyaktaya Architects stands a rescued roadside tree, a powerful symbol of renewal and the origin of the reclaimed timber objects showcased throughout the space. Conceived as a woodland-inspired gallery, the store embraces handcrafted imperfection through textured walls, fluid display shelving and naturally weathered finishes. More than a retail space, it is a tactile celebration of timber and the stories carried within every reclaimed piece.

Curious Hues

Co-founded by Rinku Passary and Swarnit Passary, Curious Hues is a gallery, retail destination and archive. Hand-carved teakwood furniture sits alongside reclaimed architectural fragments, vintage artefacts, railway sleepers and salvaged door panels, each thoughtfully reworked into contemporary pieces. With an ever-evolving collection of curios, the studio celebrates the beauty of reuse while inviting visitors to discover the histories embedded within everyday materials.

Parnami Incense Sticks Store, Vadodara

Designed by The Crossboundaries, the Parnami Incense Sticks flagship store transforms a compact 1,000 sq ft footprint into a multi-sensory retail experience. Its triangular plan becomes the organising feature, leading visitors through earthy Kota stone floors, oak veneer surfaces and textured walls that establish a warm, understated palette. At the centre, a sculptural lighting installation inspired by curling incense smoke reinforces the brand’s connection to ritual and mindfulness, making the store feel as evocative as the products it houses.

Zynaty Living, New Delhi

Zynaty Living’s first flagship experience store in Chattarpur goes beyond the conventional showroom, offering a curated environment that showcases complete interior solutions. Founded and designed by Divya Singh, the space layers natural stone, elegant veneers, handcrafted finishes, metallic accents and warm lighting to create interiors that feel refined and inviting. Bespoke kitchens, wardrobes, architectural millwork, custom furniture and statement wall treatments unfold as immersive settings rather than standalone displays, allowing homeowners and designers to experience how thoughtful material choices and craftsmanship come together to shape contemporary living.

P•TAL, Hyderabad

At P•TAL’s first Hyderabad flagship, brass is the star of the show. Designed by The Melange Studio, the 2,000 sq ft store brings the brand’s handcrafted brass, copper and kansa pieces into a warm, immersive setting spread across two levels. Large-scale installations made from thousands of brass elements steal the show, including a seven-foot patili suspended above the entrance and a sculptural brass tree rising from a traditional copper vessel. With craft, material and storytelling woven into the space, the store makes a strong case for letting the making be as much a part of the experience as the product itself.