4at
Rob Wolk shows
his sleek new space.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL LIPPITT
W
hen Rob Wolk decided to expand his
Sundance shoe store on The Boardwalk
in West Bloomfield, he sat down with
Birmingham designer Ron Rea over a
bottle of fine wine.
"We put our ideas together," says Wolk, who conve-
niently moved right next door to his original shop. "I
wanted South Beach meets Italy — slick with warmth."
The result is "better than I ever expected," Wolk says.
Displays have Picasso-like lines and curves; the
lighting is contemporary and sculptural; and the solid
oak sales counter is clad in chartreuse glass, dramati-
cally lit from inside, a design Wolk saw in Barcelona.
The airy, spacious shop can seat 50 on its
Ultrasuede- and Naugahyde-covered curved ban-
quettes. Upholstery colors are soft and soothing —
pale blue, butter and sea green.
"It's like a social gathering place on the weekends,"
says Wolk. "Guys used to wait outside while the
women shopped for shoes in our cramped space. Now
they come in, stay and relax."
The striking interior beautifully complements
Wolk's summer collection of retro-styled slingbacks,
stiletto-heeled pumps and sandals, Euro-sport casual
shoes and Marilyn Monroe-esque platforms. The shop
is filled with an incomparable selection of footwear
and accessories.
In fact, you just might close your eyes to the traffic
on Orchard Lake Road and imagine yourself at a
Milan atelier or in a club on South Beach.
— Linda Bachrack
6 • JULY' 3001 • STILE AT THE JN