Stories by the Sea
Client
Ian Piggott and Sonja Duric
Location
Mount Elisa, VIC
Photographer
Nicole England
Stories by the Sea is a 200sqm bookshop designed as a sanctuary for readers, creators, and the local community. Every element celebrates craftsmanship and local handwork: shelves are reconfigurable without glue, joined with custom biscuits and pegs, and feature concealed, height-adjustable legs. Modular boxes allow the space to transform for author talks or community events.
The shop blends sensory delight with thoughtful design. Visitors can smell Queensland plantation plywood, books, and lemon-scented eucalyptus soaps, while vintage rugs, lounges, and a central “local author lounge” create spaces to linger. Typewriters invite poetry and messages of hope.
Stories by the Sea is more than a bookshop – it is a place of community, creativity, and calm, designed to surprise, delight, and inspire.
Stories by the Sea champions culture and creativity, with dedicated sections for design, children, and a large First Nations collection, featured prominently at the entry and in the children’s space. Sea-themed and paper-inspired products enhance the environment. Vinyl music sets the mood, with records available for sale. Customers describe it as “beautiful,” “an oasis,” and “a sanctuary” – a space to read, relax, and be inspired
Stories by the Sea is a refuge for book lovers and the curious alike. From reconfigurable local craftsmanship to cozy lounges and sea-inspired details, it’s a place to linger, explore, and connect with stories old and new.
Completed by the team while at StudioBE