月下之爱丨乌克兰基辅丨HE.D Group

Love by the moon

Location - Kyiv, Ukraine

Year - 2025Design - HE.D GroupPhoto - Yevhenii Avramenko

Text - Natasha Levy​​​​​​​

Painted fabrics and custom timber joinery appear throughout womenswear boutique Love by the Moon in Kyiv, designed by local studio HE.D Group. The shop takes over a retail unit in the Ukrainian capital that once contained two small grocery stores separated by several partitions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Despite its crowded interior, the unit was distinguished by high ceilings and large front windows – features which would go on to inform HE.D Group's design scheme for Love by the Moon."These very windows inspired the idea of maximising openness – making the interior space seem to invite passersby inside, creating a sense of lightness, transparency and refinement," said the studio.

The boutique is now a singular open-plan room, finished with creamy white walls and chevron flooring. Shoppers used to enter the site via an unsightly glazed vestibule, which has been removed and replaced by red French doors adorned with glossy bobbles around their border.

At the centre of the room is a fluted wood service desk that balances on four chunky legs. A heavy brown curtain hangs behind, separating the shop floor from the brand's office, which lies towards the rear of the plan. Just beside the desk, a seating area is decorated with plump brown velvet armchairs, a pair of oval coffee tables and a wavy-stemmed floor lamp. Three large, pleated lanterns are suspended from the ceiling.

More seating is offered at the periphery of the room, where sofas are set beneath the windows. Their cushions are upholstered in ornate hand-painted fabric, which HE.D Group had made specifically for the boutique. "Throughout the transformation, we placed a strong emphasis on tactility, individuality and emotional resonance," the studio explained. "Textiles played a significant role. Many pieces were custom-made, with some fabrics hand-painted to create a truly unique visual identity."​​​​​​​

Hand-painted floral fabric also covers the back of a screen divider and the folding doors of the changing rooms. Inside, each cubicle is decorated with flower-like paper lights and wooden bobbin mirrors.​​​​​​​

Wooden bobbin details also feature in the bathroom.

These, along with several other timber components of the boutique – including the wall panelling, door frames and service desk – were crafted by local artisans based on drawings provided by HE.D Group. "This allowed us to meticulously match materials and textures by shade, ensuring that every element works in harmony," the studio added.

The changing room lights resemble flowers.