AAIS Insurance Office: Executive Office & Lounge

We are pleased to share the Big Reveal of one of our first commercial office spaces -- Across America Insurance Services. This project was nearly two years in the making. To bring this space to life, we met weekly with the general contractors and clients for over a year and half.

A longtime client and friend enlisted us to create his dream office when he bought a brand new empty building.

At over 10,000 square feet, and being just a raw empty shell, I will admit that I was first a bit intimidated.

Above: The large common workspace, which will house cubicles and a gathering area. Here you see the framing for the private offices, at upper left, and the conference room windows at the far right.

The Design Intent

The space needed to be totally designed and built-out, with all utilities ran, and all the planning for up to 50 employees. The space was to have a coffee bar, gathering area, full kitchen, lobby, conference room, and several private offices. From the door handles to the bathroom tiles, from overhead lighting to desk chairs, to every piece of art on the walls, our team was responsible for making all the aesthetic choices to bring this space to life.

Luckily, our client had an architect create plans for the engineering and we partnered with the incredible Oak It Inc, who are experts at commercial spaces including car dealerships, to help with the functional design layout and to fabricate all the cubicles and other custom millwork. It definitely took a village to make this project happen.

The architect actually suggested a materials palette that was very Danish Modern and a bit casual. Since I have worked with these clients for a long time, I knew that their tastes tended something more elegant.

At our first meeting, I asked my clients, would you want your offices to look more like an Apple Store, which is very cool, or a New York law firm. Or, perhaps a Four Seasons Hotel?

It was a trick question. I already knew the answer, of course. The elegance of a Four Seasons with the professionalism of a New York law firm.

Above: I put together a palette of white marble-look flooring, mixed with rich hardwoods and materials. Soft goods of camel leather, warm grey fabrics bring the look together. Accents of navy blue, part of their branding colors, appear throughout the design as well.

The Executive Office

Our client has an office in the middle of all the action. With windows overlooking the main work space, he has an open-door policy and is always poised to help his colleagues.

Topped in Cambria Quartz, our client's executive desk raises up and down. Custom design and fabrication by Oak-It. Phillip Jeffries grasscloth clads the walls.

His private office includes a cozy corner for one-on-one casual meetings. LC2 sofas, designed by one of my favorite architects Le Corbusier, add modern flair.

His Private Lounge

A pocket door in our client's executive office leads to a private lounge.

His private retreat features a Vegas-worthy lounge, including a cigar humidor.

This lounge is created for entertaining, and also features a sleeper sofa for the extra long hours that my client frequently logs.

His Private Restroom

The executive office and lounge feature a private restroom complete with a shower. Our clients love beautiful tile, so I tiled the entire wall behind the sink counter in a gorgeous antique mirror tile. We set a lit vanity mirror on the mirrored tile. The vanity itself was thoughtfully planned by Oak-It