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.
Our longtime clients, for whom we renovated and furnished a home several years ago, called us when they bought a new office building to house their growing commercial insurance business.
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 Private Offices
My client and I share the belief that providing his team with a beautiful, functional space will result in employees that are happier and more productive.
Mohawk commercial carpeting provides a soft and sound-dampening groundwork for the private offices. The carpeting is actually square "tile" pieces, rather than a roll, so that a piece can be easily replaced should it be damaged or stained.
The color palette of white, grey, and camel is continued in the offices. Custom desks were designed and fabricated by Oak-It, featuring a combination of polished stainless, brass veneer, dark walnut cabinetry, and durable black desktops that don't show fingerprints or marks.
Durable vinyl wallcovering gives the look of grasscloth, adding color and texture. The door hardware is by Emtek and features polished chrome with white marble levers.
Her Private Office
AAIS is owned by a husband-and-wife powerhouse team. For her private office, we took the color palette but softened it slightly, for just a bit more feminine touch. In her office, the wood veneer is a lighter color and the wallpaper is soft silvery blue-green.
Her desk features storage made in a durable veneer that looks like linen and her desktop is Cambria Quartz.
Each private office overlooks the main workspace through beautiful full-height windows.
The Restrooms
For the two public restrooms, our goal was to create something worthy of a four-star hotel! 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. Of course, it meets ADA code compliance and features a smart trash can receptacle on the countertop, to keep things neat and tidy.
The bathroom features wallcovering in our accent color, navy blue, that has the appearance of stitched leather. Wallcover by Elitis.
The wallpaper, though an upfront investment, is much more durable than paint and is completely scrubbable and wipeable. When my clients questioned the investment, I reminded them that there is a reason why hotels always have wallpaper in the bathrooms. It is not just for the aesthetics; it also provides a layer of durability.
I hope you enjoyed this tour!
xo
CK
Sources-
Millwork Design & Fabrication: Oak It Inc
Construction: BR & Co.
Porcelain Flooring: Floor & Decor
Carpeting: Mohawk
Photography: Public 311 Design
Styling and flowers: Keith Fortner