Understanding how to maximize a space and plan for its potential uses is key to successful commercial environments. Whether you are a new business owner hungry for your first space with tons of ideas flowing, or you are moving from one office to another in town and just need some help, hiring an interior designer can help you save time, money, and headaches.
Before you sign a lease, it is always a good idea to get a “test-fit” drawing done. This drawing provides the minute details needed for effective space planning to take place. You may have access to floor plan drawings of your space that was completed long before you were in the picture, and this may not be sufficient for creating a plan that maximizes your space. Why not? Previous drawings were not created with your business needs in mind, so this test fit can be very “cookie-cutter” and could be too generic to meet your actual space planning needs. When you work with a designer, we develop a design program that is specific to your use, including seating needs for your staff and interaction with your customer base. We can also give you design input knowing what new furniture options exist beyond the cubicle!
There are many things that can come in to play in a commercial setting, especially when you are signing a lease that may include the option for tenant improvements. If you are considering negotiating for these types of improvements, an interior designer can help you determine important changes based on a space plan that is tailored toward your business needs. For example, let’s say you are an informal office and have no need for a 14-person conference table, instead you have break-away meetings in pods or groups. The extra space for a conference room will likely go unused and create a contrast between the formality of the space and the way it is actually being used. With space planning, we are able to customize your space, including determining what walls could be removed to allow for the extra open space that is compatible with the look and feel you desire. What’s even better? Space planning helps you determine if the space will be conducive to your needs before you sign your life away and find out what you could have done with a different amount or type of space.
Business owners just starting out are always excited and full of wonderful ideas! There is so much inspiration, drive, and love going into the first big steps of getting the business off the ground. Without an expert in your court, it is easy for those ideas and energy to get lost in translation, since there are so many different facets of this industry to worry about. An interior designer can help you navigate things like tenant improvements, building codes, ADA requirements, life safety codes, inspections, and more, all while keeping your space planning needs at the forefront. We can be a sounding board for your ideas and provide relief from the worry and the stress of putting together a new space. Collaborating with an interior designer can help you bring your ideas to life and maximize your space for your business needs.
The bottom line is, when you are considering potential spaces every detail counts. We want to be sure that your space will not only be well planned, but it will meet budget and deadline, and leave a lasting impression so that your guests and clients want to come back again and again!
