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Office Design office layout

3 Tips for Creating a Cohesive Facility Plan

facility plan

It is crucial for any modern office space to have a well-designed facility plan to maintain functionality and productivity during a workday. “Facility planning” is a term used to describe the process commercial organizations use to ensure they have the facilities and related resources necessary to meet company goals. In other words, facility planning is the decision-making process used by business leaders like yourself to ensure your workspace can withstand the test of time. Whether you’re building a new office from scratch or redesigning an existing space, today we will be sharing a few tips for creating a cohesive facility plan to help you maximize profits and support your employees!

1. Set Clear Goals

As with any residential or commercial interior design project, the key to successfully creating a cohesive facility plan is to set clear goals regarding your specific intentions for your space.  This includes ensuring your office space will suit the space requirements and needs of current employees and also function well as your company experiences future growth. 

2. Plan Ahead 

Whether creating a facility plan for a brand new office or working to improve the existing plan for your current state, it is crucial to give yourself plenty of time to create and implement your plan. By documenting your precise objectives and goals for your space, you can begin to conduct a risk assessment of potential plans, which can help you maximize both time and money throughout the project. This is also important as it allows you time to seek input from employees or key stakeholders within your organization who might be impacted by a new facility plan; for example, seeking input or approval from employees who will experience new working policies such as flexible seating options or a smaller individual workspace. 

3. Get To Work

Once you have taken the time to set goals for your facility plan and made a plan for achieving them, it’s time to get to work! Working with an experienced design and construction team who understands facility planning will help you meet your goals and is the key to ensuring you are able to create a functional, cohesive workspace. 


With our regionally-based teams in IL and OH, Key Interiors Design has helped hundreds of commercial and industrial clients turn their dreams into reality when it comes to architectural plans, interior design, construction, and facility planning. If you’re ready to maximize functionality, productivity, and employee satisfaction within your space, it’s time to give the experts at Key Interiors a call! Click here to get in touch with us and to get started on your facility design project today. We can’t wait to hear from you!

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Office Design

How Including an Office Accent Wall Can Improve Your Branding

office accent wall

Whether you’re building a new office or just want to make some changes in your existing space, the addition of an office accent wall is one of the best ways to improve your branding while adding a sense of ambience within any commercial space. An office accent wall is a great way to ensure your office will stand out from competitors while enhancing the look and feel of your space for employees and visitors alike. Still on the fence about including an office accent wall in your commercial design plan? Here are a few reasons why doing so can help you improve the look of your space while maximizing your opportunity for advertising and branding!

1. Logo Designs

Including logo designs in your accent wall is a great way to assist with your company’s branding efforts while adding an aesthetically pleasing touch to any office space. This is one of the best ways to make your office stands out from competitors while simultaneously improving your brand’s visibility! Adding an accent wall with your business logo to a common area, such as a lobby or waiting room, is a great way to help customers familiarize themselves with your company. An office accent wall with your company’s logo can also be a great addition to a remote working space, as it will appear in the background of any video calls.

2. Company Color Palette

If you’d rather invest in a simple office accent wall that is a solid color, a great way to do so is by choosing a color that falls within your company’s color palette. This is an understated way to integrate your branding into your office space and can help tie your workspace together without requiring a company logo or complex design.

3. Company Values Wall

Looking to stand out from the crowd and improve your company’s branding efforts with an office accent wall that is out of the ordinary? A great option is a wall that includes texts with your company’s values or that describes your organization’s mission in a few short words or sentences. This will not only allow you to improve branding by letting customers know what your company is all about, but also encourage and motivate employees throughout the workday!

Contact Key Interiors

Looking to add an office accent wall to improve branding in your commercial space? Let Key Interiors help! With years of experience in commercial design, we have the skills and interior design expertise needed to create and build the office accent wall of your dreams. Contact us today for more information on our services or to get started on your next project!

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Office Design Office Renovation work environment

How Lighting for Conference Rooms Influences Your Meetings

lighting for conference rooms

Employees in many industries around the nation spend most of their workdays in meetings. Since it is the setting of a large portion of each and every workday, it is essential to optimize a conference room for employee productivity and satisfaction.  However, many conference rooms are lacking elements needed for this to happen, specifically, proper lighting. While it might not seem like a big issue, evidence shows lighting for conference rooms can have a major impact on the success of your meetings. Proper lighting is linked to higher rates of productivity, employee retention, and overall satisfaction in the workplace, making it an important element of any workplace. 

Looking for the best upgraded lighting for conference rooms? Here are a few helpful tips!

Invest in Versatile Lighting

Tailor your conference room lighting to fit specific meetings and satisfy different employee needs by opting for versatile lighting that can easily be dimmed. This will allow you to adjust the lighting in your conference room to improve visibility as needed; for example, group discussions and face to face meetings might require different lighting than a meeting that features a digital presentation or the use of other technology that might require the lights to be dim.

Incorporate Natural Lighting

If you are able to rely predominantly on natural light for your office’s conference room, doing so can have many positive effects on employee mental health and productivity. Natural lighting is linked to better mental and emotional health, and studies have shown that employees who have regular exposure to natural sunlight during a workday are often more productive and produce higher quality work than those who do not. If you are unable to rely on natural light from windows in your conference room, try investing in bulbs that mimic the effects of natural sunlight, which can lead to similar results.

Stay Away From Fluorescent Bulbs

If your conference room uses the bright, overhead fluorescent lighting that is typically associated with most traditional office spaces, it’s time for an upgrade. In recent years, LED lights have become a better, more visually pleasing option for many offices, as fluorescent lighting is linked to migraine symptoms in light sensitive employees, interference with employees’ sleep schedules, and poor mental and emotional health in those who spend the majority of their time in the office. LED lighting is not only more appealing to employees, but is more energy efficient and has a longer lifespan than fluorescent lighting, making LED a great investment when upgrading your office’s lighting for conference rooms. 

Contact Key Interiors To Learn More About Lighting for Conference Rooms

Key Interiors has helped enhance lighting for conference rooms in hundreds of workspaces to help boost employee productivity and satisfaction rates and to give commercial spaces in a variety of industries a modern upgrade. To learn more about our comprehensive design and build services, contact us today!

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industrial office design office construction Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

3 Ways to Modernize Your Workstation Cubicles

workstation cubicles

Workstation cubicles are among the most popular designs in traditional office spaces nationwide. While workstation cubicles offer many advantages, such as privacy for employees and space to work with limited distractions, there is no denying that outdated cubicles can drastically and negatively impact the overall look of your office space (and the attitudes of the employees within it). 

You can make many simple upgrades to your workstation cubicles to provide an instant, modernized look and feel. Keep reading to learn a few simple but effective ways to transform your office by modernizing your workstation cubicles.

1. Incorporate Glass

While workstation cubicles are beneficial for employees who need their own space for the sake of privacy and productivity, traditional cubicles can be quite isolating for some employees. To give your cubicles a modernized look and allow them to blend seamlessly into your open workspace, try incorporating glass walls or windows between desks instead of traditional dark, fabric cubicles. This is not only a more modern, aesthetically pleasing option but is likely to lead to higher employee satisfaction and productivity rates as it will create a more open, welcoming environment.

2. Stagger Cubicle Heights

Perfectly uniform workstation cubicles are outdated. Consider cubicles with staggered heights for a more modernized look and give employees different privacy options depending on their personal preferences or the level of privacy required by their day-to-day responsibilities. This will transform your outdated office into a sleek, contemporary workspace, benefiting employees who prefer not to work within a traditional cubicle.

3. Install Standing Desks

While this might not be an ideal option for all employees, installing standing desks in some or all of the workstation cubicles around your office is a great way to update your outdated workspace while giving employees a chance to break up the monotony of their workday, sneak in some exercise, and feel more productive throughout a long day of work. Standing desks not only look better in some spaces but are linked to improved physical and mental health and productivity rates among employees in various industries nationwide.

Ready to transform your outdated office into a contemporary workspace by upgrading your workstation cubicles? If so, it’s time to give the corporate office design and build experts at Key Interiors a call. From modernizing your workspace cubicles with glass installation to adding modern furniture like standing desks to your existing workspace, our team is equipped to transform the look of your office and improve employee productivity and satisfaction. 

Contact us today to learn more about our office construction and design services or to get in touch with a member of our team.

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Collaborative Workspace modern office design Office Design office redesign Office Renovation Open Offices

Open Concept Offices: Are They Right for You?

open concept offices

A top trend in office remodeling and redesign is open concept offices. Popular among those in the field of healthcare, education, tech, and more, open concept offices provide the ideal space for teams who prioritize collaboration and a transparent work environment.

What Are Open Concept Offices?

Open concept offices allow members of a team to work in one large space with no physical barriers restricting collaboration.  Unlike traditional offices that contained closed off rooms or rows of cubicles, open office spaces allow coworkers to work closely with one another, improving communication, teamwork, motivation, and productivity throughout the work day.

Benefits of Open Concept Offices

Opens Up a Room

If you are working within a smaller office space, taking an open concept approach to furnishing the room and creating a workspace can help your office look bigger and more open. Open concept offices are one of the most aesthetically pleasing and functional options for furnishing contemporary offices!

Improves Communication

Without physical barriers separating coworkers from one another, communication throughout a workplace is improved! If your workplace prioritizes transparency and communication among team members, open concept offices are a great option.

Increases Collaboration

If you work in an industry that encourages collaboration and co-creation among team members, open concept offices are the perfect design for your space. By breaking down traditional physical barriers that separate an office, coworkers are encouraged to work together and share ideas! Work is simplified, and productivity is increased.

Lowers Remodeling Costs

Open concept offices are cheaper than most traditional office structures, making them a favorable choice among executives in a variety of industries. The simple layout and lack of complex infrastructure allows employers to save money on office construction and remodeling costs.

Adds Flexibility

An open concept gives team members more variety when it comes to their day to day workstations and setups, making it a great option for those looking to break up the monotony of their day to day work life, and therefore improving overall productivity around any office.

Are Open Concept Offices Right For You?

If you work in an industry that encourages flexibility and collaboration or prioritizes transparency and communication among your team, open concept offices might be a great option for your workplace. Plus, open concept offices are cheaper than most traditional office layouts, and can save you money on construction or renovation costs!

Open Concept Offices at Key Interiors

At Key Interiors, we have decades of experience in constructing, renovating, and remodeling offices of all sizes and styles throughout the midwestern United States. To learn more about open concept offices and how we can help you create the office of your dreams, contact us today!

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office construction Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

How to Choose the Right Commercial Remodeling Contractor

commercial remodeling contractor

Remodeling an office space is no small feat. Whether you’re looking to undergo a major commercial renovation or just looking to make a few minor changes throughout your office space, you’ll likely need the help of a commercial remodeling contractor. No matter what type of space you are planning to renovate or what the details of your project might be, here are a few simple tips for finding the right commercial remodeling contractor for the job!

1. Consider Experience

While it might sound like a no-brainer to choose a commercial remodeling contractor with an ample amount of experience in the field, it is essential to review any contractor’s past work to ensure their specific experience aligns with the type of project you are hoping to complete. The right commercial remodeling contractor should be familiar with the type of renovation project you are seeking and the type of facility within which you are working. You should also consider the amount of time a particular commercial remodeling contractor has been working in the industry, as more experienced contractors are likely to be able to anticipate and solve potential problems before they arise and can often complete a project more efficiently than a contractor with less experience.

2. Prioritize Communication

A good commercial remodeling contractor will communicate with you and keep you up to date on changes and other necessary information throughout the process of a remodel or renovation. Renovating a commercial space is a significant project, and it is essential you are kept up to date about the status of the remodel every step of the way. Choosing a commercial remodeling contractor who prioritizes communication and transparency is the key to ensuring your project goes smoothly and is completed successfully.

3. Compare Prices

While a commercial remodeling contractor’s prices will likely vary depending on the project, comparing prices between contractors can help you find the right professional for a job. Commercial renovation professionals can vary in cost depending on their experience, their services, and the type of work you seek. Comparing prices among different contractors can help you find an option that works within your project’s budget while also ensuring high-quality work will be done. Some contractors, including Key Interiors, will provide fully transparent, internal bid-leveling, meaning multiple prices are sought for each appropriate discipline or trade, so you don’t have to solicit multiple bids to the most competitive price.

When undergoing the process of an office renovation, it is essential to find the best, most experienced professionals at the best price. Key Interiors is proud to offer cost-effective solutions that are the result of years of experience and a proven system of analyzing your needs during a commercial renovation project. We work to gain a clear understanding of your organization and your unique needs in order to create a healthy, inspirational, and productive working environment in which a renovation is completed safely, efficiently, and affordably. 

To learn more about our commercial renovation services and how we stand out from other commercial remodeling contractors, contact us today!

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office construction Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

Modern Office Spaces: Chicago is Ahead of The Curve

modern office spaces Chicago

Chicago is widely considered to be one of the trendiest cities in the modern United States, a title their office spaces proudly showcase. From research laboratories to film studios and all types of offices in between, when it comes to modern office spaces, Chicago is ahead of the curve. 

Key Interiors has decades of experience in office design, construction, and renovation in the greater Chicago area. While the wide variety of office spaces in Chicago are vastly different in function, many share common design themes. Today, we will be discussing some of the most common modern design trends that can be found in numerous office spaces around Chicago!

Open Work Spaces

One of the biggest trends in modern offices is incorporating an open-concept design into any workspace in order to encourage collaboration and communication among employees. Gone are the days of isolated cubicles or lonely offices! When it comes to open-concept office spaces, many businesses throughout the city and surrounding suburbs are utilizing this design concept.

Mirrors

Floor-to-ceiling mirrors can make any space look bigger and more open, yet they are a design trend that is often overlooked and underutilized when it comes to office spaces. Chicago is home to many offices that utilize large mirrors in order to open up a space and make it appear larger. From traditional corporate offices to testing laboratories and every space in between, mirrors can tie a space together and make it appear bigger to help make inhabitants feel more comfortable.

Comfortable Furniture

While many traditional office spaces feature outdated or uncomfortable furniture, many offices in Chicago offer an exception. The more modern office spaces Chicago boasts incorporate comfortable furniture such as ergonomic chairs, couches, and even unconventional furniture like yoga balls into office spaces, break rooms, and other areas. When it comes to comfort, there shouldn’t be a shortage of it in your office.

Natural Lighting

Research shows that bright, fluorescent lighting typically found in many office spaces can have a negative impact on employee productivity and overall mental and emotional health in the workplace. Natural lighting, on the other hand, can serve as a natural stress reliever and a more relaxing option for employees. In Chicago, many offices are utilizing large windows to create a considerable amount of natural light as well as office lights that mimic natural sunlight in order to add a more comfortable element to office design. 

When it comes to modern office spaces Chicago has a growing list. With over a decade of experience serving the Chicago area, Key Interiors can transform any office space and create the most functional, visually appealing modern office space possible. To learn more about the design, construction, and furniture services we offer and to see why we stand out from competitors in our area, contact us today!

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office construction Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

4 Things All Chicago Commercial Contractors Should Know

Chicago commercial contractors

Commercial contractors specialize in building, renovating, and remodeling offices, retail buildings, schools, restaurants, and other business structures. In major cities like Chicago, it is essential that commercial contractors maintain a specific skillset in order to successfully complete projects and meet client expectations. From licensure requirements to knowledge about necessary financial documents, here are four things that every good Chicago commercial contractor should know.

Licensure Requirements, Zoning Regulations, Building Codes and Necessary Permits for the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago

While it might seem like state regulations would trump municipal ones, that’s not the case in construction. The State of Illinois, for instance, does not require contractors to have a professional license. The City of Chicago, however, does. Good Chicago commercial contractors know the licensure requirements for each municipality within the greater Chicago area so that they are always in compliance with local construction laws. They also are well-versed in the specific zoning regulations, construction codes and permits needed to work across all the various communities within the Chicago metropolitan area.

The Differences Among Quotes, Estimates, Bids and Contracts

The size and type of a construction project usually dictates how a Chicago commercial contractor solicits, bills and collects payment(s) for his or her services. A reputable Chicago commercial contractor will know how and when and, especially, what to submit to a potential client in order to safeguard all parties’ interests and assets.

How to Communicate

Good Chicago commercial contractors don’t just request and deliver the right type of paperwork, though; they know how to communicate effectively in other ways, as well. Most specifically, they are able to explain construction processes, materials and design options in ways that make sense to clients, laborers, vendors, suppliers and any others involved in the project at hand.

A Trusted Network Of Contacts

Finally, the best Chicago commercial contractors know a lot of different people. Having a multitude of connections in the industry enables them to find and partner with other trusted resources throughout a project’s duration, elevating the quality of the work being completed and helping to maximize the project’s schedule and budget. The more people they know, the more likely it is that they will have the help they need when they need it!

The Key Interiors Advantage

Our team here at Key Interiors has developed a unique system for moving clients easily through the commercial construction process. Whether reimagining or remodeling an existing office or fitting out a whole new commercial space, we assist our clients with everything from initial design choices to diligently working through the subsequent phases of actual construction as an experienced Chicago commercial contractor. Our guidance ensures that projects are completed to the highest standard and within a reliable timeframe. To learn more about our turn-key services, please contact us today.

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breakroom design Collaborative Workspace Office Design office redesign Office Renovation work environment

Your Checklist for Designing a Shared Workspace

shared workspace

Shared workspaces are becoming more and more common as companies, entrepreneurs, consultants, freelancers and others continue to search for flexible working options that are not only affordable and convenient, but also spur creativity, productivity, and a sense of fraternity. Here’s what you need to know about designing a shared workspace that attracts tenants and maximizes your business’s capital, both human and financial:

What is a Shared Workspace?

A shared workspace is an office where people (both self-employed and/or employed by others) share working space, such as desks or rooms, supplies and equipment. In addition to offering these types of physical amenities, shared workspaces also provide the opportunity for workers from a wide variety of industries and with many different types of interests and areas of expertise to collaborate and socialize. Research indicates it is this intangible sense of community (rather than the space itself) that provides the most value for those in shared workspace environments, with the “(1) connections, (2) solutions, (3) energy/ motivation and (4) social support” available in the shared workspace increasing employees’ chances for success and improving their respective businesses’ bottom lines.

What You Need In Order to Design an Effective Shared Workspace

The perfect shared workspace isn’t created accidentally. You need to put a lot of thought into your workspace design if you want to get the most out of it. At Key Interiors, we’ve spent much time considering the critical features of these types of spaces and believe the best designs highlight:

Accessibility

The key to establishing a highly marketable shared workspace is making it accessible to the widest range of people. As well as being centrally located in a region or city, with easy access to public transportation, really effective workspaces are spacious, with accommodations for people with all types of abilities and needs.

Appealing Aesthetics

Of course, appealing decor helps to attract tenants and works to set your space apart from the competition. Working with an experienced design team can help you accentuate your rooms and spaces with the colors, architectural elements and other design trends most likely to render the most profitable results.

An Attention to Wellness

Today’s workers expect (and deserve) a workplace that is safe, clean and calming. But because shared workspaces necessarily experience a lot of traffic, it can be hard to effectively address wellness without a good amount of forethought. Choosing certain design features for your shared workspace — like wide expanses of non-porous counters, durable, hard surface floors, and touch-free technologies — can help you keep germs at bay since they are easy to clean and sanitize. Similarly, choosing furniture and fixtures (like moveable walls and dividers) that are flexible allows your workspace to be configured in multiple ways depending on the occupancy needs at any given time, making the overall space a lot more comfortable for those using it. Other design elements that particularly cater to employee health and wellness — natural lighting; fresh (or at least well-ventilated) air; noise control measures; and access to the outside — can also be easily incorporated with a little planning.

Adequate Areas

Finally, all well-appointed shared workspaces maintain the appropriate amount of space needed to meet, move and mingle. The goal of a shared workplace isn’t to cram as many people into one spot as possible; it’s to accommodate the most people comfortably. A shared workspace doesn’t just provide a spot for everyone to sit, but a place for them to have a private meeting; to talk on the phone; to sit and socialize; to use equipment; and/or to possibly share a meal. It allows them to walk about freely without having to rub elbows with officemates or stand in a long line to make use of amenities. Taking the time to thoughtfully plan out how every inch of a shared workspace could and should be used ensures that everyone gets what they need without sacrificing convenience or comfort!

Want to Learn More?

Designing a shared workspace that is both efficient and profitable is really just a matter of intention. With calculated thought, you can plan a space with the design features that give tenants the tools they need to be productive so that they come and stay in your space! Please contact our design team at Key Interiors to learn more about designing a shared workspace that works for you, as well as your tenants.

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breakroom design Office Design office redesign Office Renovation work environment

5 Benefits of Employee Lockers

employee lockers

Today’s business world is a lot different than it was just a few short years ago. Hot-desking, hoteling and other options resulting from a Covid-related demand for more flexible work hours means more and more employees are having to share space when they do come into a physical office. But even if they still have their own desk, employees (and the companies for which they work) greatly benefit when everyone has a dedicated place to store personal belongings. Take a look at five benefits of adding employee lockers to your modern office design:

Added Security

First and foremost, employee lockers help keep the personal belongings of an organization’s staff safe. Especially when they don’t have access to a permanent desk, having a secure, lockable space to store phones, purses, backpacks, and other valuables gives employees peace of mind and allows them to focus more fully on their jobs. It also helps prevent thefts and accidental losses of important possessions, thus reducing workplace conflicts.

Enhanced Organization

Employee lockers also improve an office’s level of organization. In addition to storing the personal belongings of workers, they can be used to house office supplies and equipment so that individual stashes of stationery, electronics, etc. don’t have to be parsed out and stored separately at each employee’s desk. Indeed, employee lockers keep offices a lot tidier and a lot more efficient, providing room for the supplies employees would otherwise have cluttering their desks.

Flexibility

As mentioned, employee lockers are vital for organizations offering flex schedules. With options for employees to telecommute, job share, and broker other types of hybrid work arrangements, hoteling and hot-desking are quickly becoming the norm for many companies. Employee lockers allow employees the ability to come and go from the office as they wish and still have access to their own personalized space to store valuables.

Morale Booster

Being able to safeguard one’s personal effects is a basic human need. It’s also a basic human right. When companies offer employee lockers they are essentially acknowledging and, therefore, validating the needs of their employees and subsequently reminding them that they are valued. It’s a great morale booster.

Increased Productivity

Finally, an uncluttered work environment makes it easier for employees to get to the tasks at hand. Storing their belongings away from their desks not only creates cleaner surfaces for employees to work, but also prevents distractions and allows employees to concentrate and be more productive. In essence, adding employee lockers can improve a company’s bottom line since more work often translates into more profit!

Want to Learn More?

If your organization is considering a new office build-out or a renovation, you might want to consider adding employee lockers to your project’s scope. Employee lockers improve an office’s efficiency, promote enhanced productivity by eliminating unnecessary clutter and distractions, and accommodate a wide variety of schedules so employees are able to work more effectively while onsite. To learn more about incorporating employee lockers into your office, please contact our professional design-build team here at Key Interiors.

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Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

How to Design an Efficient Laboratory Floor Plan

laboratory floor plan

Designing the perfect laboratory floor plan is part preference and part science. While the layout of any individual lab should necessarily accommodate the personal proclivities of the scientist(s) who will be using it, the process of creating a truly efficient laboratory really centers on a few key design elements, which together help to enhance safety, speed up processes and minimize errors. Here’s what you need to know to design the perfect laboratory floor plan:

Ask Questions

Before putting pen to paper, you need to talk to the people who will be working in the lab space. Ask questions that explore their needs, as well as their wants, for the space. The specific priorities of the people using the space, coupled with the type of research being conducted, available budget, and proposed timeline for the project will inevitably provide the parameters that affect the laboratory’s design.

Start with a Walk-Through

Onsite evaluation of the proposed laboratory space is the next step to creating an ideal laboratory floor plan. You can’t possibly understand all the factors likely to impact a lab’s design without actually seeing and experiencing the configuration of the rooms and building in which the lab will be located. During this walk-through, consider the accessibility of utilities; maintenance issues; lighting; ventilation; temperature and humidity controls; air pressure and filtration; equipment needs; and workflow. Also, think about how people will enter and exit the space and whether or not it makes sense in conjunction with the type and number of deliveries and visitors to the proposed lab itself. All of these things should influence the laboratory design.

Prioritize Adaptability and Flexibility

Even though strategizing with current scientists to create a laboratory floor plan that is relevant to present circumstances is critical, you shouldn’t overlook the importance of flexibility and adaptability as you create your final laboratory design. Research methods and foci evolve over time. Designing a laboratory that has plenty of storage and is easily modified when priorities change ensures that your lab is functional for as long as possible and, thus, cost-effective with the highest ROI. Some suggestions include incorporating adjustable height bench tops and modular casework, benches, and tables that can be reconfigured to suit any number of varying needs.

Maintain Safety

Of course, safety should always be top of mind when designing any type of laboratory floor plan! Proper ventilation, biological waste containers, emergency decontamination stations, and smoke/fire/gas protection systems need to all be assessed so that the people entering the lab are best protected and able to work safely and effectively.

Want to Learn More About Designing a Laboratory Floor Plan?

Designing an efficient laboratory floor plan involves good communication and a lot of expertise. To create a lab that maximizes resources, protects the people performing the work inside and ultimately yields the best results, please contact our team of skilled laboratory designers at Key Interiors. We have decades of experience that allows us insight into designing the perfect laboratory spaces for our clients’ own specific needs.

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Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

What is a General Contractor and What Services Do They Provide?

what is a general contractor

General contractors play a very important role in the construction industry. Not only do they manage all aspects of a building or remodeling project, but they also provide valuable insight to their clients and offer them financial protection against any liabilities (should they occur). Take a closer look to understand just what is a general contractor:

What is a General Contractor?

A general contractor is a licensed professional who oversees the process of building or remodeling residential and commercial properties. In addition to new builds and interior fit-outs, general contractors manage site improvements, remodels, and renovations, providing services that allow their clients to maximize budgets and capitalize on a myriad of skills and expertise.

What Services Do General Contractors Provide?

General contractors facilitate the completion of many or all of the aspects of a construction project. Their goal is to keep their worksites safe while maintaining the highest standards for the projects they complete. Typical general contractor services include:

Budget Estimation and Billing — After meeting with clients and developing a better understanding of a project’s scope, a general contractor will provide an estimate for the project’s projected cost. He or she will take into consideration the price of labor; materials; tools and equipment; permits; inspections; taxes; and more, allowing clients to better anticipate the fiscal requirements of the project at hand. For the duration of the project, general contractors will also ensure that subcontractors are paid in a timely manner and clients have access to accurate financial statements.

Subcontractor Scheduling — One of the most important aspects of a general contractor’s job is to schedule all the subcontractors needed for a project. Union regulations frequently mean tradesmen can only work in one field, necessitating several different teams of tradesmen be hired to complete a single project. General contractors make sure that all the people needed to perform the various tasks of a construction project (such as plumbers, electricians, roofers, drywall installers, painters, etc.) are on site when needed. This keeps the project running smoothly, saving time and money.

Permit and Inspection Requests — Many building projects require permits or official approvals from the local government that allows construction to progress on a property. It’s a general contractor’s responsibility to apply for and secure any necessary building permits and arrange all subsequent city inspections in order to ensure all construction is up to code and, thus, remains valued at its maximum.

Materials Procurement — Of course, all construction projects require materials. General contractors work with clients, subcontractors, and vendors to supply all the tools, materials, and other equipment needed for work to commence onsite. Supplies, such as lumber, drywall, steel, concrete, dumpsters, and much more, come from a variety of sources.  General contractors locate, purchase and arrange delivery, sparing their clients the hassle.  One of the things that separates Key Interiors from our competition is our ability to control cost and lead times by purchasing most of our materials direct rather than through our subcontractors.  We also differentiate ourselves by offering office furniture through our network of over 400 furniture manufacturing partners and rep firms.

The Key Interiors Advantage

So, what is a general contractor? It’s a firm that fills an important role in the execution of quality interior and exterior construction projects. Our in-house team of design and construction professionals at Key Interiors offers a wide range of turnkey construction services that make new builds, renovations, or any other type of commercial or industrial renovation project a lot easier and a lot less stressful. In many instances, we also help our clients save money too. To learn more about the advantages of using Key Interiors for your own construction project, please contact us today.

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Office Design office redesign Office Renovation work environment

The 5 Best Building Amenities for Employees

building amenities

While many employees don’t have to work from home anymore now that the pandemic is finally subsiding, more than 97% of Americans still want to. It’s a shift in employee mentality forcing a lot of companies who miss the synergism of in-person collaboration to think about the types of incentives they should offer to entice employees away from their homes and back to a corporate space. In many instances, these businesses are choosing to expand their building amenities, hoping that the promise of added on-site perks will persuade employees to ditch their sweats, brave the commute and return to the office. Here are five of the best building amenities your company can offer:

A Mother’s Room

Lactation rooms are mandated by federal law for all companies with 50 or more nonexempt employees. Per Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), these employers must provide a clean and private space (outside of a bathroom) for lactating mothers to pump breast milk while at work. A company of any size, however, would benefit from providing a well-equipped mother’s room as a building amenity. Not only does it demonstrate support for nursing women and help to reduce absenteeism and lower healthcare costs, it can improve the morale of all employees by providing space for other wellness needs (such as meditation, migraine relief, religious prayer, etc.).

A Well-Stocked Breakroom

Of course, every company needs a well-stocked breakroom where employees can take a few minutes for themselves. Studies indicate that 67% of employees with access to free snacks and a nice place to relax at work are “extremely” or “very” happy with their job, making this seemingly simple perk less of an extravagance and more of a necessity for companies wanting to keep their workers content while onsite. Indeed, providing free food is a win-win for everyone, since it often also keeps employees from leaving the building for breaks that end up lasting a lot longer than anticipated (which necessarily frequently decreases their productivity).

Natural Light and Green Space

Sometimes the best building amenities are the ones that exist outside an office’s front door. Today’s employees have (potentially) had two years of instant access to the great outdoors. To get them to give that up and come back to a work environment for eight (or more) hours a day, companies need to offer similar opportunities for outdoor exposure. Natural light sources and a pretty place to sit outside are two types of building amenities that can keep employees energized and engaged throughout the long workday.

Comfortable Furniture

Comfortable furniture is another building amenity that can have a huge impact on employee productivity. Unfortunately, too many companies neglect it. Taking the time to invest in quality furniture that can be customized for personal tastes and is comfortable, helps employees relax. In turn, they might just stay longer and get more done!

Collaborative Space(s)

Finally, all companies need space for employees to gather. Whether for work or socialization, large open space(s) can facilitate collaboration that, in turn, boosts employees’ moods, fosters innovation, and, ultimately, creates a dynamic company culture. It can be the best building amenity for companies wanting to grow into the future and improve their bottom lines.

Ready to Learn More?

Building amenities don’t have to be expensive to be effective. To learn more about using building amenities to create an inviting, supportive, and stimulating workplace environment, please contact our team of designers at Key Interiors.

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Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

4 Commercial Remodeling Ideas to Make the Most of Your Space

commercial remodeling

An effective training space requires more than a large room. While a decent-sized room is nice, truly effective training spaces also have a variety of other features that encourage community, collaboration, exploration, and reflection. It’s easiest to design the perfect training space from scratch, but any business can create a functional area to gather together and train personnel in an existing office by paying attention to the following elements:

Location

Like good real estate, good training spaces are all about location. To be effective, training spaces need to be in a location that is large enough to assemble the anticipated number of trainees; they need to be easily accessible, but not necessarily centrally-situated (since noise could be a problem if the room is placed in a particularly high traffic area); and they need to accommodate a wide variety of equipment and people.

ADA Compliance

Of course, the wide variety of people who will inhabit your training space makes it especially important for you to remember ADA regulations as you create your room’s layout and design. In fact, ADA compliance isn’t just a nice element for you to consider. It’s the law. Thus, all training spaces in your building must be accessible for those with limited mobility and/or dexterity and have appropriate signage to assist those with special visual needs.

Equipment

The best training spaces also have suitable equipment to satisfy a full range of possible needs. For example, while every training session might not require the use of an overhead projector, every training space should be configured in a way that ensures a projector could be used if needed. At a minimum, technological tools such as a whiteboard, retractable screen, microphone, speakers, and sound system — along with the aforementioned projector — should all be included in a training space’s design.

Lighting

You’ll need need to think about lighting as you build the perfect training space, as well. Because you’ll likely use the space in a myriad of ways, you’ll need varying levels of light. Installing a dimmable fixture will allow you to eliminate harsh glares while still permitting you the ability to illuminate the room more fully when necessary.

Flooring

Flooring is another important element since the right flooring can help reduce noise, regulate temperature, and enhance air quality. Pick a flooring type that is durable, easy to clean, and cost-effective to ensure you get the best bang for your buck.

Furniture

Finally, choose furniture for your training space(s) that is sturdy, versatile, and comfortable. Ergonomic pieces that can be configured in multiple ways will help create a functional and pleasant place to gather, allowing your employees to teach, learn and socialize in ways that are both productive and enjoyable!

Want to Learn More?

Effective training spaces make use of many different design elements that can and often do change according to a business’s own unique needs and resources. To learn more about picking the training space features that best match your company’s own goals and objectives, please contact our team of professional designers here at Key Interiors. Our experience provides insight into designing training spaces that maximize form, as well as function, thereby strengthening your brand and ultimately impacting your bottom line!

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Collaborative Workspace Conference Rooms Office Design

6 Important Elements of Effective Training Spaces

training spaces

An effective training space requires more than a large room. While a decent-sized room is nice, truly effective training spaces also have a variety of other features that encourage community, collaboration, exploration, and reflection. It’s easiest to design the perfect training space from scratch, but any business can create a functional area to gather together and train personnel in an existing office by paying attention to the following elements:

Location

Like good real estate, good training spaces are all about location. To be effective, training spaces need to be in a location that is large enough to assemble the anticipated number of trainees; they need to be easily accessible, but not necessarily centrally-situated (since noise could be a problem if the room is placed in a particularly high traffic area); and they need to accommodate a wide variety of equipment and people.

ADA Compliance

Of course, the wide variety of people who will inhabit your training space makes it especially important for you to remember ADA regulations as you create your room’s layout and design. In fact, ADA compliance isn’t just a nice element for you to consider. It’s the law. Thus, all training spaces in your building must be accessible for those with limited mobility and/or dexterity and have appropriate signage to assist those with special visual needs.

Equipment

The best training spaces also have suitable equipment to satisfy a full range of possible needs. For example, while every training session might not require the use of an overhead projector, every training space should be configured in a way that ensures a projector could be used if needed. At a minimum, technological tools such as a whiteboard, retractable screen, microphone, speakers, and sound system — along with the aforementioned projector — should all be included in a training space’s design.

Lighting

You’ll need need to think about lighting as you build the perfect training space, as well. Because you’ll likely use the space in a myriad of ways, you’ll need varying levels of light. Installing a dimmable fixture will allow you to eliminate harsh glares while still permitting you the ability to illuminate the room more fully when necessary.

Flooring

Flooring is another important element since the right flooring can help reduce noise, regulate temperature, and enhance air quality. Pick a flooring type that is durable, easy to clean, and cost-effective to ensure you get the best bang for your buck.

Furniture

Finally, choose furniture for your training space(s) that is sturdy, versatile, and comfortable. Ergonomic pieces that can be configured in multiple ways will help create a functional and pleasant place to gather, allowing your employees to teach, learn and socialize in ways that are both productive and enjoyable!

Want to Learn More?

Effective training spaces make use of many different design elements that can and often do change according to a business’s own unique needs and resources. To learn more about picking the training space features that best match your company’s own goals and objectives, please contact our team of professional designers here at Key Interiors. Our experience provides insight into designing training spaces that maximize form, as well as function, thereby strengthening your brand and ultimately impacting your bottom line!

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Office Design Office Renovation

How to Renovate Office Space To Maximize Your Bottom Line

renovate office space

Looking to renovate office space in the New Year? Undergoing minor construction or taking on a full-scale office remodel can not only upgrade the look of your space but can also help boost your company’s bottom line! Many businesses around the nation have reported up to a 60% increase in profits due to a recent office renovation. Whether you’re planning to renovate in the upcoming year or you’re currently in the middle of a renovation, here are a few tips for maximizing your bottom line alongside the completion of your project.

Consider Functionality

While the aesthetics of any office space are important, ensuring your office is functional and designed for maximum efficiency and employee productivity should be your top priority when planning to renovate office space. The functionality of your office depends on your unique team and the way they work. For example, if you work in an office that supports collaboration among team members, potential ideas for an upcoming renovation could include the addition of more social spaces allowing your employees to work together comfortably. Higher rates of productivity and efficiency will not only boost your company’s profits but will lead to higher rates of employee retention and satisfaction.

Save Energy

In 2023, one of the most popular aspects of any office space renovation or construction project is adding equipment that is more energy efficient. For example, installing LED lights, swapping out energy-sucking kitchen appliances in favor of more eco-conscious alternatives, among other options, can not only help save you thousands of dollars per year on your electric bill but also help reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Most energy-efficient products such as major kitchen appliances have a longer lifespan than other devices, meaning they should hold up well in your office for years to come, even when used consistently. Making your office more energy efficient is one of the most beneficial things you can do when taking the steps to renovate office space.

Hire the Right Contractors

While hiring the right team or professionals to assist you as you undergo office space renovations might sound like a no-brainer, it cannot be overstated how important finding the right team of contractors is when looking to maximize your bottom line. Hiring the help of experienced professionals can help you work within your budget to accomplish your renovation project without breaking the bank, and will ensure that renovations are completed within a timely manner to help save on additional costs.

Key Interiors is proud to serve as a leader in office renovation and construction projects in the Chicagoland area. Our Design-Build-Furnish approach streamlines construction projects, providing our customers with a single, trusted resource for office space renovation. Through our unique approach, we are able to consolidate communications and planning, creating a flexible but effective process that identifies challenges, develops solutions, and keeps the project moving forward to meet milestones and goals, maximizing your company’s bottom line as you complete a successful office space renovation.

To learn more about our services or to connect with one of our expert team members about how we can assist you to renovate office space or plan a construction project, contact us today!

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office construction Office Design Office Renovation workstation design

3 Tips for Designing a Laboratory

There are many important requirements that must be met when undergoing the design and construction of a space that houses laboratory-grade equipment. A professional laboratory must be designed with safety in mind, protect those working within it from contamination, and prevent outside elements from entering the laboratory environment, among other potential safety or health hazards. Creating a functional space in which large or potentially dangerous equipment can be stored safely, furnishing and finalizing a common space designed with real people in mind, and ensuring the comfort and safety of those who will be working in a lab are just a few reasons designing a laboratory can be a challenge.

If you are in the early stages of designing a laboratory, here are 3 important tips to ensure that your project is successful.

1. Prioritize Safety

Proper lab safety begins with a proper design.  When designing a laboratory, be sure to eliminate the risk of human errors by being mindful of any potential hazards. This can mean watching out for electrical issues, potential fire hazards, the possibility of chemical leaks or damage, and more. You should also be sure to install proper safety features such as custom chemical fume hoods, fire safety devices like extinguishers and sprinklers, eye wash stations and showers, for example.

2. Allow Easy Flow of Traffic

In addition to being mindful of your lab design to ensure it does not pose any potential risks, it is important to give lab employees and visitors a safe way to move about the lab each day and exit the lab quickly in the event of an emergency. Not only does this mean installation of a clear emergency exit, but also designing the interior of your laboratory with wide, easy-to-navigate walkways. This promotes safety during the daily hustle and bustle or even during an unforeseen evacuation.

3. Minimize Clutter

One of the best ways to keep your laboratory easy to navigate and manage is by reducing the amount of clutter and excess equipment laying around the space. Any modern laboratory should have adequate storage space in which equipment – including chemicals and other potentially hazardous materials – can be safely stored. Whether you opt for cabinets, floating shelves, or additional closets, adding storage space is one of the most efficient and impactful decisions you can make when designing a laboratory.

 

Here at Key Interiors, we are proud to have decades of experience under our belts creating laboratories that meet the requirements of the highest safety standards. From furnishing and installing laboratory spaces with custom fume hoods, to hospital-grade cabinets, to chemical-resistant countertops, our expert team of professionals can help you create a lab that is both safe and functional enough to withstand daily wear and tear and looks good while doing so.

If you are in the process of designing a laboratory, let us help streamline the process and make the completion of your project easier than ever. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help turn the professional laboratory of your dreams into a reality!

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breakroom design Office Design Office Renovation workplace kitchen

How to Design a Multifunctional Office Kitchen

renovate office space

The average person spends an estimated 90,000 hours working in an office or behind a desk. To make that time more enjoyable, productive and profitable, it makes sense for companies to maximize the amenities available to the people they employ. Even something as small as adding a coffee station has been shown to encourage creativity, facilitate collaboration and boost workplace morale, all of which positively impact a business’s bottom line. Just think what an actual kitchen could do! Here are a few tips for designing a multifunctional office kitchen that serves a variety of purposes (beyond serving food) and, therefore, makes the most out of any size budget:

Customize Your Options

What makes a space useful depends on the specific needs of the company designing it. Different companies have different types of office floorplans, different numbers of employees, different goals for the space, and different budgets. For these reasons, designing the perfect office kitchen is not the time for a “one size fits all” approach. An office kitchen able to fulfill the most diverse range of objectives will be the one that has been customized according to the precise requirements of the commissioning company.


Think about the size of both your workforce and the room itself. Consider whether or not your organization requires a full range of food preparation equipment and then tailor your space so the appliances, furniture, storage solutions and other aspects of your design match most of your company’s needs and objectives. Remember, time can and will change every company’s focus, so you’ll want to design a space that allows the easiest future modifications.

Pick a Good Location

Of course, a multifunctional office kitchen must, by definition, be functional in multiple ways. Thus, the best way to ensure the functionality of any kind is to first position your office kitchen in a convenient spot within the office itself. An ideal spot would be central to a majority of workers but still isolated enough that sounds and smells don’t permeate actual working spaces or otherwise serve as a distraction to daily work activities.

Think Outside the Box

Multifunctionality requires creativity. A basic office kitchen provides a place for employees to take a break, grab a coffee and/or eat a meal. A truly multifunctional office kitchen allows for a much broader use of the space. Perhaps the addition of a retractable screen at one end of the room and opting for plush seating rather than wooden opens up possibilities for the space to be used for entertaining clients or having meetings. Likewise, furniture can be used instead of cabinets to hide your utensils, pots and pans, knowing the space will be used for more than just eating. Think outside the box so your office kitchen is as versatile as possible and doesn’t scream “utilitarian,” “boring” or “inappropriate for the task at hand”!

The Key Interiors Advantage

You don’t need a lot of money to design a multifunctional office kitchen, you just need a good imagination. Professional designers like the ones on staff at Key Interiors can help. Our expertise makes us uniquely equipped to recognize the myriad ways an office kitchen might be used in today’s modern world. Please contact us to learn more.

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Collaborative Workspace modern office design Office Design Office Renovation

Why Collaborative Office Spaces are Essential in Modern Business

collaborative office spaces

Typical office layouts change over time. Workers have moved from working in individual stations to open spaces to cubicles and back again in a loop that transforms itself every few decades depending on the values and potential hazards (like a novel coronavirus, for instance) of the current time. And while changing the layout of an office can be a daunting process to consider, in many instances it can precipitate a variety of benefits that make the hassle well worth the effort, time and expense. As we enter a post-pandemic era, take a look at four good reasons to consider collaborative office spaces at your own place of work:

Increased Productivity

Isolation often inhibits creativity, magnifies stress and triggers lethargy. Indeed, with little exposure to and interaction with colleagues, employees who sit alone in their individual offices or cubbies (or homes!) can become bored and depressed, unable to generate new ideas or meet their deadlines. Bring them together in collaborative office spaces, though, and companies often see their workers more engaged and a lot happier, with renewed energy to tackle the tasks at hand. The result: more work completed in less time.

Enhanced Utilization of Space

Collaborative office spaces can also help keep your budget on point. Real estate in today’s business world is at a premium, and owning or renting a building that isn’t being used efficiently is simply a waste of money. Quite often, however, you can create collaborative office spaces that entice employees to return to the office, welcoming them back to a physical space that was being paid for, but not being used. It’s a great way to keep your building inviting and, therefore, fully occupied. Furthermore, collaborative spaces, by their very nature, maximize the square footage of a building’s existing space, condensing more employees into a space that previously held less. In this way, not only do more employees want to be back in the building, more can actually fit. It’s a two-fold benefit of collaborative workspaces that ensures your resources are being used appropriately and not needlessly squandered.

Revitalized Office Culture

Finally, collaborative office spaces frequently contribute to the strengthening of the relationships that exist within a company’s workforce. Unlike individual offices or cubicles, collaborative office spaces allow large numbers of employees to gather together at one site. In these communal spaces, employees are able to explore and share their beliefs, eventually creating sincere personal bonds that boost their overall well-being and improve their performance. Perhaps most importantly, the close personal relationships fostered between employees working together in collaboration lead to a shared appreciation for company values and beliefs, building the foundation for a meaningful and powerful company culture.

Want to Learn More?

In a post-Covid world, collaborative office spaces have become essential. They not only strengthen work relationships and enhance employee cooperation, they promote an office synergy that ultimately boosts a business’s bottom line. To learn more about creating collaborative workspaces at your own company, please contact Key Interiors.

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Conference Rooms modern office design Office Design Office Renovation

5 Steps to Designing Perfect Large Conference Room

large conference room

A conference room serves a variety of purposes for most businesses. In addition to providing space for employees to gather for meetings, most conference rooms are also used to court clients, entertain staff and guests, interview prospective personnel and train new hires. They serve as workstations, classrooms and sometimes even just a quiet place to relax. A large conference room is a valuable commodity; here are five important steps to designing the perfect one:

Evaluate Your Business’s Needs

As mentioned, a large conference room can (and should) serve multiple functions. Think about all the ways you might need to utilize the space so you are able to incorporate features that address the majority of those purposes. If your office has more than one conference room, it might not make sense to equip this one with high-tech audiovisual equipment; if your office only has one, it might! Just because a large conference room could include a lot of elements, it doesn’t mean it should!

 

Pick the Right Room

In a perfect world, a large conference room is removed from the hustle and bustle of your office’s daily activities. Look for a quiet, private space where your staff and guests can retreat to focus on the business at hand.

Think about Your Clients and Guests

A large conference room will necessarily create an impression on your clients and guests. Make sure it’s a good one. Remember that your conference room is an extension of your branding. It presents an image to the people who enter its doors. Strive to match your room’s furniture, decor, amenities and other components (right down to the paint) to the overall message you’re trying to convey and work to create as hospitable a place as possible so clients and other guests look forward to returning to it.

Choose Your Table(s) Carefully

A large conference room can accommodate a number of different types, as well as configurations, of tables. Determine if you need one table or several, and then consider the layout best suited to your room’s main function. For instance, for conference rooms used mainly for board meetings, a U-shaped table might work best since it facilitates easy conversation among all participants. On the other hand, a modular table option that can be rearranged in multiple ways would allow maximum flexibility for conference rooms being used consistently for numerous purposes.

Remember Lighting and Other Amenities

Lighting, of course, is one of the most important aspects of any room. For large conference rooms, you want to ensure there is enough lighting for people to see what needs to been seen, but not so much that there is a distracting and/or headache-inducing glare. A lot of work takes place in these areas, oftentimes with sophisticated equipment. The right lighting enables everyone to focus (on the screen, speaker, etc.). Likewise, the right amenities keep participants comfortable and involved. Remember to include trash cans. Add a serving area along one wall to easily distribute beverages, food and information packets. Sometimes a coffee machine and mini refrigerator are good additions to a large conference room as they allow for quick refreshment while staying engaged with meeting participants and objectives.  Even something as mundane as the type of chairs you pick for your space can impact the productivity and satisfaction of your employees, clients and guests.

Ready for More Tips?

Designing a large conference room involves a variety of steps. These are just a few of them. To learn more about creating a conference room that optimizes your business objectives and maximizes your budget, please contact Key Interiors

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Office Design Office Renovation

Why You Should Choose a Turnkey Contractor for Your Project

turnkey contractor

Commercial office renovations, especially if they are design/build, involve a variety of complex components that must be managed. The process of making and sticking to a budget, hiring the right subcontractors and maintaining a realistic deadline and schedule is often complicated and always time-consuming. Here’s why you should hire a turnkey contractor for your next project instead of trying to tackle things on your own:

To Save Time

A turnkey contractor designs, builds and manages a construction project. Hiring one means property owners don’t have to waste time researching, interviewing and hiring architects, individual construction tradesmen or sub contractors, project managers, site supervisors, furniture and material vendors and more. Instead, they can work with one firm to coordinate and execute everything.

To Save Money

As people say, “time is money,” and because hiring a turnkey contractor saves you time, it definitely saves you money. Hiring a dedicated partner to manage all your project’s moving parts helps streamline communication and proactively identify and solve potential problems before they lead to costly delays.  It is vitally important for your project to remain on schedule, especially if any delay could cause interruption to production or paying exorbitant rent prices to occupy multiple buildings during an office move.  In most instances, a turnkey contractor has relationships with other building professionals that allow them to negotiate better prices for materials and services than you would working by yourself.

Improved Quality

Expertise breeds excellence. A turnkey contractor has experience that improves the quality of your overall project. Because one person (or firm) is acting as the turnkey contractor for your project, the various stages of your renovation or new build will be held to and judged by the same standards. The result: a consistent, high caliber of work.

Less Stress

Of course, one of the biggest reasons to choose a turnkey contractor is to reduce the amount of stress associated with renovations and new builds. Construction of any type often inspires anxiety and tension for property owners. Being displaced from your normal setting and worrying about projected costs, coupled with a lack of privacy and security, can leave you worried about how everything will sort itself out. Indeed, lack of control is generally cited as the number one cause of anxiety and depression for all people. Passing control to a turnkey contractor allows property owners, specifically, to quit worrying about the small details of a project, thus reducing their stress!

The Key Interiors Advantage

A turnkey contractor is a valuable asset for businesses wanting to get the most out of their next renovation or new office build. At Key Interiors, our team of in-house design and construction experts has decades of experience executing full-turnkey design/build/furnish projects for industrial and commercial clients of all sizes.  Our ability to provide office furniture in addition to full-scale design and construction services sets us apart from most other general construction firms.  To learn more about using Key Interiors as a turnkey contractor for your next project, please contact us today.

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Collaborative Workspace Office Design Office Renovation

The Benefits of Hoteling Office Space

hoteling office space

Convenience and productivity are buzzwords in today’s business world. Employees want one, and employers demand the other. While each might seem at odds with the other, neither needs to be sacrificed and both can exist simultaneously. Indeed, the world’s recent pandemic has done nothing if not taught us that people can work wherever and whenever they want and still yield valuable, profitable and efficient results. Take a look at how one trending commercial design feature — hoteling office space — can improve your company’s culture, as well as its bottom line:

What is Hoteling Office Space?

Hoteling office space refers to the current trend in office management that allows employees to schedule the use of certain resources and/or an actual desk, cubicle or conference room at the company office. It’s a novel concept designed by organizations to maximize employees’ time and productivity while still allowing them the convenience and flexibility of working in the office only when they need or want to be on-site.

Why Hoteling Office Space is Becoming So Popular

Since the start of the pandemic, more employees are splitting their time between home and office. With fewer employees working in-house full-time (current estimates put the typical office just over 40% occupied at any given time), companies simply don’t want — or need — to designate a desk or office to a person who probably won’t be there to use it half of the time. To address this marked decline in office utilization, companies have created a way for employees to “reserve” office space so that they can work from home but still have the opportunity to set up shop and spread out their things when necessity dictates they work in the office or directly among their colleagues.


Unlike hot-desking, hoteling office space allows workers to reserve a specific space within the office to use on a certain day and for a set amount of time. It’s the same principle used by travelers when they reserve and are, therefore, guaranteed a hotel room to use while on a trip. Hoteling office space is so popular because:

  • It’s Convenient — Employees can work remotely, but they still have the option to come to a designated workspace and have equipment waiting for them to use when needed. This is especially beneficial for employees who work for companies with offices in multiple cities or locations since it permits them to travel easily around the world with little disruption to their routines or available support.
  • It Increases Productivity — Hoteling office space encourages collaboration, which increases productivity. Rather than having rooms (or station/cubicles) and resources that are always restricted to certain people and/or that must be shared among 100% of employees each day, companies have an abundance of space and equipment that can be shared among only the people who choose to be on-site at any given time.
  • It Saves Money — Real estate is expensive. Hoteling office space means companies can increase headcount without having to expand their physical campus.
  • It Improves Morale — Employees appreciate the flexibility that hoteling office space affords and, therefore, are usually more excited to work (whether it be in the office or remotely)!

Want to Learn More?

Hoteling office space is a growing trend that benefits employees and employers alike. It’s a convenient and profitable solution for companies that want to maximize their space and budgets while still protecting one of their most valuable assets: their employees. To learn more about how to implement office hoteling solutions at your own place of work, please contact our design team at Key Interiors.

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Office Design Office Renovation

Elements to Consider For Your High End Office Design

high end office design

From the layout of your office to the atmosphere within it, high end office design is no easy task. The way you design your office can play a major role in productivity, creativity, and overall satisfaction among employees. So, what are the most important elements to consider for your high end office design?

There are several elements that are common in many successful high end office designs that can be effectively applied to any building in order to ensure that an office space serves as a comfortable and dynamic environment for employees. Some include:

Practical Layouts

 

When designing any office, it is important to keep in mind the people who will be working in it every day. To maximize productivity, consider possible distractions when designing the layout of an office – avoid placing distracting or noisy items like the coffee maker or photocopier right next to someone’s desk. Also, be sure to consider both natural sunlight exposure and areas with the best office lighting to avoid tucking someone into a dark corner, and make sure that there is enough space between each person’s desk so no one feels cramped. Think about your team and their needs, and be sure to prioritize practicality when designing your office.

Natural Light and Open Air

Studies show that adequate exposure to natural light throughout the work day can lead to increased productivity and act as a natural mood booster for employees, as can stepping outside or sitting near an open window where there is access to fresh air.  Without consistent exposure to natural sunlight and/or fresh air, employees might find themselves feeling tired, sluggish, and more easily overwhelmed, negatively affecting productivity. To maximize the amount and quality of work being done in the office, be sure to prioritize natural lighting and fresh air in your design plan.

Color

Adding a pop of color to the interior of your office space can make any work environment instantly feel more positive and welcoming. Instead of dreary colors like white or grey that are traditionally found in most offices, opt for a soft pop of color like blue or yellow to liven up any room and create a comforting atmosphere for your team.

Areas Divided By Noise Level

One addition that many executives are making to office spaces is designated areas for particularly loud or quiet activities. Creating an area for potentially loud informal meetings or gatherings that is separate from other desks is important to avoid distracting people from their work. Similarly, including a few quiet spaces in your office design can allow those working on specific tasks to focus on their work free from distractions and noise.

Greenery

Make any space look more welcoming by adding a few plants or flowers. Not only do plants make your space look more visually appealing, but studies show that the presence of greenery such as live plants and flowers can lead to a boost in happiness and productivity within an office space. No matter what high end office design style you opt for, tie your space together by adding some plants.

Contact Key Interiors

At Key Interiors, our mission is to deliver the highest quality renovation project for your high end office design. From conception to completion, we will work with you to design an office that will motivate employees and inspire prosperous client relationships. Let us be the key to your interior project – contact us today to get started. 

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Office Design Office Renovation

Downsizing the Office: How to Efficiently Use Your Space

downsizing the office

As office life has changed throughout and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many workplaces are shifting to meet new office standards. As some employees remain working remotely or in hybrid positions where long days in the office might be few and far between, many offices are downsizing to reflect a lack of employees present throughout the week. Downsizing the office can be tricky, as it is challenging for some employees to use space efficiently when going from a larger to a smaller office.

If your business is working on downsizing the office, here are some tips for ensuring that you are using your space as efficiently as possible.

1. Declutter

Downsizing the office is a perfect opportunity for employees to clear the clutter out of their workspace. In order to downsize effectively, all employees should re-evaluate how many belongings they have in their workspace and try to get rid of things that aren’t necessities; this could include old or outdated equipment, documents, and other supplies that they’ve been holding onto which are no longer necessary. Decluttering is the first step to reducing the size of any office space.

2. Downsize Technology

If your office is downsizing to a smaller space, there might not be room for bulky computer monitors or other large technology. Making the switch to sleeker, more compact devices such as thinner monitors or even laptops might not seem that important, but clearing out bulky technology will be a major space saver in your new office space.

3. Modify Furniture

Large furniture is responsible for taking up a considerable amount of precious space in a small office. Consider getting rid of the desks and other large furniture items of employees who work entirely or predominantly from home. If employees who work in hybrid positions do not tend to visit the office at the same time, you could opt for one large desk that all remote or hybrid employees can use freely when they are in the office. Also consider whether large conference tables or other big, common space furniture pieces are necessary if fewer employees are present, and opt for a smaller, less space-consuming option.

4. Go Paperless

A paperless office that relies on technology is not only better for the environment and office efficiency, but it can be a useful tool for downsizing an office. Saving space on storage for documents and other important files can make way for space for more important items in your space.

The Key Interiors Advantage

With years of experience and a qualified team of professionals, Key Interiors can make coordinating and performing office renovation and design projects of any size a seamless process. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you downsize your office.

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Office Design Office Renovation

5 Benefits of Creating a Mother’s Room at Your Office

mother's room

For the past 20 years, the share of female laborers in the U.S. has hovered around 47%. It’s a significant statistic for many reasons, particularly when you learn that the majority of working women (60% or higher) also have a child under the age of three years at home (per the most recent published data from the U.S. Department of Labor). In 2010, in response to the growing number of female employees within the workforce, the federal government amended the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to include accommodations for nonexempt, lactating mothers. Currently, all businesses with more than 50 nonexempt employees must provide a private space for mothers to pump breast milk. It cannot be a bathroom and must include a variety of features designed to support breastfeeding women. Many states extend this type of protection to exempt employees, as well, making mothers’ rooms a very common and often necessary feature in today’s office buildings. Check out the potential benefits of creating a workplace mother’s room:

Improved Employee Morale

Let’s face it: employees appreciate support. Under FLSA protection, lactating employees are able to return to work and still express breast milk for their babies. They don’t have to choose one over the other. For up to one year following the birth of a child, new mothers can expect time in a quiet, private space to pump while at the office. Not only do new moms feel valued, but coworkers become aware of the scope of their employer’s provisions, making it much more likely that the morale of all employees will be improved.

Less Absenteeism

A dedicated mother’s room also helps to keep mother and baby healthy. Research shows that breastfed babies have stronger immune systems and, thus, are better protected against illness and disease. And if they do get sick, breastfed babies recover more quickly. Studies go on to indicate that breastfeeding mothers are less susceptible to certain physical and mental health issues, as well, reducing the need for new moms (as well as any parenting partners) to miss work due to their own illnesses or those of their babies.

Reduction of Healthcare Costs

The health benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby also helps reduce company healthcare costs. Breastfeeding mothers have a lower risk of certain cancers and a reduced incidence of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, all of which can drive up the price that companies pay for insurance over the lifetime of all mothers. A mother’s room enables a mother to protect her own health and her child’s, thereby decreasing the need for each one’s healthcare services and the burden of their associated costs.

Better Employee Retention

In many instances, a mother’s room actually draws women back to work following maternity leave since they know they will be able to continue providing breast milk for their children in a private, comfortable space when away from their homes.

Improved Productivity

Finally, with improved morale, less absenteeism and more available workers, companies are more equipped to get the things that need to be done, done! Their workers are more engaged, energetic and focused and, therefore, more productive.

The Key Interiors Advantage

Providing a lactation or mother’s room is mandatory for many businesses. Even if it’s not, the benefits it offers to both lactating women and the companies that employ them make a mother’s room an important aspect of a commercial office’s design. Our team at Key Interiors can help your office create a mother’s room that is functional, stylish and affordable. Please contact us to learn more.

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Office Design Office Renovation

3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Put Off Your Office Remodel

office remodel

On the surface, an office remodel might seem like a daunting and high-cost endeavor, especially to those undertaking one for the first time.  However, with the right features and design, an office remodel can improve your business productivity, increase your profitability, and infuse your people and workspace with much-needed energy, making it well worth the effort and expense. Take a look at some of the benefits of an office remodel:

Improved Productivity

An office remodel is the best way to rearrange the layout of your office for enhanced productivity. For instance, office noise is often cited as the number one distraction in a workplace. It can be a significant drain on overall productivity, since the inability to focus not only leads to a decrease in cognitive performance, it contributes to workplace absences due to the effects of long-term stress exposure. Reconfiguring your space as part of an office remodel could result in reduced noise level. Other functional layout details of your office can be similarly altered to maximize the quality and amount of work being done on-site. You could add private offices, access to natural light and communal areas, or create a layout that requires movement throughout the day (creating a single, dedicated space for copying and printing, for example, would make it necessary for people to get up from their desks periodically). All of these office features have been shown to positively influence employee productivity.

Attract Talent and Customers

A fresh, clean, functional space attracts people. Nobody wants to come to an office with dirty flooring, out-dated, 80s-era cubicles, or a bunch of fluorescent lighting! Prospective employees and clients want to enter a commercial space that is comfortable and inviting. They want to spend time in a space that appropriately accommodates the work being done within its walls. An office remodel allows you to modernize your business, update its layout, keep its decor stylish and highlight features that make it comfortable to both work in and visit. All these upgrades make the office environment attractive to current and prospective employees and customers.

Maximize Safety and Security

Of course, an office remodel is sometimes needed to ensure the safety and security of all your office’s occupants. With a complete office remodel, you can make upgrades to security, fire, and life safety systems. You can also remove old, faulty or unsafe wiring, address air quality and ventilation issues and improve your building’s accessibility. Lastly, you can resolve problems that have kept your office from being up to code, remove hazardous materials (like asbestos), install adequate lighting and bring in ergonomic furniture. There is a wide range of features you can choose to add or eliminate during an office remodel that significantly improves occupant safety and the security of the building itself.

The Key Interiors Difference

To learn more about these and other benefits of an office remodel, please contact our design team at Key Interiors. Our decades of experience with office design and construction means we can help navigate our clients through multifaceted projects with efficiency and help them integrate solutions and features that will improve the functionality of their offices and lead to a positive ROI!

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Office Design office layout Office Renovation

3 Office Bathroom Ideas to Inspire Your Renovation

office bathroom ideas

Now that people are returning to the workplace after two years of forced isolation, it’s important that their surroundings are safe and comfortable. To this end, many employers are modifying their spaces, wanting not just to comply with suggested safety precautions but hoping to attract even reluctant workers back to a physical business site that has fresh and modern design elements. Perhaps you’re thinking of a renovation yourself. If so, a good place to start is with an office bathroom. Everybody needs a restroom, and a nice one indicates management values cleanliness and their employees’ overall well-being. Here are a few office bathroom ideas to inspire your renovation and ensure your building is ready to welcome everyone back:

Focus on Wellness

Wellness is front and center these days. Covid concerns and enhanced awareness of mental health issues are pushing more and more people to assess their physical, as well as their mental, fitness. Thus, one creative office bathroom idea is to address these concerns head-on by creating an office bathroom that serves as a refuge for both your employees and your guests. Ditch traditional, “commercial” design elements meant to accommodate the masses — like long counters, builder-grade mirrors and partially-partitioned stalls — and instead consider soft, intimate touches that foster peacefulness and bring to mind a spa-like experience. Add texture and use pale, neutral colors; light; and biophilic features to create a sense of spaciousness. You might also add in seating options and a nearby private space for nursing mothers or those who simply wish to escape for a moment or two. Of course, whatever you choose, ensure that your fixtures are easy to clean and durable so that the bathroom itself is always sanitary.

Get Technical

Another good office bathroom idea involves using technology to maximize not only your company’s budget but the health of all your bathroom’s users. Touchless products can be installed that reduce the likelihood of germ-exposure, while self-regulating fixtures can be added that better control the use of water and energy, saving you hundreds of dollars on utility bills.

Go Above and Beyond

You might not believe a bathroom matters, but many people look to the restroom as a reflection of a company’s attention to detail, awareness and care. Think about it; if someone walks into a restroom and sees cracked tiles, dim light and dirty floors, it’s likely he or she won’t have a lot of confidence in the company’s values or its offerings. Applying innovative yet functional office bathroom ideas in such a private space, however, speaks to a company’s diligence and their perceived responsibility for the people who come in and out of their building (for whatever reason). Remodel your office bathroom so that people are impressed by it, and it’s more probable they’ll be willing to be wowed by you in other ways! 

The Key Interiors Advantage

There are endless office bathroom ideas that can be used in a renovation. To learn more about the specific office bathroom ideas that could positively impact the people your own company serves, please contact our design team at Key Interiors. Our professional design experience means we can help you review, choose and implement the design elements best suited to your own goals and objectives.

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Office Design office layout Office Renovation

How Reception Area Design Improves Customer Experience

reception area design

The quality of the interactions a company has with its customers is often the best indicator of its standing within the marketplace. Even with a great product or service, a company can’t sell it if consumers aren’t properly informed and assured of its worth and don’t feel personally valued or appreciated as they contemplate its purchase. In this way, consistent messaging, meaningful exchanges, and expedited services play a larger part in a consumer’s decision to buy than any of the innovative details of a specific offering. For companies working from a physical, public-facing space, the design of their reception area provides the perfect opportunity for them to improve their customer’s experience and, thus, boost their profitability, right from the get-go! Here’s why:

Reception Area Design Can Be Used to Illustrate Brand

Step into the stores or waiting areas of well-known brands like Apple, Google and Coca-Cola (or any other company with branding know-how) and you’ll inevitably be greeted with each one’s unique brand message. The reception area design will reflect its individual logo and color schemes. It will also be bright and inviting, often showcasing their products and/or their focus on exciting, innovative design details like custom millwork, wall features, unique artwork, comfortable furniture, and more. Careful thought will have been put into all reception area design choices so that the breadth of the reception space accurately portrays the brand being promoted. They do this because they understand that customers trust a company that’s transparent in its messages — especially when it concerns its brand — and that this trust frequently leads to better confidence in the products or services being offered.

Reception Area Design Can Be Used to Showcase Hospitality

Everyone likes to be enthusiastically welcomed into a space. A warm greeting and offer of refreshments go a long way in making someone feel anticipated and wanted. Certain reception area design elements can be chosen that maximize the reception staff’s ability to see visitors as they enter the building so that they are able to promptly extend these tokens of hospitality. Placing the reception desk in just the right spot, for instance, allows staff to see the door and all who enter. Arranging furniture in ways that facilitate conversation and comfort makes it more enjoyable for people should they have to wait, as does the option of enjoying a treat from an available snack and beverage bar. The incorporation of other amenities (such as charging stations, gentle music, comfortable chairs, magazines or even a TV) can likewise encourage people to relax and enjoy their time in your building, further enhancing their warm and fuzzy feelings toward your company, your services and, by extension, the actual products and services you sell!

Reception Area Design Can Be Used to Enhance Communication

Have you ever been in a room with bad acoustics or inadequate seating? Nothing’s worse than not being able to get comfortable or to hear the details of a conversation. There are many reception area design features that can be used to make it easier for employees and consumers to talk to one another. From sound solutions to thoughtful arrangement of conversation niches and a lot more, there are many design options that buffer extraneous sounds and better support interaction and rapport. And the benefit doesn’t just extend to visitors. A good office renovation that promotes healthy and uncomplicated discourse improves employee morale, making everyone feel better and work harder for positive results.

Ready to Learn More?

Intention is really the first step in creating meaningful experiences for consumers. If you’re considering an office renovation, simply taking the time to consider the needs of everyone working in or visiting your physical space can help you easily transform your office into a positive touchpoint. No need for expensive focus groups or surveys! You can capitalize on our design expertise here at Key Interiors and use our reception area design ideas to start improving your customers’ experience while simultaneously enhancing your company’s own operational productivity and efficiency. It’s a win-win that reaps rewards on a variety of levels. Please contact us today to learn more.

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Office Design office layout Office Renovation

The 7 Phases of the Turnkey Construction and Interior Design Process

interior design process

The interior design process involves a lot more than simply making a space look pretty. In many ways, it is an amalgamation of several different activities: design and construction, of course, but also management of all the financial, safety, legal and administrative details that make concepts and drawings actually come to life in the most functional, appealing and profitable way. 

If you search online, you can come up with a generic “interior design process” that moves through conceptual ideation to design and then construction phases, but here at Key Interiors, we put a little more thought into it all. We elaborate on the traditional bid process so that our clients remain fully engaged at every step of their new build or remodel journey. Take a look at our own proprietary turnkey construction and interior design process here at Key Interiors:

Phase 1: No-Obligation Initial Visit with Client

Our interior design process begins with a complimentary meeting with the prospective client.  During this discovery meeting, we seek to understand the unique aspects of each project and the motivation behind them.  Before providing feedback, our design and construction experts encourage clients to share their ideas and goals for the project and ask questions.  This dialog allows us to align our services precisely with the needs of each project and lay the foundation for a successful potential partnership.

Phase 2: Space Plan and High-Level Budgeting

In many cases, we offer a no-obligation space plan along with a general, preliminary project budget and schedule. Feedback from the client on the information presented in this stage is critical in understanding if the project can be executed within the client’s budgetary and scheduling requirements.  

Phase 3: Design Engagement Terms Discussion and Approval

At this stage, we hope evidence of our expertise and experience moves potential clients to say, “Let’s go for it!” We would then present and seek approval for a nominal design fee based on estimated project value and scope.  This gives the client unfettered access to a dedicated member of our design team. 

Phase 4: Design Document Development

With full input from the client, we work to create a detailed, professional design plan with in-depth renderings and drawings that meets all safety and legal regulations as detailed by the buildout site and/or its local jurisdiction. We also make every attempt to incorporate solutions for each of the unique needs of the client, ultimately presenting a design plan that addresses the functional needs of a project while still demonstrating the individual style of each client.

Phase 5: Forensic Costing

This phase could necessitate a return visit to the proposed site (or space) with the client, this time including representatives from our trusted network of subcontractors and/or vendor partners.  We seek to understand all site and project-specific construction and/or furniture details, including, but not limited to, costs of materials and labor and solutions for potential shortages and delays. We competitively bid this project out to multiple trades to get accurate and hard, go-to-work costs. 

Phase 6: Final Negotiations and Approval

We then sit down with the client again to determine appropriate next steps regarding the project. It’s at this stage where design changes can be discussed, and plans revised in order to move toward final approval.  Once approved, the project is given a hard start date.

Phase 7: Project Management and Delivery

This phase of the turnkey construction and interior design process really sets Key Interiors apart from our competition. While most firms say they will manage construction details, not all actually maintain site supervision. Our project management and operations team at Key Interiors, however, remains visible at all times to both our client and all contractors, allowing for real time updates, improved communication, and efficient problem solving. We direct and manage the logistics of every step of construction, assembling and delivering all closeout materialsfurnishings and design elements, so that all plan details are transparent and the terms of the contract are met.  Most importantly, we strive to deliver a satisfying customer experience from beginning to end, culminating in a fully realized workspace that surpasses the ideals of our client!

Want to Learn More?

The turnkey construction and interior design process should be proprietary, honoring the needs of individual clients and showcasing the expertise of the interior design/build firm that has been summoned to meet them. The process we use here at Key Interiors follows a rough template, but the details really rest on the desires and dreams of our clients. Our clients provide the inspiration; we use our knowledge to make sure it becomes (a safe, affordable and innovative) reality (that conforms to all relevant codes and restrictions)! Please contact us to learn more about using our turnkey construction and interior design process to ensure your own project goals are met.

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Office Design office layout

Designing a Hybrid Office Layout That Employees Will Love

hybrid office layout

Designing a Hybrid Office Layout That Employees Will Love

The world is slowly shedding its pandemic mind frame, and many individuals are happily resuming pre-Covid activities. For others, however, delving back into the real world warrants hesitation, especially wary employees who dread the close quarters of an office setting and the potential loss of independence, comfort and convenience. Modern technology made it possible for most of us to be just as productive from home as we were from a corporate location. Why bother, then, going back to the office? The answer: camaraderie, collaboration and inspiration; a physical space to gather for work and to socialize provides natural opportunities for a company’s distinct culture to emerge, the benefits of which have been shown to influence everything from employee and customer satisfaction to the actual bottom line. Here’s what you need to know to create a hybrid office layout that lures even the most reluctant employees back to the workplace:

What is a Hybrid Office Layout?

A hybrid office allows employees to merge the convenience of working from home with the advantages of periodic personal interaction. Employers use it to leverage the cost of providing a corporate roof overhead while still paying heed to workers’ desire for autonomy and freedom. In many instances, a hybrid office layout provides a mix of large, common areas in which employees can gather and smaller, more private areas (rooms, desks, cubicles, etc.) in which they can temporarily work. In this way, the office becomes a hub, providing refuge for employees who want to come and go, rather than sit and stay for hours on end. Gone are dedicated desks for each employee. Instead, spaces are flexible, with focus turned towards technologies that make it easy for workers to drop in and connect with others, both in person, as well as remotely.

Specific Design Elements of a Hybrid Office Layout

In a hybrid work environment, schedules are usually random; employees will work different hours and come into the office on different days. The trick is making it so that people want to visit the office even if they don’t have to. Some common enticements that go along with a hybrid office layout include:

  • Hot desking options that enable workers to come but don’t demand that they stay for any specific amount of time.
  • Pods that allow groups to gather together and collaborate.
  • Communal spaces that invite social interaction and relaxation.
  • Flexible, comfortable furniture that accommodates varying needs.
  • Open waiting rooms, washrooms and breakrooms that provide space for social distancing and are easy to clean.
  • Well-appointed kitchens and fitness amenities that serve as a draw and boost employee wellness and satisfaction.
  • “Smart” technologies that are often touchless and make it easy to connect with colleagues no matter their location, timezone or level of expertise.

The Key Interiors Advantage

A hybrid office layout has quickly become the de-facto trend for the post-Covid workplace. To learn more about using design elements to create an appealing and functional space for employees to work and socialize, please contact our design experts here at Key Interiors. We know how to facilitate a hybrid office layout that combines functionality and aesthetics so that employees are pulled away from their homes and back into the office!

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Office Design office layout

Flat Wire Under Carpeting: Advantages and Logistics

flat wire

These days, convenience is king. The goal is efficiency, and we’ll do almost anything to get it. It’s even seeped over into design. Modern design options are rife with features meant to lessen the burden of daily living: built-in storage options that enhance organization; cabinets and closets that can be easily accessed with pull-out and soft-close drawers; motion-controlled/mood lighting that saves energy, as well as time; ergonomic door levers that enable hands-free entry and exit from rooms; and more! Indeed, one of the biggest trends in current design involves the installation of updated outlets and wiring so that home and office occupants have quick access to electricity, whether it’s to charge their phones or plug in other electronic devices and appliances. Take a look at why positioning flat wire under carpeting has become the thing to do in today’s design world:

The Advantages of Placing Flat Wire Under Carpeting

Installling flat wire under carpeting has many benefits:

Flexibility

Flat wire allows you to run electricity underneath carpeting and other types of flooring materials so that power is available at any point in a room, not just along its walls.

Safety

Flat wire that runs under carpeting (or other types of flooring) is safer than an extension cord, which can pose a tripping hazard and/or potentially overheat and cause a fire.

Asthestics

Placing flat wires underneath your flooring improves the appearance of a room, removing the need for countless cords to snake around the floor and create an eyesore.

The Logistics of Installing Flat Wire Under Carpeting

The convenience of having electricity available anywhere in a room — even smack dab in the middle of it — has made the installation of flat wire underneath carpet a common request during new home and office construction and remodels. Luckily, it’s not a particularly hard task to accomplish. Whether placing flat wire under an existing floor or designing a new space with hidden wires from scratch, nearly any office or home can rid itself of the need for exposed wires, making their space a lot more functional and a lot more attractive. 


If running a flat wire under carpet that has already been laid, you will need to decide on where you want the wire to be placed, measure an amount of wire that will cover that distance, and then cut and thread it underneath the carpet using fish tape. Of course, you should first verify that your flat wire is safe to install underneath carpet, has been removed from any power source(!) and won’t interfere with any old or exposed wiring already underneath the carpet. A professional designer can help you if you run into trouble; sometimes it can be a bit tricky lifting the portion of the carpet from the wall so that you can begin threading your wire. A designer or other construction professional can likewise help you with any new wiring designs, allowing you to place flat wires around your space without any hindrances at all!

The Key Interiors Advantage

Installing flat wire under carpeting maximizes the efficiency of a home or office, allowing its occupants to access power at just the spot it’s needed. It hides the mess of extension cords that often exist in spaces that haven’t been carefully designed and prevents unnecessary hazards that can threaten human lives and a building’s integrity. To learn more about the benefits and logistics of using flat wires to improve efficiency, productivity and style, please contact Key Interiors.

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Office Design Office Renovation

Purchased a New Space? Here are 4 Ways to Win Big with Your Office Renovation

office renovation

A new office space offers you the chance to increase your business’s level of productivity, as well as boost your employees’ morale. Indeed, research indicates that the right design choices actually influence workplace processes and encourage human connectedness in ways that stimulate creativity, support collaboration, facilitate efficiency, and, thus, ultimately enhance innovation. But without a clear plan and understanding of office design, a new office can be a terrifying blank slate. Here are four office renovation tips for getting the most out of your new office space design:

Consider Functionality

Productivity is defined as the effectiveness of effort. It represents the measurable outcome(s) of work and is frequently used to assess a company’s overall level of profitability. Put plainly, when businesses use fewer resources to achieve more, their profits usually increase. With this in mind, it’s only reasonable to assume that workplace conditions can —and do — impact productivity by either hindering or enhancing the ways in which employees work. Everything from their physical environment to office culture affects how well (or not) workers complete the tasks demanded by their jobs and, therefore, often determines a company’s bottom line. At a most basic level, office design can be used to improve corporate functionality by physically making it easier for employees to move about the office and get their jobs done.

Think about the distance to bathrooms and copiers; lighting and sound control; whether or not it makes sense to have kitchens, cafeterias, and/or gyms on-site (as a way to entice employees to stay — and work! — on-site for longer periods of time); the type of seating that will best support the goals of your organization; and more! Careful planning of the physical layout of a space will help your company maximize the ways in which your employees use and enjoy their time in it, making it much more likely you’ll be getting the most bang for your buck!

Consider Versatility

You should also work to make your office renovation versatile. Being able to slide back walls or pull down projectors or easily rearrange furniture means a business is better able to adapt to changing circumstances. For instance, choosing compact, moveable chairs and desks that aren’t fixed or built-in allows you to easily accommodate seating preferences should a pandemic force your employees six feet apart!

Consider Sustainability

Of course, in this day and age, green office design is becoming a necessary component of any office renovation since many social and economic initiatives reward companies that adopt sustainable standards. An office renovation is a perfect time to install energy-efficient appliances, windows, and doors; to improve insulation and ventilation; to invest in GSFT products and fittings; and to purchase furniture and accessories made with renewable or recycled materials. The benefits of even just one of these office renovations are substantial, saving your business money on its utility costs and enhancing your customer’s loyalty, all at the same time.

Consider Community

Finally, you should consider the ways in which you can facilitate community with your office renovation design choices. Studies indicate that employee engagement directly impacts a company’s productivity, with those businesses having involved, happy and healthy workers also being the ones that are the most productive. Think about incorporating open seating arrangements, break rooms and/or common areas that can be used to encourage interaction, relaxation and collaboration among employees. These types of rooms, along with carefully chosen design accessories, make it easier for people to gather together and enjoy a space (and each other). The result: engaged employees who are eager to come to work.

Want to Learn More?

A new space allows businesses the opportunity to make significant and profitable changes relatively easily. To further boost your company’s productivity and create a truly distinctive space, we suggest partnering with an office design firm that can help you understand and choose the best design features for your own unique goals and objectives. Please contact Key Interiors to learn more.

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flooring Office Design

LVT, LVP, Carpet Tile or Broadloom: How to Choose the Right Office Flooring for Your Renovation

office flooring

Picking the right office flooring during a workplace renovation can increase the value of your space and create immediate visual interest. It can also impact your monthly expenses, with appropriate office flooring making your office more energy efficient so that you save money on your utility bills. But which type of office flooring is the best? The answer is: it depends. There are many different types of office flooring, from luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) to a slew of other options like carpet tiles, broadloom carpet, and more! Here’s what you need to consider in order to choose the most suitable office flooring for your own unique needs:

Traffic

One of the first things you need to consider when picking out new office flooring is its durability. Specifically, you need to ensure that your office flooring can support the level of use it will receive. In spaces with high traffic, for example, you’ll likely want to install wear-resistant office flooring that can withstand constant use (such as concrete, vinyl, and other heavy-duty materials). Hardwood is typically avoided in commercial applications for the very reason it’s not particularly hardy, becoming easily damaged by multiple types of footwear and often noticeably worn within just a few years. Carpet tile, on other hand, might be a good solution for areas experiencing any type of traffic, since stains and worn patches can be mitigated very quickly by simply swapping out the damaged tile with one of the ones kept in reserve.

Functionality

You’ll also need to think about how the space will be used and plan your office flooring accordingly. A dance studio obviously requires different flooring than a real estate firm or dental office. The physical layout of the office is important to note, as well. Large, open spaces (as opposed to those with cubicles or multiple rooms) amplify sound, as an example, often making it necessary for business owners to choose office flooring that provides noise control. Carpet, cork, and luxury vinyl planks or tile are good choices for these kinds of open-plan offices since they have natural sound absorption properties and/or can be installed with a noise-reducing pad. And regardless of the type of business you run, there are areas (like entrances) that will always require reinforcement of some kind (to withstand high traffic, as well as dirt and water). Contemplate your floorplan and how the space will be used, and then pick the office flooring that best supports that.

Maintenance

Finally, you need to remember that any office flooring you choose will require maintenance. Thus, you need to pick the option that matches your budget, time, and energy for its upkeep. If you have little interest, time, or money for cleaning and maintaining your office flooring, for instance, you probably shouldn’t install natural stone or vinyl composite tile, which both require special care. In some circumstances, however, spending more upfront can reduce the amount of maintenance you need overall, making your investment worth its cost. Case in point: luxury vinyl tile can be slightly more expensive than other floor options, but is easily cared for with simple, routine cleaning.

Want to Learn More?

Choosing among the many types of office flooring like LVT, LVP, carpet tile and broadloom is more than a matter of aesthetics. The right flooring must, of course, represent your tastes, but it should also maximize the purpose and functionality of the space as a workplace. A commercial office design partner can help you pick the office flooring that suits your needs, as well as your company’s style, culture, and budget. Please contact Key Interiors to learn more.

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covid compliant design lighting Office Design

Automate Your Office Lighting with Dusk to Dawn Lighting Controls

Dusk to Dawn Lighting Controls

It’s not often that people can “switch it and forget it.” But when they can, the benefits usually include improved efficiency, reduced costs and enhanced reliability. For offices, the benefits of dusk to dawn lighting controls and other automation extend well beyond the obvious ones brought about by today’s technologies: the data processing systems, self-driving cars and software programs, etc. They also include many facilities management tools that make managing the physical aspects of workplaces a much more efficient process. Consider all the benefits of just one of them: dusk to dawn lighting controls.

What Are Dusk to Dawn Lighting Controls

According to this article in Entrepreneur magazine, energy is often considered one of top three greatest costs for small businesses. And in the U.S., “small businesses represent 99% of all businesses,” meaning that nearly every office building in America would benefit by finding ways to reduce its electricity costs. Enter dusk to dawn lighting controls. Long known to homeowners as an outdoor security measure, dusk to dawn lighting controls also help companies better manage their electric energy consumption by automating the lighting in their office buildings. Dusk to dawn lighting uses a photocell to react to either natural or artificial light sources, automatically turning lights on as ambient light fades and off as it brightens. It can be used to illuminate exterior areas, but it can also be used interiorly to provide rooms with light as needed.

Dusk to Dawn Lighting is Efficient

Automated dusk to dawn lighting controls are beneficial because they eliminate the needless consumption of electricity. Rather than rely on employees, who may or may not turn lights on and off with any consistency, businesses can use dusk to dawn lighting to manage their office’s light needs. By “instinctively” understanding when light is needed and when it isn’t, dusk to dawn lighting controls are able to turn lights on only when its appropriate and off always when it isn’t.

Dusk to Dawn Lighting Reduces Costs

A happy consequence of being efficient, dusk to dawn lighting also reduces costs.

Since they automatically shut off fixtures when they are not needed, dusk to dawn lighting controls conserve electricity, enabling companies to save the money that they would have wasted on unnecessary energy consumption for other purposes.

Furthermore, because most dusk to dawn lighting features LED technology, they inherently consume less energy anyway, further facilitating the stretching of utility budgets.

Dusk to Dawn Lighting is Reliable

Finally, dusk to dawn lighting is reliable. You probably don’t think about light unless you don’t have enough of it. Dusk to dawn lighting controls make light available every single time light is needed, regardless of whether or not an actual person is there to flip a switch. In the mornings, for instance, dusk to dawn lighting ensures that every employee is greeted with a well-lit workplace — not just the ones arriving after the one who arrived first and turned all the lights on! In the evenings, it guarantees that everyone leaves from a well-lit building and during the day, it can be programmed to provide progressive lighting options, using automatic dimmers to further enhance reliable visibility for a number of other situations, such as during powerpoint presentations.

Want to Learn More?

Automating your office lighting with dusk to dawn lighting controls is just one way to maximize your office’s operating budget. To learn about other options for creating a physical space that yields actionable ROI, please contact Key Interiors.

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Office Design

The Dark Side of Home Renovation Shows: What No One Wants You to Know About Remodels and Renovations

the dark side of home renovation shows

Renovation shows are all the rage nowadays. Starting with “This Old House” in 1979 and then taking firm root in the mid-1990s with the creation of HGTV, they have blossomed into the wide range of programming options available today. Programs like “Fixer Upper,” “Love It or List It” and “Property Brothers” are widely known and popular. Unfortunately, however, they often leave viewers with unrealistic expectations, culminating in a pretty picture, but rarely a complete one. Let’s take a look at the dark side of home renovation shows; here’s what they don’t tell you about remodels and renovations:

Cost is Always an Issue

Perhaps the biggest problem with renovation shows is their misrepresentation of a project’s budget. Many times the actual price of materials and labor aren’t itemized for viewers; if they are, they usually reflect a generous discount, offered by manufacturers and contractors who provide their products and services at reduced costs in exchange for increased exposure. This sets viewers up to be disappointed as they begin researching their own projects and learn that $1,000, $10,000 or even $100,000 doesn’t cover nearly as much as they’ve been led to believe.

…and Time is Always a Concern

The dark side of home renovation shows also conspires to hide the realistic nature of time; instead of accurately displaying the extended time it really takes to design, build and accessorize a space (not to mention inspect it for safety), renovation shows

condense construction timelines to nicely fit a 30 minute or hour-long programming slot. They neglect to mention various steps of the design and construction phases and ignore possible (probable) delays that would extend the time needed to complete a project. In fact, most falsely depict full scale remodels that would take months (or even years) to finish as capable of being realized in just a few weeks (or sometimes just a day)!

Furnishing and Interior Decor Can Be Easily Sourced 

Watch a remodeling program and you’ll likely be under the impression that furnishings and other decor elements and materials are always at hand. The truth, though, is that sourcing the various elements that complete a construction/design project is never easy. Various obstacles can even make finding basic items like lumber, bar joists and installation a complicated and lengthy process. Couple that with the supply chain issues  that are causing at least a two month shipping delay for furniture and other decor items that really make a home or office space stand out, and you can get seriously frustrated pretty easily. 

There’s No Such Thing as DIY

The final fallacy of home office renovation shows is the idea that viewers can replace professionals. The reality is remodeling is hard. While there might be a few steps an average viewer could tackle alone, partnering with a professional makes renovation a much more feasible enterprise. Even when it appears that DIY could be or is an option during a renovation, shows always have professionals behind the scenes answering questions and helping the show’s guests finish their task(s). 

The Key Interiors Advantage

The dark side of home renovation shows doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever attempt a home or office remodel. You just need to be smart. If you realize that these shows create illusions rather than reality, you are better equipped to imagine and achieve realistic results. Of course, a professional design partner helps. The experience and expertise of our designers here at Key Interiors, for instance, enable our clients to design, build and furnish their spaces in a way that meets their budget and magnifies their personal aesthetics. And we do it according to a timely schedule. Please contact us to learn more about the positive — bright — side of good design!

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covid compliant design Office Design Office Renovation

5 Tips for Returning to the Office: Air Quality Testing, Ventilation and More

air quality testing

2022 is upon us and for many that means a return to a physical office. Whether you’ve been out since the beginning of the pandemic or just had a few weeks off for the holidays, the safety of indoor spaces is likely on your mind. Despite COVID’s seemingly lessening effects, the Omicron variant is more contagious than previous coronavirus strains, meaning it’s even more critical that businesses do all they can to ensure a healthy work environment for their employees. Indeed, there are many other kinds of contaminants (besides viruses) that make certain measures (like air quality testing and other precautions) a necessary responsibility of companies operating out of a physical building. Here are a few tips to help protect your employees’ health in an office setting even if — when — a pandemic isn’t raging:

Schedule Air Quality Testing

Pollutants are everywhere and include germs and other biological contaminants, as well as any natural or manmade substances that adversely impact the environment and those living (and/or working) within it. In fact, some of the most deadly pollutants exist in the air. Both invisible and odorless, these pollutants are tiny, capable of penetrating the lungs (or other bodily systems) and causing disease. Thus, it’s important that air quality testing is routine and ongoing within a workplace. Depending on the size of the office, companies should invest in either commercial or consumer air quality testing monitors that continuously measure the amount of certain pollutants. There are many types of air quality testing tools, capable of testing for any number of contaminants, including but not limited to carbon monoxide, radon, smoke and more.

Install Proper Ventilation

Of course, securing positive air quality testing results depends on proper ventilation. In plainest terms, ventilation is the purposeful transfer of outside air into a space. The delivery of fresh air lessens the concentration of indoor air pollutants, improving the overall quality of the interior air supply. Ideally, a good HVAC system should be installed during a building’s construction, but there are additional ways to enhance ventilation after occupancy, as well, such as regularly replacing and/or using HEPA filters; adjusting dampers so that more air is moved through heavily populated rooms; constantly running fans (either individual units or those incorporated within then HVAC system itself); and opening doors and windows when possible.

Hire a Cleaner

Of course, routine cleaning is paramount, as well. A dedicated cleaning person (or cleaning service) ensures that offices are regularly sanitized and as free of germs as possible.

Think about a Mask Mandate

You can also consider asking employees and visitors coming into your office to wear a mask. The CDC recommends using masks to help control the spread of communicable diseases like COVID-19, and it’s likely that many people will continue wearing masks while in public even after the pandemic ends.

Partner with a Professional Interior Design Team

Finally, there are many ways to enhance the safety of an office with simple interior design choices. Partnering with a professional interior design firm like Key Interiors makes it easy for you to improve your office’s air quality and better safeguard your employee’s health. With professional direction, you can choose low-VOC paints and fabrics; hypoallergenic furnishings; anti-microbial fixtures; and more. Our designers at Key Interiors, for instance, have decades of experience helping clients use design features that maximize both the utility, as well as the safety, of their spaces. Please contact us to learn more about using interior design elements not only to boost employee productivity and morale, but to protect the well-being of everyone entering your company’s doors.

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Using Flooring as Office Noise Control with Broadloom Carpet

Using Flooring as Office Noise Control with Broadloom Carpet

Research indicates that noise is becoming a significant problem in the workplace. According to one study, “63 percent of employees say they lack quiet space for focused work, which has a negative effect on their productivity, satisfaction and well-being.” It’s a shocking revelation, one that has serious repercussions (pun intended!), especially since little is being done to remedy workplace noise issues. Indeed, the same study found that “a mere 6% percent of executives report having equipped their office with noise mitigating features.” With little respite from noise distractions, employees are less productive, often irritable and “more likely to say they may leave their [positions] in the next six months.” The good news is that there are relatively easy solutions to correct office noise, one of the best of which is changing out the flooring. Broadloom carpet, in particular, is a great option for reducing noise. Here’s what you need to know about using broadloom carpet for noise control:

What is Broadloom Carpet?

Broadloom carpet is a tufted textile floor covering that is installed across the expanse of a room, from one wall to the other. Originally, it was handwoven on an extra large, traditionally-styled loom, but today broadloom carpet is most often mass-produced via a mechanical loom, usually in widths of 12 to 15 feet. Various materials can be used to make broadloom carpet, including wool, sisal and various synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon and olefin. The heavier, more tightly packed the fibers of the carpet, the more effective it will be at noise reduction.

Broadloom Carpet Absorbs Sound 

Sound is a type of energy produced by the vibration of objects within a liquid (like water), solid (like the ground) or gas (like the air). The faster the vibration, the louder the sound. However, sound waves are impacted by the density of the medium in which they occur, so placing anything in the path of sound waves effectively slows the frequency of their vibration, reducing their amplitude and lessening their sound by the time they reach our ears. Carpets covering a large area have millions of fibers that absorb the energy of the sound waves instead of distributing them. Add a pad underneath the carpet and the vibrations decrease even more. The result: less sound wave movement and less unwanted sound (a.k.a. “noise”)!

Broadloom Carpet Reduces Floor Impact Noise

Furthermore, carpet helps reduce impact noise up over 20 decibels. The wide coverage offered by broadloom carpet helps insulate the force of impact made by footsteps, falling objects and the movement of chairs as they strike a floor, thus reducing the sound waves emitted with each impact and dampening the noise that each of those impacts make.

Broadloom Carpet Helps Control Reverberation

Finally, broadloom carpet inhibits the reverberation of sound waves. Reverberation occurs when sound waves bounce off objects in a medium rather than being absorbed by them. The repetition of these sound waves creates even more noise by the time they reach our ears. As mentioned, however, broadloom carpet absorbs sound rather than reflects it, thereby controlling unwanted sound reverberation.

The Key Interiors Advantage

Broadloom carpet is a great solution for controlling noise in many instances, but there are also other options available. To learn more about using interior and exterior office design to control noise in your office space, please contact our team at Key Interiors.

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office design practices office redesign Office Renovation

The Best Wall Cladding for Modern Offices

The Best Wall Cladding for Modern Offices

Wall cladding is a type of decorative feature used to cover the face of a wall. It involves the application of one type of material over another and, in most instances, does not provide any functional benefit other than sometimes delivering insulating and/or protective effects (especially when installed on exterior structures). When installed on interior walls, wall cladding basically serves as an artistic focal point, concealing and/or embellishing the surface of a wall in some way. Here’s what you need to know about using wall cladding in modern offices:

Types of Wall Cladding

Wall cladding can be made of various — and numerous — types of materials, from wood, stone and other organic elements to composite and/or manmade substances like plastic, concrete and certain fabrics, ceramics and more. The type of material(s) best suited for modern commercial or home office use is really just a matter of taste, but should be chosen based on the following considerations:

  • Function. As mentioned, most interior wall cladding is primarily decorative in purpose. It is meant to add interest and energy to a space. Sometimes, however, offices might need to insulate themselves from temperature and/or noise disturbances. Determining the purpose of using wall cladding as part of your design will enable you to pick the right material for its creation.

  • Location. Theoretically, wall cladding could cover every wall in your office. We don’t recommend that approach since it obviously takes away the intrinsic “wow” factor of having it only in a select one or two areas. Instead, we suggest picking an existing wall in a high traffic area where the wall cladding can be showcased and/or where it contributes to a specific purpose (such as offering sound insulation or protection from the constant movement of passersby).

  • Style. You also want to maintain the style of the office as a whole, picking a wall cladding that complements the surrounding decor and doesn’t distract from it. If your office has an industrial aesthetic with lots of clean lines, glass and metal, you might not want to add pastel wall cladding into the mix. Similarly, you probably don’t want to use plastic wall cladding in an office centered around a biophilic theme.

  • Budget. Of course, most people need to think about the expenses associated with adding wall cladding to their office design plan. The range of materials available means wall cladding can run the gamut in cost. Furthermore, while relatively easy to install, wall cladding can be difficult to remove, causing damage to the wall that a cheap paint job can’t resolve. Consider your budget and pick the wall cladding material that matches it.

  • Maintenance and Durability. Finally, the best wall cladding is durable and easy to maintain, lasting for as long as you need it so that you don’t have to waste unnecessary time or money for its upkeep. This doesn’t mean you have to spend alot; plastic wall cladding, for instance, can be very affordable with the added benefit of being highly durable and easy to clean!

Ready to Learn More?

Picking the best wall cladding for your modern office design doesn’t have to be difficult. While the sheer number of options available might seem overwhelming, an experienced design firm can help you weigh the pros and cons of each and settle on the wall cladding design that matches your needs, as well as your budget. Please contact our team of designers at Key Interiors to learn more.

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Dental Office Renovation office design practices office redesign Office Renovation

The Ideal Dental Office Layout and How to Achieve It

The Ideal Dental Office Layout

The ideal workspace is frequently elusive. After all, different people have different needs. A teacher necessarily considers his or her classroom in a different light than a corporate CEO views his or her office. An architect will need something different from a banker, who will, in turn, want something different, as well. The needs and priorities of individuals, as well as the demands of the job(s) being performed in the space, means no two office layouts should ever be identical. That being said, there are commonalities, especially when dealing with the design of offices in a particular industry, that make working in a space more efficient and a lot more comfortable. Take dentistry, for example. After decades of experience, our team of designers at Key Interiors knows what dentists want and need in a dental office layout. Take a look:

The Ideal Dental Office Layout

Dental offices are shared among the professionals providing dental office services (i.e., dentists, hygienists and clerical assistants) and, of course, the patients needing those services. As such, the ideal dental office layout must satisfy the needs of wide range of people, each of whom has multiple and extremely varied needs and objectives. The goal, then, is to accommodate the majority of those needs in a way that invites and encourages employees and patients alike to enter, find useful and enjoy being in the space.

How to Create an Ideal Dental Office Layout

While no one specific layout works for all dental practices, our designers at Key Interiors have pinpointed certain criteria that should be prioritized during any dental office design. Adhering to these best practices helps ensure a dental office layout that meets the needs of the greatest number of people visiting the space. 

    • Focus on Creating an Upscale Environment with Modern Decor

      First and foremost, dental offices cater to patients. Without patients, there isn’t a need for an office at all! Unfortunately, however, a lot of people don’t like going to the dentist for checkups, and it can be hard even to get them through the front door especially if they’re met with outdated, uncomfortable decor. Vertical blinds; bright, fluorescent lighting; hard, oak furniture; dusty faux foliage and the like are hardly a draw. But if dental offices are well-lit, hospitable places, it follows that more people might be willing to visit. Focus on adding contemporary features to your dental office layout such as soft, natural lighting, Wi-Fi access, a coffee machine, comfortable, clean seating and pleasant artwork so that patients are engaged and physically at ease during a dental office visit.

    • Focus on Function

      A good dental office layout is also one that makes the best use of the space at hand. This doesn’t mean that every square inch of a building or suite needs to be dedicated to a specific task: for storage, waiting, treatment, etc. It simply means that you have thought about how you will use the totality of the space in question and have a plan for keeping each area of the design dedicated to its original purpose so that other areas remain free of unnecessary clutter.

    • Focus on Privacy

      Privacy is always a concern during any health service encounter. While dentistry is not as preoccupied with confidentiality as a medical care provider might be, the industry as a whole does aim to maintain a certain level of privacy for all dental patients. No one likes to be on display during a dental procedure and no one wants the details of his or her care to be shared with the masses. Design your dental office layout so that patients feel sheltered and safe to ensure that you’re on your way to an ideal workspace!

Want to Learn More?

To bolster the efficiency and effectiveness of any dental office layout, it’s also recommended that you partner with a reputable and knowledgeable design firm. Our team at Key Interiors, for example, has decades of experience designing dental office layouts for practices of all sizes. We help our clients make the most of the spaces they have, ensuring that their dental office layouts impress patients; boost employee morale; improve work productivity; and reduce unnecessary overhead. Please contact us to learn how we can help you, too.

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breakroom design office design practices office redesign Office Renovation

How an Office Couch Can Improve Workplace Happiness

Today’s best workplaces provide more than space for people to work. They create an experience, with modern office design elements being used to improve the psychological — and sometimes even the physical — well-being of the people inside. Research indicates that the smallest design detail can make a big difference in employee engagement, efficiency and productivity and can attract (or repel) clients and future partners alike. Furniture, in particular, has been shown to directly affect office functionality in a way that often impacts its bottomline. For instance, take a look at how a single piece of furniture, the office couch, can bolster employee happiness and, ultimately, improve a company’s ROI:

An Office Couch Encourages Togetherness

A couch probably isn’t the first piece of furniture that comes to mind when thinking about how to furnish an office space (unless you’re in the counseling business). However, having a couch in a room establishes the expectation that people will be gathering there and, therefore, need a place to sit. A couch encourages community, physically bringing together individuals so that they can more easily communicate with one another and hopefully build meaningful relationships. And meaningful relationships, according to an ongoing Harvard study, are the key to happiness.

An Office Couch Encourages Productivity

In addition to encouraging healthy personal relationships, an office couch makes it easy for colleagues to have conversations with one another, especially when there are few personal offices and/or conference rooms in which to meet. Even when a dedicated meeting space is available, oftentimes meeting on a couch is a less formal option than sitting around a large table or behind a desk, making it easier for workers to avoid perceived hierarchies and instead focus on collaboration and teamwork. The benefit: less stress, improved productivity and better outcomes.

 

An Office Couch Provides Comfort

Finally, working at a desk all day can be a drag, for the body, as well as the mind. The right type of office couch allows employees the option of moving from their chair to a more comfortable spot. Indeed, not only does an office couch motivate them to get up and walk, breaking up the monotony of the day, it can provide the physical support that their bodies need to relax (even if it’s just for a few moments). Approximately 59% of people in one study (summarized here) said that taking “breaks [during the workday] would improve their work happiness, and 43% said it would boost their personal happiness.” That’s a significant number of people who could benefit from adding an office couch to their work environment!

Want to Learn More?

Adding an office couch to the workplace can improve the mood of employees, thus facilitating a boost in performance that burgeons a company’s bottom line. But an office couch isn’t the only design element able to benefit a business’s growth. To learn more about optimizing office design so that your company makes the most of the resources available to it, please contact our team at Key Interiors. For over 70 years we have been providing our clients with innovative design options that translate into profitable business solutions.

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breakroom design office design practices office redesign Office Renovation

How to Keep Your Sanity During Commercial Office Renovations

Renovations are stressful. The very nature of the word “renovation” means you are actively repairing something, addressing a problem and, thus, adding to the magnitude of the project as a whole. Make it a commercial office renovation (as opposed to a residential one), and the stress can quadruple, with property owners having to work around the schedules of tenants, staff and clients, not just construction crews. Our team at Key Interiors has helped hundreds of clients complete commercial office renovations;  here’s what we recommend to ensure that you keep your sanity during the process:

Define Your Issue(s) 

A renovation seeks to fix one or more specific issues within a space, updating it to reflect modern design and decor and/or restoring it so that it functions at an optimal level for current needs while remaining up to code and safe to occupy. Typical issues addressed with a renovation project include:

– Outdated furniture and decor
– Nonfunctional windows and doors
– Worn flooring, trim and paint
– Lighting problems
– Limited storage
– And more!

Before you consider anything else pertaining to a commercial office renovation, you need to establish the type of problem you have with your building or office space. Is it dark and unwelcoming? Have lead paint? Drafty and need new windows? The problem could be anything, but trust us, your commercial office renovation will run a lot more smoothly and you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches if you have a firm grasp on what you want to accomplish before you begin. (It also helps you with our next tip.)

Create a Plan

A plan is an essential part of any project, but creating one isn’t always intuitive, especially if you aren’t knowledgeable in construction and/or design techniques. That’s why it’s helpful to partner with an expert at the beginning of a commercial office renovation. A skilled design firm can validate (or not) your concerns and help you devise a plan of action. Our professionals at Key Interiors, for example, work with each of our clients to develop an actionable commercial office renovation plan that is unique and specific to the problem at hand. We also oversee the execution of those plans, managing every renovation project so that tasks are completed in a timely fashion and according to an established sequence of events. Oftentimes, the hardest part of renovating a space is coordinating the various phases of construction with all the people involved. This is especially true when there are employees, tenants and others with — and around — which construction and design teams must work. An experienced partner understands realistic timeframes and deadlines and can help you make sense of the budget, time and safety demand specific to commercial office renovation projects.

 

Commit to Communication

A good plan depends on good communication. To stay sane during a commercial office renovation, remember to talk to (and listen to!) the people around you. If the office space will have inhabitants during the renovation process, be sure to give them enough time before the project begins to digest how, when and why their lives will be disrupted over the upcoming months. Discuss with them the goal of the project, as well as the projected schedule for the phases of its completion, and continue to remain in touch throughout the project’s duration so that everyone involved can form reasonable expectations and better deal with it if plans change!

Expect Problems to Arise

And, of course, the best-laid plans can — and usually do — go awry. Unforeseen circumstances, such as shipping delays, worker shortages, order errors, and even pandemics(!), can all cause potential setbacks to your schedule to occur. Recognizing ahead of time that these types of events can and will happen enables you to have a backup plan in place, allowing you to roll with the punches more quickly and with less stress.

The Key Interior Advantage

Preparation is the best tool for staying sane during a commercial office renovation. Our team of design experts at Key Interiors can provide the design advice and business

support you need to adequately prepare for any type of commercial office renovation project.  We not only understand form and function, we actualize creative yet practical ideas for maximum effect. Please contact us to learn more.

 

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Collaborative Workspace door window glass door coverings Office Renovation

6 Benefits of Using Door Window Coverings in the Office

Doors create physical division between spaces, both restricting and facilitating movement from one place to another. There are many types of doors, from heavy, exterior access ones that provide protection against the outside world to less sturdy interior doors that are used to separate rooms. They can be solid or hollow, paneled or plain. They can slide or swing or roll open. The variety of doors is almost endless, with 

an array of materials (such as wood, metal, fiberglass and more) used to construct any number of unique entrances and exits. In office settings, in particular, doors are frequently made of glass or have windows in them. The clean, modern look of glass is often viewed as the epitome of sophistication, signaling organic strength by physically illuminating the space it surrounds. Unfortunately, glass doors (and doors with windows in them) can pose a number of problems, effecting the way a space functions and the way people inside of it work. The good news is that many of those problems can be remedied with door window coverings. Take a look at six benefits of using door window coverings in the office:

Increased Privacy 

Doors limit interruptions, hiding people from outside distractions so that they can exist in peace. When there is a window in the door to a room, however, the people (and objects) inside are still capable of being seen. Thus, adding a door window covering is a good way to restore the door’s ability to conceal the space behind it, increasing privacy for workers both inside and outside the space.

Added Versatility

Of course, having a window in a door can be useful in some scenarios. Managers might like to see office happenings from the comfort of their desk. Visitors might like to peek in before deciding to enter. However, no one wants to feel as if they are on display all the time. Door window coverings give offices the option to change views depending on the type of window covering they choose to install.

 

Enhanced Noise Control

Door window coverings also enable enhanced noise control, insulating a space from sounds that occur around it. For instance, thick, heavy fabric has been shown to reduce noise and can be used to create various types of custom door window coverings.

Protection Against UV Rays

There are physical benefits of adding door window coverings, as well. Research shows that sun rays penetrate glass. Adding door window coverings, especially to exterior doors, helps to block harmful UV radiation and protects people from skin and eye damage and even cancer!

Better Light Control

Naturally, door window coverings offer the opportunity for controlling the amount of light in a space. Adjustable shades and blinds can be installed, allowing offices to take advantage of daytime light, yet still manage glare, as well as create a dark environment when needed (such as during powerpoint presentations). Optimal lighting conditions help boost employee morale and improve workplace productivity

Improved Aesthetics

Finally, door window coverings can be used to invigorate a space, adding color, texture and personality to what otherwise could be a drab area. Incorporating curtains, drapes, blinds, shutters or any other type of window covering into an office space is a relatively easy way to customize a room, showcasing to employees and visitors that you value design, as well as function!

The Key Interiors Advantage

Partnering with a professional office design firm is the best way to effectively meld your own business needs with creative — and useful — decor. To learn how you can maximize your budget and fashion a functional, beautiful place to work, please contact our team of design experts today.

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breakroom design Collaborative Workspace Space Planning

3 Tips for Choosing Breakroom Furniture

 

A company’s breakroom plays an important part in employee wellness, offering a space not just for workers to grab a bite to eat, but a place for them to relax, connect with colleagues and ultimately recharge so that they can face new challenges throughout the day. Studies show that even small breaks interrupt the monotony of daily work-life, improving employees’ overall job satisfaction and increasing their productivity. Thus, one of the best ways for companies to show they value and respect their employees is to provide them with a comfortable, functional breakroom that allows them to periodically unwind and then regroup for the tasks ahead. Here are three tips for choosing breakroom furniture that employees will use and appreciate:

Prioritize Functionality 

Think about what your employees want out of a space and try to incorporate the type of breakroom furniture and other design elements and that will facilitate those objectives. For instance, coffee is an important part of Swedish culture, with Swedish workers taking 15 minutes in the morning, as well as the afternoon, to enjoy a cup with their colleagues. A breakroom in Sweden, then, will necessarily need to accommodate the presence of multiple people, multiple times as day. Coffeemakers, tables and chairs will need to be provided for employees using them en masse, rather than individually. Smaller companies, however, might well get by with only a single table and chairs set. Whatever the case, it’s vital to include breakroom furniture that is durable, comfortable and suitable for the activities for which the room will be used.

Consider Versatility

Remember, too, that there will be people of all types using the breakroom. While you don’t need to — and can’t — cater to everyone, you can provide breakroom furniture that is flexible in its use and purpose. Instead of fixed tables or built-in seating, think about providing compact, moveable pieces that can be rearranged as needed. After all, not everyone will want to sit at a communal table. Some might prefer a quiet seat in a corner where they can escape small talk and lounge in peace. A combination of single and multi-seat options, both plush and structured, will allow all employees to find a seat that suits their bodies, as well as their personalities.

 

Remember Aesthetics

Of course, no one wants to escape to a dingy, ugly room. Just because breakroom furniture needs to be functional and versatile, it doesn’t mean it can’t also be pretty! Attractive, well-made breakroom furniture will draw people into the space, encouraging them to use it and, thus, encouraging overall improved employee productivity.

Want to Learn More?

To learn more about office design and choosing breakroom furniture that boosts morale and expresses dedication to your employees while showcasing your company’s own unique style, please contact our design team at Key Interiors. We work with our clients to create a design plan that matches their needs with their resources, enabling them to provide a better working environment for everyone involved. 

Click Here to check out some of our most recent office renovation and design projects!

References:

https://smallbiztrends.com/2021/04/breakroom-furniture.html

https://www.carrollseating.com/casework-millwork/choosing-break-room-furniture-your-staff-will-love/

https://www.residencestyle.com/tips-to-choose-furniture-for-an-office-break-room/

https://www.quill.com/content/index/resource-center/office-furniture-tips-ideas/buying-guides/how-to-choose-the-right-seating-for-your-break-room/

https://www.thegenaugroup.com/selecting-office-furniture-tips/

https://officefurnitureonline.com/break-room-and-kitchen-furniture/

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190312-the-tiny-breaks-that-ease-your-body-and-reboot-your-brain

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20160112-in-sweden-you-have-to-stop-work-to-chat

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/5-reasons-your-office-design-really-does-matter.html

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