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Office Design

Lots of Video Calls? 5 Tips for Creating a Zoom Conference Room Setup

Zoom conference room setup

As working remotely becomes more common in many workplaces nationwide, employees in various industries enjoy the many benefits of working from home. Working remotely and utilizing Zoom conference calls can allow employees to have more freedom and less workplace-related stress, leading to higher productivity rates compared to employees working in traditional office spaces.  However, creating the proper Zoom conference room setup can be a challenge. Luckily, we’re here to help! Keep reading to learn five expert-approved tips for creating the perfect Zoom conference room setup. 

1. Invest in High-Quality Equipment

When conducting important meetings over Zoom, nothing is more important than having high-quality audio and video equipment. Whether presenting to clients or collaborating on projects with colleagues, the clarity and quality of audio and video can make or break your success. By investing in a top-of-the-line external microphone and webcam for your Zoom conference room setup, you can rest assured you will be able to keep in touch with both co-workers and clients while doing remote work. 

2. Stick to a Basic Background

When it comes to choosing a background for your Zoom conference room setup, keep in mind that less is more. A clean, minimalistic background is a great way to ensure that you don’t overpower the conversation with distracting elements. Whether you opt for a plain white wall or a simple background image, the goal is to create a space that is neutral so your colleagues and clients can focus on the conversation at hand just as they would within the confines of a traditional office space.

3. Prioritize Proper Lighting

When hosting virtual meetings, it’s essential to ensure that your workspace is well-lit. Using bright, natural lighting in your Zoom conference room setup will improve the overall experience and ambiance of any meeting while helping to facilitate communication and create a more welcoming atmosphere. 

4. Limit Distractions

One of the biggest negative effects of working remotely is the distractions that often accompany doing so. From children to pets and all of the potential interruptions in between, there are many factors that can cause a disruption to your virtual meetings or conferences. One of the most essential elements of creating the perfect Zoom conference room setup is limiting distractions by including a door (with a lock!) and potentially soundproof walls, as well as choosing to create your workspace in an area of your home that is as far away from all potential distractions as possible. By keeping pets, children, and other potential distractions out of the room, you can make the most of your virtual collaborations and stay on top of your responsibilities.

5. Collaborate with a Professional

Creating the optimal Zoom conference room on your own can be challenging. If you are struggling to create a space that allows you to limit distractions and maximize productivity while working remotely, it might be time to contact a team of professionals who can assist you in designing, building, and furnishing the right professional space for you and your responsibilities. 

Creating a Zoom Conference Room Setup With Key Interiors

At Key Interiors, we know that creating the right space for remote work is essential for the success of any employee. From designing and building an efficient, distraction-free workspace to filling it with top-of-the-line equipment and technology to help you succeed, our team has the skills necessary to help create the perfect Zoom conference room setup.

To learn more about our services or to get a quote on the upcoming cost of your remote conference room design project, contact us here.

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Office Design

Ready to Update Your Breakroom Kitchen? Here are 3 Essentials to Include

Breakroom Kitchen

Is your breakroom kitchen outdated? Do you and your employees struggle to enjoy a meal in your workplace due to rundown appliances, peeling cabinets, and lackluster supplies? If so, we’re here to help! 

A well-equipped, fully stocked breakroom kitchen is the key to maintaining a happy and successful work environment. In today’s blog, we will highlight three essentials to include when upgrading your breakroom kitchen that will keep your employees happy, healthy, and productive. 

1. Updated Appliances

Tired of your broken refrigerator or outdated microwave making it difficult for employees to store and prepare food? Finding it difficult to stay on top of doing dishes in your breakroom kitchen’s tiny sink? It’s time for an appliance upgrade! Buying a new, larger fridge can be a game changer for employees who worry about having ample space to store their packed lunches, and installing a dishwasher can make end-of-the-day cleanup faster and more efficient than ever. 

2. Coffee Bar

Reward your employees for their hard work and make it a little easier for everyone to get through a long day in the office by investing in a coffee bar equipped with everything needed to make delicious hot or cold coffees, lattes, and more. Replace your outdated coffee pot with a new, state-of-the-art espresso machine or cold brew keg, and your employees will thank you!

3. Better Snacks 

Keeping some snacks on hand in your breakroom kitchen is the key to keeping employees healthy, happy, and productive. Creating an area in your breakroom kitchen explicitly designated for holding snacks is sure to help make long days in the office a little easier for everyone. From healthy options like fruit to various employees’ favorite candy, creating a space that prioritizes snacking is the best upgrade you can make to your business’s breakroom. 

Breakroom Kitchen Renovation with Key Interiors

At Key Interiors, we know that having a well-designed and well-stocked breakroom kitchen is crucial for maintaining employee engagement and morale. From designing a kitchen that perfectly suits your workplace’s unique needs to installing state-of-the-art equipment and appliances that will keep it functioning, our professional interior designers can turn the breakroom kitchen of your dreams into a reality. 

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you transform your space. We can’t wait to hear from you!

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Office Design

What Ideas Should You Consider For Workplace Planning?

workspace planning

Whether you’re starting a new business and designing an office from scratch or simply looking to renovate your existing space to accommodate more employees or maximize productivity, there are many factors to consider when undertaking the process of workspace planning. Creating a workspace that motivates employees, encourages collaboration, increases productivity, and fits within your budget can be difficult.  Luckily, the office design experts at Key Interiors are here to help! Today, we will be sharing some expert-approved ideas you should consider for workspace planning. Keep reading to learn a few of our favorites!

Understand Employee Preferences

It is no secret that not every employee prefers to work within the confines of a traditional office cubicle or desk setup.  Some employees function best in comfortable, relaxed spaces or areas that encourage collaboration and conversion. To maximize productivity and employee satisfaction within your office, give your team members a variety of spaces to choose from when working, such as lounge spaces, quiet rooms, multipurpose rooms, and spaces where employees can sit together and encourage collaboration and teamwork on various projects. 

Streamline Connectivity

Ensuring technology is accessible to all employees without cluttering their space is the key to success in any modern office. Additionally, connecting to technology should be quick and seamless to maximize efficiency during the workday. A key aspect of workspace planning is carefully choosing reliable and user-friendly technology. 

Boost Moral

One of the best ways to improve employee relationships and boost morale around the office is by building spaces where employees are encouraged to relax and socialize before, during, and after a long day of work. Building a community lounge or space featuring comfortable furniture, activities, and more employee favorites is the key to increasing employee productivity and satisfaction in any workplace. 

Looking for help with an upcoming workspace planning project? Contact the experts at Key Interiors! We have over a decade of experience in office design and workspace planning and can help you turn your dream workspace into reality. From creating a space that considers employee preferences to streamlining the processes of team communication and connectivity, we are here to help you create the most effective workspace possible. 

To learn more about our design, planning, and furnishing services and to find out how we can help you create the workspace of your dreams, contact us today!

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work environment

5 Office Amenities Your Employees Will Thank You For

office amenities

Are you a business owner looking to increase employee satisfaction and productivity rates? If so, it might be time to spruce up your office and incorporate a few new amenities your employees need. Today, we will share 5 essential office amenities your employees will love and that you should consider for your upcoming office remodel. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Comfortable Furniture

Keep your team happy and healthy during a long workday by ensuring your office contains a full kitchen well stocked with essentials and employee favorites. Be sure to keep coffee, bottled water, healthy snacks, and other employee requests on hand for your team to access. This is one of the best ways to satisfy everyone in the office!

2. Well Equipped Kitchen

Keep your team happy and healthy during a long workday by ensuring your office contains a full kitchen well stocked with essentials and employee favorites. Be sure to keep coffee, bottled water, healthy snacks, and other employee requests on hand for your team to access. This is one of the best ways to satisfy everyone in the office!

3. Fitness Equipment

Employees who have access to a gym at work report experiencing higher satisfaction, productivity, and motivation rates than those who do not. Encourage your team members to exercise without hassle by building a gym or recreational area where employees can enjoy access to fitness equipment before or after work. This is not only a great way to keep your employees satisfied but also a great way to encourage team bonding and boost morale around the office.

4. Quiet Spaces

Offering a variety of spaces for employees to work is the key to maximizing your business’s success. While some employees prefer to work near other team members where collaboration is encouraged, others might perform better when working in a silent environment. One of the most crucial office amenities in any modern workplace is a quiet room or space where employees can work when they need peace and quiet.

5. Commercial Water Filter System

Most offices have a water cooler for employees to access freely today, but one of the best office amenities in modern workspaces is a state-of-the-art commercial water filter system. Encouraging employees to stay hydrated throughout the day can enhance their physical and mental health, leading to numerous benefits both in and out of the office.

Looking to add some helpful office amenities to your workspace? Whether you’re looking to begin construction on a new room, such as a gym or quiet space, or completely renovate your office interior to include these new elements, the office design experts at Key Interiors are here to help. With decades of experience designing, building, and furnishing commercial offices, we can turn your dream office into reality, complete with all the amenities needed to keep your employees satisfied. 

Contact us today to learn more about our services or to get a quote on the cost of an upcoming project. 

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Space Planning

3 Ways to Make Your Factory Plan More Efficient

factory plan

No matter what type of industry you are in, the layout of your factory is crucial to its success. A poor factory plan can lead to problems such as injuries, wasted products, unnecessary costs, and more. An efficient factory plan can prevent these issues while increasing employee productivity and satisfaction. 

Wondering how to make your factory as efficient as possible? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In today’s blog, we will discuss 3 simple ways to maximize the efficiency of your factory plan. 

1. Use Space Wisely 

When designing your factory, it is essential to optimize your space by using smaller machines designed to take up less space, as well as multi-purpose equipment that can do numerous jobs at once, eliminating the need for unnecessary equipment that will take up unnecessary space. In addition to using efficient machinery and equipment, another helpful addition to your factory plan can be shelving units and storage racks that allow you to use vertical space. Overcrowded or poorly organized factories can appear too small to perform necessary duties. Often, this issue can be resolved by simply reorganizing and being more intentional about how you are taking up space within your facility. 

2. Prioritize Safety

Safety should be the number one priority in any factory. When working on a new factory plan, be sure to consider employee safety by placing all machines and potentially hazardous equipment in the safest location possible. For example, any machinery or piece of equipment that uses hazardous chemicals, emits dangerous fumes, or produces loud sounds should be placed in a separate or fully enclosed area and kept separate from employee workspaces. This is one of the most critical aspects of factory design and is essential in maintaining the health and safety of all employees. 

3. Consider Employee Movement

To streamline work and maximize efficiency, a factory plan should take employee movement into consideration. Creating a factory plan that minimizes any movement employees have to do between machines is the key to streamlining processes throughout a workday. Maximize efficiency by allowing for a logical workflow or arranging workstations in a linear layout that makes sense according to each employee’s responsibilities. This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to maximize productivity and efficiency when designing a factory layout. 

Now that you’ve learned how to create the most efficient factory plan possible, it’s time to get to work! Key Interiors Design has helped hundreds of industrial clients turn their dreams into reality when creating a factory plan that will increase efficiency, productivity, and employee satisfaction. Ready to get started? Give the experts at Key Interiors a call! 

Click here to get in touch with us and to get started on your factory plan project today. 

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Office Design

5 Ways Relaxing Office Decor Can Improve Productivity

relaxing office decor

One of the most surprising ways to boost morale and improve productivity in any professional workspace is by investing in visually pleasing, relaxing office decor! The decor you choose for your office space will set the tone for each workday, and studies show relaxing office decor is linked to higher productivity rates and better employee mental health. 

Are you planning an office makeover that will incorporate relaxing office decor into your space? If so, here are a few ways you can expect this process to improve productivity around your workplace. 

1. Natural Sunlight

Tired of working in a dark, drab, and dreary office every day? Adding a touch of natural sunlight to your existing workspace can serve as an alternative to relaxing office decor and is linked to improved mood, better mental health, and higher employee productivity rates. When you work in a well-lit, relaxing environment, you are more likely to show up to work on time and want to do your job, making natural lighting some of the most relaxing office decor available. 

2. Calming Color Palette 

Studies show the color you choose for your professional workspace can impact your daily motivation levels. Painting the walls of your office a color that is both relaxing and uplifting, such as blood orange or deep blue, can keep you in a positive mindset throughout a long day of work, resulting in lower levels of stress and increased productivity. 

3. Live Plants 

Sprucing up your workspace with some flowers or live greenery is linked to higher levels of relaxation and reduced stress. In addition, it can lead to higher levels of productivity and improved performance. Adding some greenery to your office can add a pop of color or a touch of your personal style to your otherwise drab workspace, making it the perfect decorative piece! 

4. Organized Workspace

If your workspace becomes cluttered throughout the day, investing in some new organizational tools, such as a more extensive desk or bins offering additional storage space, can help clear up some room while clearing your mind. Plus, an organized workspace can increase productivity as you can get more done when not constantly surrounded by clutter!

5. Favorite Art Work

The best relaxing office decor is artwork that makes you happy and reminds you of your home. Incorporating a few elements from your favorite artist or photos of your family and friends can keep you in good spirits during a long work day, increasing productivity. 

 

Are you looking to upgrade your office to increase productivity and decrease employee stress? Whether you’re looking to undergo a complete office renovation or just want to add some small pieces of relaxing office decor to an existing space, the experts at Key Interiors are here to help! From designing to furnishing and everything in between, our interior office design experts are ready to take on your next project! 

Contact us today to learn more about our services or to get a quote on the cost of an upcoming project.

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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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flooring noisy workplace office design practices

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.

Categories
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

Categories
Collaborative Workspace modern office design noisy workplace Office Design Office Renovation Space Planning workstation design

Improve Your Office’s Privacy with a Cubicle Door

Modern office design is all about matching business needs with employee well-being. There is no one right or wrong workplace plan, as every company has unique needs that influence the choice of individual design elements. But these needs can — and do — change over time. Thus, a good office design is one that can evolve to meet new demands when they occur! At some point, an open floorplan might be suitable. At other times, it might make more sense to have individual offices or team-sharing suites. Of course, there is always the cubicle layout, a popular office design born in the 1960s that many organizations still make use of today. Indeed, approximately 60% of American workers spend their work lives inside a cubicle. And while that might have worked well without any modifications 50 years ago, today’s employees often want a different type of workplace setting to facilitate their highest level of productivity. The good news is that companies don’t have to initiate a complete office redesign to ensure employee wellness or efficiency. Oftentimes, a small office renovation can do the trick, such as adding cubicle doors. Cubicle doors can improve your office’s privacy without costing you a lot of money or downtime. Here’s why that’s important:

Privacy Often Equals Safety

Personal space is a valuable commodity. It not only helps protect us from physical dangers, it helps shield us from mental stress and discomfort. During a pandemic, personal space also helps keep us away from germs. An easy way to provide more privacy in an office, and, thus, further ensure that your employees are mentally and physically safeguarded, is to add a cubicle door to each cubicle station, separating employees so they are less exposed and are able to concentrate more fully on their work.

Privacy Preserves Security 

Adding a cubicle door to a cubicle means both corporate data and employees’ own personal details are kept confidential. Information security is a big deal these days, with federal and state regulations tightly controlling the way customer information is stored and shared. Creating a barrier between employees and the rest of the office allows companies to protect sensitive data from prying eyes, as well as allows employees the space they need to conduct personal affairs without an audience.

 

Privacy Inspires Creativity 

Privacy also inspires creativity by providing a quiet, restful space for reflection, discovery and innovation. A cubicle door closes off employees from the chaos of the surrounding work environment, permitting them uninterrupted time to concentrate on the work at hand, think outside the box and, hopefully, develop new insights. The result: increased ingenuity and productivity!

The Key Advantage

Research shows that natural sunlight improves employee health, boosting their mood, improving their sleep patterns and encouraging longer nightime sleep duration, better sleep quality and more physical activity for those with access to natural light during working hours when compared to those without it. To foster a zen office design, remove obstructive window coverings and/or arrange mirrors to reflect light where needed. You could repaint walls using white or light colors to help brighten the room, as well.

Focus on People, Not Things

The real focus of any zen office design is people, not things. Many traditional office designs center around workplace efficiency, arranging square footage in ways that maximize workflow. Zen office design, however, puts the needs of people above the needs of the company, connecting people to each other instead of to a specific area or item or any particular aesthetic ideal.

Add in Decorative Accents

A peaceful environment soothes the senses. Think about adding a water feature, artwork, and plants to generate a relaxing tone throughout the office space. The sound of moving water, coupled with living plants, evokes a feeling of serenity that science shows can “reduce stress and increase creativity and focus,” all desired results of any zen office design. To the same end, pretty artwork can also be added with little effort.

 

The Key Advantage 

Of course, an experienced office design partner helps companies explore all types of design elements, suggesting the best ones to match any and all issue(s). To learn more about adding cubicle doors to your company’s office design or other possible design features that might improve your employee’s well-being and/or efficiency, please contact Key Interiors.

References:

https://nuserve.co.uk/news/5-steps-achieve-complete-office-zen

https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2014/08/natural-light-in-the-office-boosts-health

https://www.environmentsatwork.com/workplace-trends/get-zen-effective-workspace-design-fosters-well-being/

https://blog.vantagefit.io/create-zen-office/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/augustturak/2012/03/15/zen-leadership-the-toughest-best-business-decision-i-ever-made/?sh=38d9537e7c9a

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrismyers/2017/06/14/how-to-master-the-art-of-zen-leadership/?sh=f5f53e433bbb

https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-light-benefits#ways-to-get-more-sunlight

https://som.medium.com/for-a-better-workplace-put-people-first-2d3dcabc5f30

https://theconversation.com/not-just-nice-to-have-nature-in-the-workplace-makes-employees-happier-and-healthier-80077

Categories
Office Design Office Furnishing Office Renovation Space Planning workstation design

What to Do When Employees Request a Zen Office Design

Zen refers to a state of calmness where a person can be guided by his or her inituition. It has become a buzzword in the business world, with terms like “zen business,” “zen leadership,” “zen office” and the like being used when employees (or companies) want to focus on well-being, creativity and productivity. The belief is that a company’s policies and procedures — even its atmosphere right down to its physical setting, as well as its furniture — can be used to initiate peace and harmony amongst employees, thereby enabling them to be healthier, more engaged and more effective in their work lives. This is what to do if your employees are suddenly requesting a zen office design:

Don’t Panic

Fortunately, designing a zen office doesn’t have to involve a complete office overhaul. There are plenty of design options available for reimagining established spaces and using existing fittings and fixtures in new ways. None of them has to be expensive or disruptive to normal business functioning!

De-Clutter

One of the easiest ways to quickly facilitate a zen office design is to clear out all unnecessary objects and debris from the office itself. File away papers, straighten desktops and hide cables and cords. A clean and ordered space allows workers to focus on the work at hand and not the chaos of their surroundings.

Let in Light

Research shows that natural sunlight improves employee health, boosting their mood, improving their sleep patterns and encouraging longer nightime sleep duration, better sleep quality and more physical activity for those with access to natural light during working hours when compared to those without it. To foster a zen office design, remove obstructive window coverings and/or arrange mirrors to reflect light where needed. You could repaint walls using white or light colors to help brighten the room, as well.

Focus on People, Not Things

The real focus of any zen office design is people, not things. Many traditional office designs center around workplace efficiency, arranging square footage in ways that maximize workflow. Zen office design, however, puts the needs of people above the needs of the company, connecting people to each other instead of to a specific area or item or any particular aesthetic ideal.

Add in Decorative Accents

A peaceful environment soothes the senses. Think about adding a water feature, artwork, and plants to generate a relaxing tone throughout the office space. The sound of moving water, coupled with living plants, evokes a feeling of serenity that science shows can “reduce stress and increase creativity and focus,” all desired results of any zen office design. To the same end, pretty artwork can also be added with little effort.

 

Want to Learn More?

Creating a zen office design plan doesn’t have to be a daunting endeavor. You can start small and add in design elements based on any type of time or budget constraints; you can also partner with an experienced commercial design firm like Key Interiors. We can help you reconfigure your space to maximize zen-like qualities, or we can work with you to imagine a zen office from scratch. Please contact our office to learn more about creating a zen office design that matches your vision, as well as your resources.

References:

https://nuserve.co.uk/news/5-steps-achieve-complete-office-zen

https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2014/08/natural-light-in-the-office-boosts-health

https://www.environmentsatwork.com/workplace-trends/get-zen-effective-workspace-design-fosters-well-being/

https://blog.vantagefit.io/create-zen-office/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/augustturak/2012/03/15/zen-leadership-the-toughest-best-business-decision-i-ever-made/?sh=38d9537e7c9a

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrismyers/2017/06/14/how-to-master-the-art-of-zen-leadership/?sh=f5f53e433bbb

https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-light-benefits#ways-to-get-more-sunlight

https://som.medium.com/for-a-better-workplace-put-people-first-2d3dcabc5f30

https://theconversation.com/not-just-nice-to-have-nature-in-the-workplace-makes-employees-happier-and-healthier-80077

 
Categories
Office Design Office Furnishing workstation design

3 Things You Should Know about Custom Millwork for Your Office

Whether we like it or not, appearances matter. First impressions go a long way, and for companies, especially, if you’re not making a good one, you’re losing the interest of potential customers, clients and employees and costing yourself valuable business. One of the easiest ways to positively influence an initial meeting with prospective clients or employees is to create a comfortable, beautiful office. Research shows that the first seven seconds of an encounter influences a person’s eventual perception of it. Apparently, the brain makes snap judgements before a person even becomes aware of his or her thoughts. Thus, consider this: it’s highly likely that any time you meet someone in your office, it will take them at least seven seconds to cross your office threshold, providing ample time for you to influence their impression of your company before they even catch sight of you, your product(s) or your brand. The color of your walls, your decor, your furniture — your office — is frequently the first thing people notice. Make it as unique and special as possible — with custom millwork, for example — and you’re on your way to a great first impression!

Custom Millwork Sets Your Office Apart from the Competition

Custom millwork includes any type of building product that is produced in a mill. Items such as doors, molding, trim and paneling, as well as specially-designed shelving, cabinets and storage units are all examples of millwork, bespoke items that add to the functionality and/or the beauty of an individual space. Choosing to add custom millwork options to your office design immediately signals that you are different from everyone else.

Custom Millwork Maximizes Your Office Layout

Tailor-made details enable you to utilize every square inch of a space, increasing the functionality of your office’s layout and design. Furthermore, custom millwork can be used to custom fit everything from desks and chairs to windows, doors and cabinetry so that the end product(s) match your exact needs, as well as your own personal aesthetics.

Custom Millwork Adds Value

Store-bought furniture and generic design elements can’t match the quality and craftsmanship of custom millwork. Adding made-to-order milled pieces to your office increases the value of your space since they will last longer and work better than those that are mass-produced. In addition, custom millwork impresses people, often adding intangible value to your overall brand, as well!

Want to Learn More?

For more information about using custom millwork in your office, please contact our team of designers at Key Interiors. As a full-service design, construction, and furnishing firm, Key Interiors can provide custom millwork, cabinetry, and finishes to fir your next project! 

Custom millwork can be added to a new construction design, but it can also be used to enhance a space, negating the need for a full-scale remodel. The possibilities are endless, and a great first impression can be just around the corner! Take a look at our Project Portfolio to get some ideas and see our latest work. 

You might also wish to download our free eBook, “Modern Office Design,” for additional office design tips, as well.

Categories
ceiling design industrial office design layout Office Design office design practices office layout Office Renovation Space Planning work environment

3 HVAC Tips for Climate Controlling Your Office

 

The quality of the air inside commercial buildings, schools and other places of business directly impacts the comfort and health of the people who visit and work within them. That’s why an HVAC system is such an important part of an office’s design. HVAC systems don’t just regulate temperature, they also work to control humidity and remove contaminants, thereby contributing to the overall quality of the air that millions of workers (and patrons) are exposed to everyday. While the government doesn’t actually mandate any specific HVAC tips detailing a range for temperature or humidity control, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) recommends keeping office temperatures between 68°-76° F and humidity in the range of 20%-60%.

In addition, OHSA suggests a variety of other measures to help companies recognize and control safe levels of indoor air contaminants, as well as maximize their ventilation systems. Especially during this current time of COVID, temperate, clean air not only safeguards workers against discomfort, headaches, allergies and other troublesome issues, helping them improve their energy levels and productivity, the right HVAC system can also minimize exposure to dangerous pathogens, preventing disease. Therefore, one of the best ways to stay ahead of problems with indoor air quality is designing an office space that amplifies an HVAC system’s functionality and efficiency from the onset of a building’s occupancy. Here are three HVAC tips for better climate control:

Maximize Ventilation

One of the most important factors affecting climate control, particularly within a large space (such as an office building), is ventilation. Proper ventilation allows outside air to move inside, diluting the concentration of pollutants that might be trapped within a space and circulating air so that the indoor temperature is neither too warm nor too cool. Depending on the specific needs of a building and available resources during construction/remodeling, ventilation can be facilitated via mechanical (supply and exhaust fans), natural (windows, doors and other openings) or mixed-mode processes. Choosing the right ventilation system for the space at hand encourages the movement of clean air into a space, making it easier for building managers to keep the ambient temperature within an office regulated and less polluted with contaminants.

Consider An Energy-Efficient Office Design

The function of any HVAC system can be improved with thoughtful design choices. When laying out an office’s floor plan, think about how you can mitigate the load of its HVAC system. Adding options like automatic light sensors; lower ceilings; extra natural ventilation openings (and adequate treatments to cover them when necessary); landscaping and architectural features that naturally render shade and/or reflect sunlight both inside and around the building can all work to ensure your HVAC is not overworked and, thus, unable to maintain proper functioning.

Maintain Filters and Keep Areas Clean

Another good HVAC tip is to always keep a routine HVAC maintenance schedule that includes the periodic replacement of its air filters. Exchanging old filters for new ones ensures that your HVAC system is never compromised or overloaded and, as a result, remains fully capable of cooling, heating and cleaning the air as needed. 

The Key Interior Advantage

A good office design maximizes an HVAC’s ability to function effectively and efficiently. Even small changes — such as rearranging furniture, adding window blinds or changing the color of paint — can significantly ease the burden on your HVAC system, allowing it to work at full capacity. 

At Key Interiors, our in-house, certified design team can help you redesign your office to get the most out of your HVAC system, and our skilled trade partners can handle any necessary mechanical upgrades.

To learn more HVAC tips for optimal control of the climate in your own office space, please contact our team of experts at Key Interiors.

You might also wish to take a look at our Project Portfolio to get some ideas and see our latest design work. 

Categories
Office Design Office Furnishing workstation design

Benefits of Using Bench Seating in Your Office

Furniture plays an important part in office design. Aesthetically, it can draw people to a space with its beauty. But it can also promote increased productivity and connectivity when carefully chosen for functionality and arranged for comfort. There are hundreds of furniture options, but in this blog we’re going to explore bench seating. Take a look at three important benefits of using bench seating in your office space:

What is Bench Seating?

Bench seating doesn’t actually refer to a bench seat but rather a bench surface. Much like a dining room table, bench seating provides a long expanse of workspace to which employees can pull up individual chairs and complete their work. Over the past few years it has become increasingly popular, although post-Covid that might change as companies search for ways to keep members of their teams further apart and less involved in communal spaces. Nevertheless, the benefits of one long work surface over many individual ones can’t be overlooked.

Bench Seating is Affordable

One of the biggest benefits of using bench seating in your office is its affordability. Not only does bench seating take up less space than individual desks or cubicles — saving you from having to pay for valuable square footage — it accommodates more people, allowing you to have more workers in your space at one time. After all, the cost of doing business is less per employee when you add more people to a smaller space. Furthermore, the streamlined silhouette of bench seating keeps manufacturing and, thus, retail, costs down since there are no extra walls or barriers to make or build.

Bench Seating Inspires Interaction

When utilized appropriately, bench seating allows employees to easily collaborate. With no dividers separating individuals, people are free to interact quickly, sharing ideas in real time rather than having to get up and walk around to collect the information they need. Indeed, the efficiency of this organic sharing of data is compounded in value by the fact that it frequently results in more meaningful insights, as well. The quicker people can communicate, the quicker they can make profitable decisions. 

Bench Seating is Versatile

Unlike many other types of workspace solutions, bench seating is highly versatile, capable of being easily rearranged to accommodate new employees and/or new office objectives within just a few minutes and with just a few (if any!) tools. It’s a lot harder to move walls and cubicles than it is to reposition a table or set out tabletop privacy dividers between employees. And in this crazy time of social distancing, being able to quickly reconfigure an office’s work areas according to changing mandates and safety needs with little effort or expense means companies can keep working and keep producing with the littlest amount of interruption.

Want to Learn More?

To further discuss the pros and cons of using bench seating in your office, please contact our team of design experts at Key Interiors. We work closely with all of our clients to plan a strategy for their office space design that best addresses their own unique needs. Our team can complete the look of your space with functional furniture and exclusive interior finishes that promote connectivity and productivity. 

You might also wish to take a look at our Project Portfolio to get some ideas and see our latest design work. 

Categories
Office Design office redesign

5 Questions to Ask Your Interior Contracting Firm

Two business leaders discuss interior contracting in their office

When it comes to hiring an interior contracting firm, there are a lot of important factors at play. No two interior contractors are the same, so getting one that fits your needs and budget is key. Fortunately, there is a crystal-clear process that any business or individual can use to determine if an interior contracting firm is a good fit. So, let’s take a look at the 5 questions to ask your interior contracting firm!

Can You Create a Design From Scratch?

A lot of people get confused between an interior contractor and an interior designer. Typically, a contractor works off of an existing design, while a designer takes the process from the design phase all the way through construction. As a result, it’s important to ask an interior contracting firm if they can create their own designs.

Some people get started with a contractor and realize that it’s up to them to provide the contractor with a design. Without expertise in interior design, this could leave you in a tough position. Fortunately, many interior contracting firms like Key Interiors can see your project through from start to finish.

Do You Specialize in Residential or Commercial Construction?

Many interior contracting firms have specialties in either residential or commercial interior construction, while others have a solid track record in both. In any case, it’s important to know what the firm is able to do with different spaces. If you’re trying to remodel your house, you probably wouldn’t want a firm that focuses on commercial interiors. On the other hand, if you want to relocate your company’s office, you wouldn’t want an interior contracting firm that specializes in residential designs.

What Kind of Services Do You Offer?

In a sense, this is an extension of the first question. Some interior contracting firms offer design services, while others do not. Similarly, some firms only offer basic construction services, while others offer redesigns, relocations, expansions, and many other services. Even if you just have a simple plan in mind, it’s often best to go with a contracting firm that’s capable of taking on most (if not all) of the different tasks that are involved in your project.

What’s Your Pricing Structure?

This is an incredibly important question. When it comes to cost, it’s easy to find yourself paying too much for subpar service. That’s why you should always confirm the type of services they offer and then ask about pricing. If the cost doesn’t align with the services (or with your budget), then you know you should look elsewhere. Fortunately, many interior contracting firms offer scaled pricing structures to meet the needs of just about any budget.

What’s Your Turnaround Time?

Naturally, the answer to this question is complex. However, a good interior contracting firm will be able to give you an approximate timeline based on the details of your particular project. For example, if you want to expand your current building and redesign the interiors, the interior contracting firm should be able to give you an accurate timeline and an  approximate completion date once they know the scope of what needs to be done.

Want to learn more about hiring an interior contracting firm? Contact the experts at Key Interiors today!

Categories
Office Design Office Renovation

4 Ways to Stop Office Construction Issues Before They Start

Two men in hard hats discuss office construction with a laptop nearby

If you’ve ever managed a construction project, you know that there are a million potential issues that can crop up. From inclement weather to delayed material shipments, there’s no shortage of problems that can cause your office construction to take longer and cost more than it should. Though some issues are unavoidable, many common construction problems could be avoided with proper planning and foresight. So, let’s take a look at the top 4 ways to stop office construction issues before they start. 

Set a Budget Ceiling

While you should always set your budget above the initial projection, you shouldn’t throw endless amounts of cash at a construction project. Some contractors or interior designers will try to upsell you with things that you don’t need, leading to seemingly endless costs. To avoid this problem, set a hard limit on what you’re willing to spend. Don’t be afraid to share this number with your contractor or designer, as it will help them stay on track and on budget.

Get a Designer’s Opinion

You may have a very specific vision in mind for your new office. Unfortunately, it may not work with your budget. It also may not be feasible based on your location and a variety of other factors. So, make sure to get an opinion on your office design before you break ground with the construction crew. A good commercial interior design firm can usually spot poor or impractical designs from a mile away. Even better, a design build firm, like Key Interiors, can cover both pieces of the process from design to build.

Take an Active Role in the Process

A lot of business owners want to hire a construction firm, and once the process is started, walk away until it’s done. While this approach may work, you can avoid potential miscommunications and change orders by staying up-to-date on the construction. This way, you’ll be informed of any potential construction issues before they start, giving you more time to work with your contracting firm to fix them.

Hire a Trusted Office Construction Firm

All of the steps above are pointless if you don’t hire the right business to construct or redesign your office. Some interior construction firms do not have the expertise to build a modern office, while others may have a history of going over-budget. So, do your research in advance. Reach out to multiple firms to get price quotes and timelines. If you take these extra steps, you could end up saving your business a lot of time and money.

If you’d like to learn more about hiring a construction firm for your office, contact the experts at Key Interiors today!

 

Categories
Office Design office redesign

How to Reduce Potential Tax Liabilities with Capital Expenditure Projects

business and office construction leaders discussing capital expenditures

“Unprecedented” is a strong candidate for the unofficial word of the year for 2020. Business leaders have had to face unprecedented challenges, and, as a result, they’ve had to use unprecedented methods to meet them. For many business leaders, this meant –– at least in part –– applying for government assistance in the form of a PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) or EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster) loan. While these loans may have provided businesses with much-needed injections of cash, capital from these loans may now represent a potential tax liability.

Given that fact, today we’ll explain a little more about how this process works, and what business owners can do to reduce potential tax liabilities with capital expenditure projects.

Loans & Profit

Numbers may not lie, but they also may not tell the entire story either. Such is the case with PPP and EIDL loans. Earlier this year, many businesses applied for government loans at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the loans required that businesses use most or all of these loans to cover essential expenses (like payroll), this income still counted as a big chunk of profit on their books without any expenses directly against it. Think about it – almost every time you make money in business, you must spend money. So each piece of income has an expense directly against it – thus resulting in some profit. But with these loans, you got a big check that was entirely profit.

For businesses that struggled through COVID and took a loss in other areas of their business, this extra profit on their books isn’t an issue. For the businesses that actually boomed in this period, such as the residential construction and supply industries, their net profit will be inflated with the infusion of PPP monies. These companies have not only made a profit on their regular business, but they also had a large amount of pure profit come with their forgiven loan.

Of course, businesses are responsible for paying tax on their profits at the end of the year. With such a large amount of profit in their business, they could be due for a whopping tax bill at the beginning of 2021.

Capital Expenditures

Business leaders can choose to invest a portion of their profits into “capital expenditures” to cut down on their profit figure. Capital expenditures are considered purchases that businesses make to improve any assets that they own. So when a business makes an investment into a capital expense like updating an office space or investing in new machinery, computers, or office furniture, this can be at least partially written off as an expense with no direct profit related to it. Because of that, it reduces the overall profit figure and, subsequently, the business’ tax responsibility. Unlike operating expenses, which can be written off the same year as their purchase, capital expenditures go through depreciating value on a year-by-year basis. If a business were to make a significant capital expenditure this year, they would be able to deduct some, but not all, of the amount on their upcoming tax balance sheet.

Please reach out to your accountant and confirm that this expenditure would help you before making any plans for capital expenditures.

A Word from Key Interiors

As we begin to wind down a very unusual year, we do like to remind our clients that putting money into capital expenditure improvements can be a great way to reduce potential tax liabilities. Some of our clients have seen this year’s tax payment jump due to receiving PPP or EIDL money from the US Government. Additionally, some businesses may have an urgent need to alter their office setup in order to meet social-distancing guidelines and ensure the safety of their staff and clientele. (For more information on this subject, you can check out our blog here.) Another reason some businesses have needed to alter their set up is because they have gotten much busier and added staff – increasing the need for updated workflows and more bathroom and break room space. Growing businesses may be compelled to rethink their workspace to accommodate this increase in employees or a larger production outlay.

If any of this sounds like it could apply to your business, then we’d be happy to have a no-obligation call to discuss possible projects that fall under a capital expense category.

At Key Interiors, we have a long history of partnering with a wide range of businesses. Our team will work with yours to improve your business’s office and subsequently boost workplace efficiency to deliver significant return on your investment. You can contact us here for more information or to get started today.

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Office Design reception desk designs waiting room design

Reception Area Design and Build: How to Stick to a Timeline

reception area design by Key Interiors

It’s possible to make an argument that the reception desk is the most important space in any office. Waiting rooms often help form the first impression a client, partner, or new employee has of a company. Additionally, individuals may have to spend 5-10 minutes unattended in a reception area before their appointment begins. So, if your company values getting off on the right foot with visitors, quality reception area design is key.

The most recent need for a reception renovation has been caused by the infamous COVID. Shared spaces in the office environment have been put in the spotlight with a skyrocketing focus on hygiene in the workplace. Office managers and business owners want to redesign their waiting area to have easy-to-clean surfaces and plenty of space for a few people to sit while adhering to social distancing.

Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to schedule much-needed reception renovations. Few businesses can afford to shut down completely for months at a time to complete an office redesign. And reception repairs can be uniquely disruptive to regular business. With that in mind, today we’ll share a few tips on how business leaders can create a renovation schedule –– and stick to it –– when they decide to upgrade their reception area.

Account for Scheduling Variables

When planning an office renovation project, it’s unwise to base your schedule only on the time it will take to complete the actual, physical component of the redesign. That’s because a number of logistical variables can slow down or halt your team’s progress. As such, it’s crucial for business leaders to build variables into their renovation schedule. If you fail to account for material lead times, building permit requirements, engineering issues, lease stipulations, building code standards, bad weather conditions, and/or potential tenant disruptions, then it’s possible (if not likely) that your project will run over schedule. 

Avoid High-Volume Periods

Many businesses follow seasonal patterns. Or, at the very least, most companies experience periods of high and low customer volume. If at all possible, avoid scheduling renovations during weeks/months when you know your team will be busy. Planning a renovation during your off-season can minimize the impact on your day-to-day operations.

Note that some businesses choose to schedule the bulk of their renovations at night or on weekends. While this can help expedite the process, hiring contractors to work outside of “normal” hours will cost a premium. So, keep that in mind.

Utilize Alternative Spaces

Some businesses may be able to make use of temporary office spaces or entrances while renovations take place on their regular reception area. Business leaders may also consider using remote technology to complete check-ins with visitors during reception area renovations. Additionally, having certain staff members work remotely for a period of time could free up extra space to use as a “de-facto” waiting area. This may not be ideal, but it could significantly cut down on your renovation timetable.

Break it Up

Occasionally, a reception area may need a complete overhaul and need it ASAP. More often than not, though, businesses can effectively schedule redesigns in phases. By introducing positive changes bit by bit, businesses can improve their reception area design without affecting the regular rhythm of their organization.

Contact the Pros

Overseeing an office renovation calls for a huge commitment of time and resources. Since many business leaders already work 50+ hours a week, it simply may not be possible for them to take on this task as well. The good news is that by partnering with a firm like Key Interiors, professionals can ensure their office design project both 1) fulfills their original vision and 2) is completed on time and on budget. Our team has years of experience completing reception area projects, and we understand the numerous nuances and challenges such undertakings present. You can contact us here to learn more or to get started today!

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Office Design sustainable office design

8 Benefits of a LEED Certification for Your Workplace

One of the most exciting office design trends in recent years is the movement toward sustainable workspaces. Indeed, more and more companies are looking for ways to “go green” and create eco-friendly professional environments. Check out this LEED certified case study of one of our projects.

These certifications can now present serious value for growing companies. LEED Certification stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” and these independently verified certificates recognize buildings that have been built with green features, sustainable practices, and energy-efficient considerations. Today, we’ll list eight benefits of a LEED Certification for your workplace.

Benefits of a Sustainable Office Design

There are two types of benefits associated with a LEED Certification –– the advantages a company enjoys from a sustainable office design, and the direct benefits of a high-level LEED Certification.

In terms of sustainability, companies can benefit in a myriad of ways from enhancing their office in order to gain a LEED Certification. A few highlights in this regard include:

  • A healthier work environment. Improved air quality alone can actually contribute a healthier office space and better performance. Employees may even take fewer sick days in offices that prioritize quality airflow.
  • Lower utility costs.
  • Reduced expenses on waste and waste removal. This includes construction waste as well.
  • Increased employee retention, productivity, and morale. Offices that are full of natural elements, bright lighting, and clean areas can all contribute to enhanced employee performance.

Even if you don’t earn a LEED certification, bolstering your office’s sustainability can bring about these benefits as well. Making incremental progress toward a greener workplace is better than standing still! (Note also that companies themselves cannot gain a LEED Certification –– only buildings or neighborhoods. So even if you don’t own your building, you can still make eco-friendly improvements and increase your company’s sustainability. Doing so just may not translate into a LEED Certification.)

Direct Benefits of a LEED Certification

In addition to all of the indirect benefits a company can gain from simply opting for a more sustainable approach, there are also some key direct benefits they can access by achieving a LEED Certification.

  • The first, and most tangible of these is the ability to apply for certain tax rebates and zoning allowances.
  • What’s more, buildings with a LEED Certification are almost certain to go up in value –– should you ever decide to sell your office space and relocate.
  • A LEED Certification also enables a company to use that information for public relations and marketing purposes. This can lead to improved business reputation and make it easier for companies to attract new customers and new potential hires as well.
  • Finally, the last and perhaps the most meaningful benefit attached to a LEED Certification is the positive impact made for the environment.

It may not seem like much now, but if enough companies adopt a sustainable mentality, everyone on the planet will benefit in the long run!

Contact Us

At Key Interiors, we’ve worked with businesses in a number of fields to create more sustainable, eco-friendly workspaces that delight both employees and clients alike. Check out this LEED certified case study of one of our projects. If you’re looking to set your company up for long-term success, then going after a LEED Certification now is a fantastic idea –– and we can help you out along the way. Contact us today.

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Categories
industrial office design Office Design

Manufacturing Cleanrooms: 4 Things to Keep in Mind

Cleanrooms have been fixtures for companies operating in certain medical and scientific research niches for decades. Yet, as one might imagine, cleanrooms have become increasingly relevant for a wide variety of organizations over the past few months due in part to COVID-19. Specifically, manufacturing cleanrooms are essential for any company that produces items that could be contaminated easily by particles in the air. With all of that in mind, today we’ll highlight some key facts about cleanrooms, how you should go about creating one, and what you can do to ensure your employees, partners, and products are safe. Check it out here:


Determine Your ISO Classification Level

Not all cleanrooms are created for the same purpose or with the same challenges in mind. Rather, there are 9 different cleanroom classifications as specified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These different classifications determine how the cleanroom should be designed as well as maintained. They designate the particle count and size allowance, as well as the recommended airflow and air change rates. For reference, most manufacturing cleanrooms are either class 7 or 8, but business leaders should double-check their needs first.

Select Your Wall Type

Cleanroom walls come in three different types: soft wall, hard wall, and a rigid wall. To generalize, soft wall cleanrooms are modular and cost-effective, hard wall cleanrooms are permanent and durable, and rigid wall cleanrooms are a bit of both. It’s key for business leaders to identify how they plan to use their clean room for both the short and long-term. Do you plan to move your cleanroom? Will you need specific machines or equipment within the cleanroom? How will you accommodate electrical systems within your cleanroom? Answer these questions before you decide on the wall type and location in your factory.

Installation & Maintenance

Cleanrooms can be a vital aspect of any manufacturing workspace. As such, it’s imperative for business leaders to determine how best to create and maintain their cleanroom. Some cleanrooms come delivered in pre-manufactured parts. For instance, some organizations choose to assemble their own soft wall cleanrooms. In addition, some business leaders choose to maintain their cleanrooms on their own. While these can be viable options, you may also benefit from enlisting the help of a professional crew for installation and maintenance assistance –– particularly if this is the first cleanroom your company has built. 

Budget, Space & Time

As with any workspace renovation, business leaders should consider variables specific to their situation when they decide to invest in a cleanroom. These include factors like your available budget, the amount of space you have to utilize in your facility, and how quickly you need the cleanroom ordered, installed, and operational. While it may be tempting to rush through this transaction if you need a new cleanroom quickly, taking your time could end up saving you significant amounts of money, and, for that matter, stress!

Contact Us

At Key Interiors, we have years of experience working with companies in the medical and manufacturing fields. We know the importance of quality cleanroom design and installation, and we can help your business navigate this potentially tricky investment. Contact us here to learn more about how we can help you improve your organization’s workspace today!

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modern office design Office Design office layout office redesign Office Renovation

Modern Office Design: How Corporate Design Trends Can Help Increase Employee Productivity

Many employees recently set up temporary home offices . . . and recognized their shortcomings. Now, as organizations welcome employees back to the office, modern office design is being recognized as a priority. What does modern office design look like? What advantages does a modern office space offer to employees and management? How can open plan offices adapt post-COVID?

Modern office design prioritizes flexibility of space and creating environments for employee collaboration. The ideal office design is clean, inviting, incorporates natural light, and leverages technology to further promote connectivity and productivity. For example, shared benching workstations have worked well for many organizations. They facilitate collaboration and employees enjoy the camaraderie they invite. But the new need for physical distancing is a challenge that can be solved with design and furnishings.

INCREASED FLEXIBILITY

Now more than ever, in-office teams need formal and informal spaces that safely allow small groups to meet and feel comfortable. If you have an open office floor plan, creating gathering places may require new furnishings. A small cluster of high-top meeting tables invites employees to gather for stand-up meetings. Seating areas may take the look of a lounge and welcome cross-functional teams to a common place to congregate and share ideas. These spaces should be comfortable for all – seated or standing – and should encourage interaction without feeling crowded.

If your current office design suffers from uneven usage (some areas are overcrowded, others like a ghost town) an updated design could deliver real value. As teams move back to the office creating flexible usage space can help solve immediate space challenges and encourage the relationship building conversations that bring colleagues, in-office and remote, together.

Consider what changes can made to make the most of your square footage. Do not think extremes – hard walled offices with solid doors or rows and rows of cubicles – think flexible spaces. Small window-less conference rooms (with all the charm of an interrogation room) can be combined to create open spaces with or without a door. Incorporate sliding glass panels to serve as translucent white boards and aesthetically pleasing room dividers for this flexible use space. Another design option to consider is the creation of small “quiet zones”. These can be small nooks in your floorplan or take the shape of over-sized phone booths that provide employees with a dedicated space to block out noise and distractions between meetings. These small spaces provide the privacy within the workplace that many employees crave. If you have the square footage, incorporate individual workstations. Physical barriers can help reduce noise as well as provide employees the sense of protection needed in today’s modern office design.

DESIGN IDEAS TO PROMOTE COLLABORATION

Productivity in the modern corporate office means balancing individual work and collaboration time. Walled meeting rooms certainly have their place in modern office design. Materials such as glass give literal as well as figurative transparency to business activity. Depending on your office layout, carving out new meetings rooms can give you the opportunity to update your color palette as well as incorporate natural light. The most important detail of your new conference room: technology. An investment in upgraded technology and wiring will be appreciated by all employees, in-office and remote.

Today’s modern conference room is wired for connectivity and ease of use. The days of “everyone” being in the office for the same work hours, Monday through Friday, appears to be a thing of the past. Businesses must adapt to the ever-growing remote workforce. Adding a remote colleague to an impromptu meeting should not take an IT degree. Strong audio and video are critical to a connectivity, so your modern meeting room design should include a large screen and adjustable lighting. A productive team is a well-connected team, and including colleagues from other offices, those working from home, as well as vendors should be quick and simple.

THE FINISHING TOUCHES FOR YOUR CORPORATE OFFICE DESIGN

Modern office design can be a comfortable blending of old and new. If you are in a historical building, embrace any exposed brick, high ceilings, or unique features your space offers. From there, give a nod to nature with soft colors, material finishes and fabrics. A new conference rook table and fresh coat of paint will not update your entire space, but do not underestimate the value of investing in modern design for your office. Employees, clients, and vendors may be anxious but eager to return to the office. Give them a fresh, welcoming, and well-designed interior to encourage communication, collaboration, and productivity.

REASONS TO INVEST IN A MODERN OFFICE DESIGN

If contemplating an update to a more modern office design for your commercial interior, consider all the opportunities a re-design affords you:

  • Improve and equalize usage of your square footage
  • Upgrade your office’s interior furnishings
  • Reduce and spread out density of employee work zones
  • Create new spaces and an environment that supports employee communication and productivity

Let us help. Key Interiors is a full service commercial interior renovation and design, build, project management team. We work with clients to create modern office designs. Contact us today to discuss your project.

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Conference Rooms Office Design office layout office redesign Office Renovation

Effective Meetings & Conference Spaces Post-COVID

Months after the novel coronavirus first made headlines, we are all still adjusting to the new, post-COVID world. And, while the work from home world may be one we’re getting used to, in-person meetings will never go away completely. How and where we interact, professionally, will look different. Preparing your commercial office space for the post-COVID era means reviewing the design and functionality of all conference rooms.

Architectural Photography by Norman Sizemore & Mary Beth Price

Conference Room Evaluation Criteria

In-office workers may need to collaborate in a quiet space with other office colleagues, or those outside. Whether connecting with vendors, clients, or colleagues in another office, a professional conference room is important to promoting professional communication. Rooms of all sizes should be evaluated for the following four criteria:

  • Easy to Clean Furnishings
  • Audio & Video Connectivity
  • Ample Personal Space
  • HVAC Controls & Ventilation
Architectural Photography by Norman Sizemore & Mary Beth Price

Your existing conference rooms may just need some new furnishings to allow for distancing and thorough cleaning. Many employees are excited to return to the office, so updated furnishings will genuinely be appreciated. Investing in your office space sends a real message. As we all know, connectivity has never been more important. The ability to connect your laptop, screen share, and see your outside participants on a sizeable screen is essential. Nothing wastes more meeting time than poor audio and video connectivity.

Architectural Photography by Norman Sizemore & Mary Beth Price

Social Distancing Within the Conference Room

If you have the space, build your conference room large enough to allow for up to 8 people to be in the room with 6 feet around them. Another option to consider, if you have the square footage, is a single a large space that can be divided into two smaller spaces that easily allow for four people per “room”. You may consider have these “rooms” divided by a soundproof moveable wall.

If you have tight square footage restraints for your multi-person conference room, individual desks and/or clear plastic hygiene shields are an option. We are furnishing experts and can help find the size and shape table that makes the most of your space and allows the recommended 6 feet between attendees.

Creating spaces that make your employees comfortable returning to work is an essential part of our world today. We have to be creative and think differently about collaboration and how our office spaces can allow for physical distancing and in-person communication and collaboration.

Key Interiors has the expertise and resources to help design or reconfigure your conference rooms. Please contact us to discuss your individual project needs.

Call 877.288.9919 or Contact Us

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Exterior Office Design

Commercial Exterior Renovation: What to Consider Before Your Next Project

As the economy begins to recover – shoppers return to retail and employees make their way back to the office – the buildings they return to should offer a true welcoming. More than just places of business, commercial spaces serve as the setting for professional collaboration, commerce, and the “normalcy” we are all looking for. As a property owner, what are you doing to signal that you are open for business? What message is your building exterior sending?

Today’s Trends

Commercial exterior trends are changing. Glass has dominated as one of the most popular building materials in commercial design for around 50 years, but property owners recognize this material has its shortcomings. Glass is not energy efficient, nor is it the most secure. Too often, commercial exteriors lack personality and give off a “cold” feeling. Look to Mother nature as a source of design inspiration. Wood is a beautiful and flexible material to work with and can help take years off your design. Natural stone of all kinds can also add warmth and depth to your exterior. Consider how material and color work together to provide a fresh appeal. 

Energy Efficiency

After considering the value of an aesthetic update, factor in the cost savings of energy efficient design and materials. Energy efficient windows are just one example of how material choice can reduce heating and cooling bills and add to your operating bottom line. Your building exterior material choice is also an opportunity to increase energy efficiency. Brick and stucco are traditional choices, but don’t overlook new materials such as architectural panel systems. These panels can be made of resin, metal, or composite material. They quickly clad large spaces, add a layer of insultation, and make a bold statement.

Secure Style

Property security is always a factor to consider in the exterior design/remodel process. Accessibility to employees, tenants and visitors must be balanced with the security needs of your commercial space. Both design and material choice can help prevent break-ins, deter shoplifting, and provide lighting to secure entrances. When considering an exterior remodel, take advantage of the opportunity to review the following:

  • New security systems available
  • Lighting to enhance your building’s appeal
  • Lighting to help deter crime
  • Material choices that provide security (stone, wood, masonry – not glass)

‘Tis the Season

It’s not too late to begin a summer/fall exterior renovation. Now is the time to start the planning process and make the most of the long summer days. Minor updates not requiring city permitting or plan review can be completed in a short time frame. Larger scale projects that involve permitting generally take longer to get started, but Key Interiors consultative approach means we work with you every step of the process to ensure that your exterior design/build is completed on budget and on time.

The Key Difference

When considering an exterior remodel to your commercial building, Key Interiors provides you with a comprehensive and educational design/build process, as well as the “full toolbox” of material choices. For example, when updating windows, it is important to understand the cost difference between aluminum and vinyl frames. Depending on placement, vinyl clad windows could be a great cost savings. Many general contractors can quote you a price per square foot, but those estimates are “industry standard” and do not include custom design or material choices beyond the basics. Key Interiors consultative approach means that we share all options, all vendors, and educate clients throughout the process.

If you are considering an exterior remodel to your commercial building, contact Key Interiors to learn more about our process and the Key Difference.

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Office Design Office Renovation

Commercial Bathroom Design in a Post-COVID World

The act of using a public restroom, once a quick and mindless stop, is now an activity that highlights the importance of design and a clean environment. The novel coronavirus has touched every aspect of our lives, including our time in the restroom.

In a pre-COVID era, convenience and durability were the two most important considerations to commercial restroom design. Now, the ability to touch as few surfaces as possible while “going about your business” is priority number one. Priority number two will be ability to deep clean every surface in the restroom.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Whether we are working with a client on a new design or office renovation, restrooms are always a focus. A restroom is one of the most expensive spaces (per square foot) to construct and furnish; and typically show wear faster than other commercial spaces. A restroom environment that is convenient to use, easy to clean, and durable is an asset to your entire commercial interior.

Placement of the facilities within an office interior is always a consideration, but through the lens of coronavirus, how visitors move through a commercial interior before reaching the restroom will now be considered. To minimize the number of touch points, commercial spaces that have the square footage may consider a door less entryway, like those seen in airports or stadiums. Now more than ever, thoughtful design can help your washroom facilities elevate the client experience.

What does a socially distant restroom look like? All restroom visitors value privacy, and with the mandate for personal space now part of our everyday life, the trend towards increased privacy in the restroom will be accelerated. From longer bathroom stall doors that fall just 4” from the floor (rather than the typical 12”) to gapless doors and increased usage of urinal partitions, we anticipate more privacy in design.

BUILD SPECS

For both new construction as well as remodeling projects, ensuring a commercial restroom is built to the proper specifications is critical. Building codes do not change overnight, but post-pandemic changes are likely. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see new specs relating to distance between sinks, touchless fixture requirements, air purification and filtration systems,” says Tom Johnstone (Director of Key Interiors). Every restroom has at least one “wet wall”, housing the plumbing for toilets, urinals, or sinks. “I think you’re going to see more wall space with tile or industrial sheeting material that can be sanitized. Maybe we’ll see a COVID-compliant standard” says Johnstone. Other considerations like ventilation fans promote airflow and move infected air out of the room as well as reducing mold growth. Key Interiors’ build process minimizes miscommunication opportunities. Professional project management ensures total management of the permitting and inspection process.

FURNISHING OPTIONS

“Touchless faucets have been around for years but going forward they will be a necessity” explains Johnstone. Any fixture that can be touchless, will be.” The market is coming out with new fixture options almost every day and the number of touchless commercial faucet options is only going to increase. Styles, finishes, different types of sensors, sensor placement, and wiring for the sensors must all be considered. We recommend hard wiring all touchless fixtures. While the initial cost is higher, your maintenance crew will thank you. No one likes crawling around fixtures to change batteries.

Toilets are typically the area of biggest concern, as it relates to cleanliness, but soap dispensers, hand towel dispensers or dryers and waste receptacles are all high-touch surfaces. Beyond the faucet, there is no shortage of motion activated fixtures on the market. Other options for more sanitary restrooms are: touch pad door openers, motion sensor lights, easy to clean, anti-rust plastic washroom stalls, and integral hand dryers built into sinks avoiding water being blown onto the floor and eliminating paper towels.

Depending on the restroom layout, it is important to consider handicap accessibility, code requirements, and traffic flow when making fixture selection. The all-in-one fixture that allows restroom visitors to wet, soap, and dry their hands without moving to separate fixtures minimizes touch points and congestion. Motion activated flushing for toilets and urinals is not new, but commercial restrooms without such fixtures will be truly dated and unsanitary in the post-COVID era.

Durability for a commercial restroom has always been important, but with the increased focus on sanitization and cleaning frequency, these chemicals will take their toll of surfaces and fixtures. We are experts in commercial interiors, including fixture selection and understand the value of installing the best fixtures for your unique design.

COMMITMENT

One thing COVID-19 has not affected – Key Interiors three-part process: Design, Build, Furnish. Our approach to creating functional and beautiful spaces for our clients remains unchanged. For decades Key Interiors has worked closely and collaboratively to deliver unique commercial interiors. With the increased focus on microbes and healthy environments, we are here to help you incorporate privacy, durability, convenience, and touch-free amenities in your next commercial restroom design.

Key Interiors is your full-service commercial interior renovation and design, build, project management team. Contact us today. 877.288.9919

Categories
News

Key Interiors, A Chicago Commercial Office Design Firm, Manufacturing Face Shields To Meet COVID-19 Demand

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Key Interiors is a local Chicagoland company that is accustomed to designing commercial interiors and supplying commercial office furniture. Like many businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the company to rethink its business processes and capabilities. One change to the way the company does business is having a positive impact for both the company itself and healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic. Key Interiors has transitioned their warehouse and distribution center in Schaumburg, IL from the manufacture of office furnishings to the manufacture of face shields to protect healthcare workers from the COVID-19 virus.

“Given the severe shortage of these products and the dire need, we took a look at how we could help and realized we had the ability to produce hospital-approved face shields in our Schaumburg facility. We currently have contracts with several medical supply companies and are shipping masks nationwide where they are being supplied to healthcare workers and first responders,” said Jerry Johnstone, Operations, Key Interiors (https://www.keyinteriors.us/).

The transition allows the commercial interior design company to meet a critical public health need and to retain about 45 shift workers who would otherwise be unemployed during this time. As of early April, Key Interiors was producing over 47,000 masks every 7 days and had received orders for an additional 200,000 masks.

Key Interiors has a long history in Chicago, tracing its roots back to 1947. Today the company provides full-service “concept to completion” commercial office design and dental office design services. The company’s turnkey approach streamlines the commercial design and construction process, eliminating the need for their clients to manage multiple different vendors and timelines as a project progresses.

“We manage the construction process for our clients from start to finish, including management of the different trade professionals as well as the permitting and inspection process. It’s very much a one-stop-shop for commercial office design that just makes the entire process easier for our clients,” explained Johnstone.

Key Interiors plans to continue manufacturing the face shields as long as there is demand. They are continuing to accept orders from healthcare facilities as well as public and private entities, that need masks. Inquiries should be directed to Key Interiors by calling 877.288.9919 or by visiting https://www.keyinteriors.us/contact/.

About Key Interiors:

Key Interiors provides office interior design services from design to build to furnish to businesses and organizations throughout Chicagoland. The firm offers a full range of services including design-build, architectural design, construction management plus a design center with over 300 lines of office furnishings and contract furniture. Visit Key Interiors at www.keyinteriors.us.

Categories
office redesign

How Value Engineering Keeps Your Office Redesign On Budget

how-value-engineering-keeps-your-office-redesign-on-budget.jpgThere are several strategies and techniques for keeping your office redesign on budget, including: developing a robust and realistic schedule, conducting space planning, confirming that adequate systems are in place (e.g. HVAC, lighting, telecom, etc.), and using advanced project management software to track and measure costs against baselines and estimates.

However, there is another extremely effective way to keep your office redesign on budget that is less widely known, because it is not an approach that most interior solutions companies can offer at an expert level: value engineering. 

Categories
layout Office Furnishing office layout Office Renovation

How Repurposing Office Furniture Keeps Your Renovation On Budget

how-repurposing-office-furniture-keeps-your-renovation-on-budget.jpgWhile there are many smart strategies for keeping your renovation on budget, among the most effective – and yet not widely known – ways is to repurpose your current office furniture.

Indeed, instead of replacing your furniture with new items or sourcing items in the used furniture market, it may be viable, economical and ecologically responsible to see what can be repurposed. Below, we highlight three tips to help you maximize this opportunity and, ideally, save thousands of dollars:

Categories
Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

The Importance of a Project Manager for Your Office Renovation

the-importance-of-a-project-manager-for-your-office-renovationWhile project managers are important in many business-related endeavors – such as launching a new product, marketing products and services, running a recruitment campaign, and the list goes on – there is one activity in particular where hiring a qualified project manager is absolutely vital: when you’re embarking on an office renovation project. Here are the 3 key reasons why:

Categories
Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

How an Office Renovation Can Improve Productivity

how-an-office-renovation-can-improve-productivityAs you consider renovating your office space, you’re no doubt focusing on the costs of potential options. This is certainly part of the equation, and needs to be part of your decision-making process.

Categories
Collaborative Workspace

Pros and Cons of a Collaborative Workspace

pros-and-cons-of-a-collaborative-workspaceGoogle has one – they call it “the Garage”. So does Cisco, Clif Bar and Hitachi Consulting. And over at the luxury brand advertising agency Hudson Rouge, there are even echo-reducing panels on the ceiling, and employees get high-end headphones to help block out ambient noise.

Categories
Office Renovation

How Not Hiring an Architect Saves Your Office Remodeling Budget

how-not-hiring-an-architect-saves-your-office-remodeling-budgetWithout question, architects are highly skilled, thoroughly knowledgeable, and certainly creative specialists who provide an essential skill that most of us rely on far more than we realize. Indeed, some architectural masterpieces are nothing short of remarkable and exhilarating.

Categories
office redesign Space Planning

How to Redesign Your Existing Office Space for Better Utilization

how-to-redesign-your-existing-office-space-for-better-utilizationWhile you may be inspired to redesign your office space in order to create a fresh, new and impressive look and feel, there’s another valuable goal that you should aim for at the same time: better utilization of space.

Categories
Office Renovation

3 Common Office Renovation Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

3-common-office-renovation-mistakes-how-to-avoid-themEach day across the country, tens of thousands of businesses launch an office renovation project – whether it’s a re-invention, a refresh, or most often a combination of both.

Unfortunately, not all of these businesses will reach the finish line on time and in budget. And while sometimes the root causes of schedule and cost overruns are unavoidable and nobody is to blame (a.k.a. “force majeure”), many times the reasons are due to these 3 common – and certainly preventable – office renovation mistakes: 

Categories
Office Design Open Offices

Creating Open Offices for Introverts

creating-open-offices-for-introverts.jpgNext to “we’ll be announcing layoffs this morning”, the phrase that can trigger the most anxiety in your workforce – particularly among your introverts – is “we’re moving to an open office environment”.

First things first: introversion and extroversion are two widely misunderstood concepts. Superficially, introverts are mislabelled as withdrawn, while extroverts are mislabelled as outgoing. Neither of these are anywhere close to the truth.

Categories
Office Renovation

How to Maintain Business Operations During an Office Renovation

how-to-maintain-business-operations-during-an-office-renovationAs you consider renovating your office, a key issue that you’ll need to address is how to keep your people productive, your customers engaged, and your systems functional during the project.

Categories
Office Furnishing Office Renovation

How Your Furnishing Choices Affect Your Office Renovation Budget

how-your-furnishing-choices-affect-your-office-renovation-budget.jpgThere are several factors that directly and indirectly affect your office renovation budget – such as whether you need permits, if you will be shifting to an open collaborative space, if you need to hire an architect, and the list goes on.

However, there is one factor in particular that is surprisingly influential, yet perhaps not as obvious as those listed above: furnishing choices. Below, we highlight some of the options that will be evaluated as part of your budget planning process.

Categories
Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

How an Office Renovation Boosts Employee Morale

how-an-office-renovation-boosts-employee-moraleIf you think that employee morale is important but not essential to the bottom line – then think again. An article featured on CBSnews.com concluded that:

Less engaged [employees] are less productive, less customer-focused and prone to withdrawing their efforts and adopting counterproductive behaviour. This may manifest itself as neglect, gossiping, theft and other disruptive behaviour. Ultimately, they’ll leave — whether it’s a recession or a period of growth.

Categories
Office Renovation Space Planning

How Space Planning Helps Define Your Office Renovation Budget

how-space-planning-helps-define-your-office-renovation-budgetAs you may have discovered through your research or by speaking with partners and peers, there are many reasons to renovate your office – and all of them have to do with improving the bottom-line.

Categories
Office Design Open Offices

Is Open Office Design Right For My Business?

Categories
Office Furnishing Office Renovation

Why Refurbishing Your Existing Furniture Saves Office Renovation Dollars

why-refurbishing-your-existing-furniture-saves-office-renovation-dollars.jpgWhether your office renovation budget is under $10,000 or over $100,000, you wisely want to ensure that you are getting the most value possible. And that means exploiting opportunities to save costs — but without compromising your vision.

Categories
Office Design Office Renovation

When to Schedule Your Next Office Renovation

when-to-schedule-your-next-office-renovationAt Key Interiors, we’ve grown since our inception in 1978 to become one of the nation’s most respected interior solutions providers. And along the way, one of the most important issues we’ve helped our clients address is when to schedule their next office renovation.

Categories
boring office Office Design

How Creative Office Space Design Can Spice Up Boring Industries

how-creative-office-space-design-can-spice-up-boring-industriesLet’s face it: some industries continue to be perceived as a bit on the boring side. And frankly, this isn’t necessarily a negative thing – at least not entirely.

Categories
Office Design

4 Office Design Problems that are Costing You Money

4-office-design-problems-that-are-costing-you-money.jpgWhen it comes to cutting costs, most business leaders and other decision-makers focus on factors such as supply chain management, customer acquisition costs, workforce planning, product price positioning, and so on.

Categories
Office Design Office Renovation

4 Questions to Ask Before Beginning an Office Renovation

4-questions-to-ask-before-beginning-an-office-renovation.jpgRegardless of whether you want to make better use of your existing space or are “bursting at the seams” because of recent hiring activity, an office renovation is certainly a good news story for your business, your employees, and even your customers who find this kind of development impressive. After all, we all like doing business with companies that visibility demonstrate that they are investing in their stability and success.

Categories
Office Design office layout office redesign

3 Signs that Your Office Needs Breakout Spaces

3-signs-that-your-office-needs-breakout-spaces.jpgOver the last few years, one of the most important developments in the world of office design has been the emergence of “breakout spaces”. These are small areas – usually situated next to a stairwell, elevator, lunchroom or other high-traffic area – where employees can informally meet, chat, unwind, read, meditate, or even take a quick (sitting) cat nap.

Aside from the obvious benefit of allowing employees to recharge their batteries – which is great for morale and supporting employee wellness — breakout spaces boost collaboration and productivity. What’s more, breakout spaces are easy to design, affordable to create, and quick to implement. 

Categories
Office Renovation work environment

5 Employee-Friendly Office Renovation Tips

5-employee-friendly-office-renovation-tips.jpgWhen it comes to making office renovation-related decisions, business owners and other leaders need to focus on cost, schedule, scope, the impact on customers and brand, and how it will help employees be more productive and collaborative.

However, it is also wise, where practical and appropriate, to make the office renovation as “employee-friendly” as possible. After all, just as customers ultimately determine if a product or service is rewarding, employees will have a major influence on whether an office renovation truly achieves its goals, or falls short of reaching its potential.

Categories
Office Design Open Offices work environment

Creating Open Offices for Extroverts

creating-open-offices-for-extroverts.jpgIn a recent blog post, we highlighted some tips for creating open offices for introverts – so that the layout works for them vs. against them. Today, we continue the discussion by focusing on how to create open offices for extroverts.

Categories
Office Design office redesign

Are Breakout Spaces Right for Your Office Redesign?

are-breakout-spaces-right-for-your-office-redesign.jpgAcross the country and especially in Chicago, an increasing number of businesses are opting for an office redesign that makes ample use of what are called “breakout spaces”. Below, we highlight what this term refers to, and then explore why it may be a smart, progressive choice for your office redesign needs.

Categories
Office Design office design practices

Office Design Trends for 2016

office-design-trends-for-2016.jpgIt has been about a month since we ushered in 2016, and that means most folks have all tied up their 2015 loose ends (or recovered from the festive holiday party circuit!), and are geared and ready to see what interesting and noteworthy developments the new year has in store.

In that spirit, the Key Interiors team is pleased to share the 4 office design trends that we believe will shape and influence 2016, and beyond:

Categories
Office Design office design practices

Office Design Best Practices from Google’s “Nested Office”

office-design-best-practices-from-googles-nested-office.jpgWhen you generate 66 billion dollars a year in revenue, you do not follow trends: you make them! And that is why the business world has been paying very close attention to Google’s famed “Nested Office” design (see some photos here), to see where it’s something they should adopt ASAP, or perhaps stand back and eventually “cherry pick” some of the best, coolest elements.

However, regardless of what side of the Nested Office design fence you may be on – all-for-it, or wait-and-see – there are some very insightful best practices that can be gleaned from Google’s approach:

Categories
Office Renovation

3 Ways How an Office Renovation Improves Customer Service

3-ways-how-an-office-renovation-improves-customer-service.jpgIt goes without saying that businesses constantly need to find new and better ways to deliver customer service.

Indeed, reports by both BusinessNewsDaily.com and Forbes.com, respectively, point out that good customer service trumps both price and product in the hearts and minds of most customers. Or for the “glass half empty” folks among us: a survey by Oracle’s RightNow and Harris Interactive found that 82 percent of customers will leave a company after experiencing bad customer service. And it that is not daunting enough, a survey by MarketingCharts.com revealed that customers are far more likely to share bad customer service experiences online and offline than good ones.

Categories
Office Renovation

How to Tell When You are Ready for an Office Renovation

how-to-tell-when-you-are-ready-for-an-office-renovation.jpgUnless they have just moved into a new space or wrapped up a design overhaul, most business owners and executives would almost certainly put an office renovation on their “nice to have”, “to be considered”, or “future plans” list.

Categories
Dental Office Renovation Office Design

3 Dental Office Design Tips to Save Time & Boost Efficiency

3-dental-office-design-tips-to-save-time-boost-efficiencyJust like doctors and all other essential healthcare professionals, dentists constantly need to find new and better ways in their practices to save time and boost efficiency — ultimately, so they can reduce operating costs, increase quality and improve patient care.

And in light of this, one of the most cost-effective, yet often overlooked areas they can address is related to sterilization stations.    

Categories
Office Renovation

5 Questions to Ask Your Office Renovation Partner

5-questions-to-ask-your-office-renovation-partner.jpgWe are all familiar with the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Well, with over 30 years of experience in office renovation field, take it from us that prevention is worth far more than that – it can literally mean the difference between an experience that is affordable and rewarding, and one that is stressful, costly and regrettable.

Obviously, your office renovation partner will have, by far, the biggest influence on whether your experience is successful or not. But what may be less obvious, is how to choose the right one.

Categories
Office Design Office Renovation

Green Office Renovation: Energy-Saving Tips for Small Businesses

green-office-renovation-energy-saving-tips-for-small-businesses.jpgThese days, a growing number of small businesses are ensuring that their office renovation is also a “green office renovation”, so that it does not just improve workflows, aesthetics, customer service and employee morale, but that it ultimately reduces their environmental footprint. There are many smart and inspiring reasons for taking this route, including:

Categories
Collaborative Workspace Office Design work environment

6 Design Ideas to Promote Office Collaboration

6-design-ideas-to-promote-office-collaboration.jpgBusinesses are constantly investing in technology and training in order to promote office collaboration. And while both these approaches can pay significant dividends, there is another, somewhat lesser known way to dramatically increase collaboration and ultimately drive productivity, performance and profits: office design.

Categories
Office Design

5 Principles of Creating a Branded Office That Boosts Sales

5-principles-of-creating-a-branded-office-that-boosts-sales.jpgAt Key Interiors, our clients in both the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) space frequently inquire about how we can help them create a branded office that boost sales.

That is, they want their brand to be captured by their office design, so that it is part of their overall communication and culture; both externally in how they engage customers and partners, and internally in terms of how their workforce is motivated and inspired.

Categories
Dental Office Renovation medical office design Office Design waiting room design

3 Best Practices for Medical & Dental Office Waiting Room Design

dental office waiting roomFor many doctors and dentists, their patient waiting room is – as the name suggests – a comfortable, functional space where patients and their family members wait anywhere from a few minutes, to possibly over an hour.

Categories
Dental Office Renovation Office Design

5 Common Flaws in Dental Office Design

5-common-flaws-in-dental-office-design.jpgAt Key Interiors, we have partnered with many dentists either to refresh their office, or lead the way on a major overhaul.

Categories
Office Design office redesign

Top Reasons for Looking at an Office Redesign

office redesignWhen many business owners and executives think about an office redesign, they tend to focus on “look and feel”. For example, they may begin to notice that their office is starting to look dated and faded; especially in comparison to what some of their competitors are doing.

Categories
Office Design office redesign Office Renovation

How to Implement a Healthy Office Makeover

healthy office makeoverAccording to research published by the World Bank, healthier workplaces also generate healthier profits. Or, to make the same point but in a rather more daunting (yet perhaps more memorable) way, a survey by the American Psychological Association found that unhealthy workplaces contribute overwhelmingly to employee stress – which costs employers across the country a whopping $300 billion each year in stress-related healthcare and absenteeism.

Categories
Office Design Office Renovation

How to Avoid These 5 Common Office Renovation Mistakes

common office renovation mistakesMany “Reality TV” shows and websites are dedicated to taking us behind the scenes of disastrous home renovation projects – which are the kind that spiral downwards and turn into a gaping, terrifying money pit!

Categories
Dental Office Renovation Office Design Office Renovation

Office Renovation Insights: 4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Small Dental Office

office-renovation-insights-4-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-small-dental-office.jpg

It is a common scenario that unfolds in dental offices across the country: you and your team feel as though you are “bursting at the seams” some days, and yet you do not want to change locations – either to avoid the costs, or because your roster of patients wants you to stay right where you are. Fortunately, you can find a surprising amount of space – and make your space utilization more efficient and effective – through an affordable office renovation.

Categories
Office Renovation

3 Office Renovation Tips to Improve Employee Happiness

office renovationJust how important is employee happiness to the bottom-line? A study at the University of Warwick discovered that happier employees led to a 12 percent increase in productivity – while unhappy workers diminished productivity by 10 percent. As the researchers concluded: “We find that human happiness has large and positive causal effects on productivity. Positive emotions appear to invigorate human beings“.

Categories
office redesign

Who Should Have a Say in Your Office Redesign?

office redesignOne of the most beneficial aspects of an office redesign, is that it gives businesses an opportunity to collaborate and integrate the opinions and needs of different groups – each of whom has a valuable piece of the overall puzzle.

Categories
office redesign

Why Redesigning Your Office to Go Green Delivers Higher ROI

redesigning your officeAs you already know, redesigning your office to go green is, in itself, a visionary decision — because as the old saying goes, “if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem”. Reducing your environmental footprint definitely makes you the former!

Categories
Dental Office Renovation

How to Design a Modern Dental Clinic

Design a dental clinicIn your dental clinic, you may have started to notice an increasing gap between the lead-edge solutions you offer – such as invisible braces, same-day dental crowns, and so on – and the overall look and feel of your office. In other words: it may be time for a renovation!

Categories
Office Furnishing

How Sit-Stand Desks are Changing the Office Environment

sit-stand desksAcross the country, a growing number of businesses – from small firms to large organizations – are replacing conventional chairs and desks, with “sit-stand” desks.

Categories
Office Furnishing

How to Design Your Office for the Future

design your officeFirst things first: the notion of “designing your office for the future” does not have anything to do with trying to reconfigure your environment, so that it might be used as a set for the next Star Trek movie. Rather, it means future-proofing your office renovation investment, so that you can continue reaping the rewards for years and decades to come.

Categories
office redesign

How Your Office Redesign Can Create a Healthy Workspace for Your Employees

Office redesignThere are many rewards of an office redesign, including improved workflows, better collaboration, enhanced customer service, and a more impressive image and reputation (which is very important for recruiting and retention).

Categories
Office Renovation

5 Office Renovation Tips to Create a Green & Healthy Office

office renovationAcross the country, an increasing number of businesses of all shapes and sizes are renovating their office so that it is not just more functional, attractive and impressive, but also so that it is green and healthy.

Categories
office redesign

6 Office Redesign Tips to Transform Your Workspace

office redesignOne of the most rewarding outcomes of an office redesign is that you can literally transform your workspace into an environment that is dramatically more productive, efficient, energized and positive – which is a win for everyone: your employees, your customers, and your organization as a whole.

Categories
Office Renovation

5 Tips for Surviving an Office Renovation

office renovationAs you know, running a business is often rewarding, but it is never easy – simply because there is always a problem to solve or goal to achieve. Indeed, in business as in life, there is really no such thing as “maintenance mode”. You are either falling behind or moving ahead!

Categories
Dental Office Renovation

3 Questions to Ask Your Dental Office Design Firm

3-questions-to-ask-your-dental-office-design-firm.jpgWhether you are planning on refreshing, renovating or re-imagining your dental office, it goes without saying that you will need to partner with a proven, experienced dental office design firm.

Categories
Office Renovation

How a “Healthy Office Renovation” Can Boost Employee Morale & Efficiency

office renovationWhile enhancing brand image and impressing customers are two big reasons for moving ahead with an office renovation, there are other welcomed benefits as well, such as boosting employee morale and efficiency. And the simplest, smartest and most cost-effective way to achieve this goal is by ensuring that your office renovation supports employee health and wellness. 

Categories
office redesign Office Renovation

Do We Need an Office Renovation or Office Redesign?

office redesignYou may have come to the conclusion – or are heading in that direction per feedback from your employees, and possibly in light of comments from your customers/clients as well – that your office environment would benefit from a new look and feel.

Categories
Office Design

How to Coordinate Staff for Your Office Relocation

office relocationAs you prepare to shift addresses for your office relocation, you are obviously focusing on issues like layout, space utilization, furniture and finishing procurement, and so on. However, there is another vital piece of the office renovation puzzle that you should not overlook in the midst of your busy planning and decision-making: coordinating your staff!

Categories
Office Renovation

Why a Successful Office Renovation Requires Forethought & Planning

Office RenovationIt goes without saying that you know, beyond any doubt, that a successful office renovation requires forethought and planning. In other words, you and your colleagues would not arrive to work one morning and decide spontaneously or impulsively to refresh, renovate or re-imagine your environment! Obviously, arriving at this decision – and then deciding what steps to take, what to change, and what to leave as-is – is part of a process that can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months.

Categories
Office Design waiting room design

4 Reasons Why Waiting Room Design is So Important & Influential

waiting room designWhile dentists and doctors simply refer to them as “waiting rooms”, patients traditionally describe the area that they are obligated to wait – sometimes for hours – in much more colorful terms (that we cannot publish here on our family-friendly blog!).

Categories
Dental Office Renovation Office Renovation

6 Essential Dental Office Remodeling Tips

dental office remodelingThere comes a time in the lifespan of every dental office – it could be several years after opening, or in many cases much sooner – when remodeling becomes less of a “nice-to-have” option, and more of a strategic requirement to grow the patient roster, shift towards the delivery of more profitable dental solutions, and ultimately boost the bottom-line.

Categories
Office Design

3 Office Design Tips for Millennials

office design For several years, business leaders and executives have been told that “the Millennials are coming”, and they should be ready to adjust to this unprecedented demographic shift. Well, the messaging has changed, because the Millennials are no longer coming: they are already here!

Categories
office redesign

4 Reasons How an Office Redesign Improves Company Culture

Office ReDesign“Company culture” is an all-encompassing term that captures the essence of an organization’s values, principles, ethos, vision, and mission. It also provides the framework – formally and informally, directly and indirectly – for accepted norms and standards. Indeed, everything from the general noise/volume level in a workplace to the degree of staff diversity plays a role in shaping, and in turn being shaped by, company culture. 

Categories
Space Planning

What is Space Planning?

Office Space PlanningWhen it comes to making your organization more efficient, productive and profitable, you naturally focus on key aspects like technology, personnel, systems, processes, and so on.

However, there is another piece of the puzzle that is just as important, and yet is often overlooked when it comes to optimizing a work environment: space planning. Below, we highlight what this concept is, and why it matters to your business.

Categories
Office Design

5 Reasons You Should Hire an Interior Office Construction Firm

Interior Office Construction Firm Refreshing, re-designing or re-inventing an office environment is supposed to be an exciting and positive experience; one that invigorates your employees, impresses your customers, and signals to your marketplace (and competitors!) that the best days for your business are ahead, not behind.

However, despite the fact that this should be a “good news” story, the fact is that many businesses undertaking an office renovation endure everything from major schedule and budget overruns, quality control issues, obstacles and issues related to permits and approvals, and the list goes on.   

Categories
Office Design

5 Best Practices for Corporate Office Design

corporate office designToday’s most productive and efficient corporate workspaces are not run-of-the-mill, generic environments that are heavy on function, but limited when it comes style, sophistication and stimulation. Rather, as noted by the UK’s Guardian newspaper, “the smart modern office is an all-round sensory experience designed to make people feel good and more creative”.

In light of this vision, here are 5 best practices for corporate office design that you may want to incorporate into your refresh, redesign, or re-invention plan:

Categories
Office Design

3 Small Office Design Changes That Can Have a BIG Impact

office designWhile an office redesign or re-invention may be in your mind or on the horizon, there is no need to let budget constraints force you to wait months or even years to start reaping the rewards of a more productive and pleasing environment. According to Inc. Magazine contributor Jessica Stillman “There’s no need to spend a fortune to make your company’s space impressive.”

Categories
Dental Office Renovation Office Design

3 Questions to Ask to Get the Best Dental Office Design For Your Practice

Dental office design“What’s in a design?”

Well, if the topic is dental practice design, then there’s plenty to talk about – and much at stake, as well. Indeed, today’s patients have much higher expectations for comfort and care than previous generations; which helps explain why many dental practices look and feel more like high-end day spas than conventional health centers! 

Categories
Office Design

The Key Differences Between Architecture vs. Design

Architecture vs. DesignAt Key Interiors, one of the most frequent – and also the most important – questions we receive is: do we need an architect for our office renovation, do we need an interior designer, or do we need both?

For starters, this is one of those questions that has an “it all depends…” answer, because every office renovation project (just as every organization) is different, and there is no one-size-fits all answer.

Categories
Office Design

5 Great Office Design Tips to Boost Employee Creativity

office design As noted by Forbes, creativity in the workplace is not optional, nor is it the exclusive domain of firms in “creative industries” like entertainment, arts, music, and so on. On the contrary, creative is absolutely critical for all businesses in every industry – including and in some cases especially conventional industries like insurance, banking, government and more — and directly impacts everything from turnover to profit. 

Categories
office redesign

3 Ways to Keep Your Office Redesign on Budget

office redesignA common myth that many business owners and executives believe is that an office redesign is a significantly – and as such prohibitively – costly project.

Yes, while it is true that some major office redesigns can cost hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars, this is by no means the “entry fee”. It is entirely possible to create a fresh new look and feel for as little as $10,000 (or in some cases, even less). This not only gives your employees a much-improved work environment, but as noted by Business Insider, it can also boost your bottom-line; which ultimately means that the office renovation will pay for itself, and then start generating ROI.

Categories
Dental Office Renovation Office Design Office Furnishing

The Furniture You Must Have in Your Dental Office Design

dental office designWhile all dentists know that the look and feel of their waiting room is important, many are surprised to discover just how influential it is to keeping – or in some cases – losing a profitable patient (and all of their profitable referrals!).

Categories
office redesign

4 Tips to Ensure that Your Office Redesign Helps Your Work Environment

Office re-design An office redesign is an exciting opportunity to start a new chapter of your business’s unique story. However, in order to ensure that this story is positive and continues delivering rewards long into the future, it is important that you make decisions that help – rather than hinder – your work environment. Here are 4 tips to help you achieve this key objective:

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car dealership design Office Design

3 Principles of Successful Automobile Dealership Design

Automobile Dealership DesignWhile it is true that an increasing number of consumers are spending time online to learn about new and used cars, this does not mean by any stretch of the imagination that car dealerships are redundant, or on their way to extinction. As noted by the automotive sector for TNS Global, which is the world’s leading provider of automotive marketing and insight:

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Office Renovation

How to Identify Goals for Your Office Renovation Plan

office renovation While there are many aspects and elements of a successful office renovation, among the most important will be your overall office renovation plan.

This plan – which is typically comprised of several supporting documents, appendices and so on – captures scope, workflows, personnel, materials, budget, risk management, and more.

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Office Design

5 Questions to Ask a Prospective Interior Office Design and Construction Firm

5_Questions_to_Ask_a_Prospective_Interior_Design_and_Construction_Firm.jpgThe Human Spaces global study of 7,600 office workers in 16 countries has confirmed what had long since been suspected by anyone who has ever set foot in (or been liberated from an undersized, poorly-lit cubicle: office design and employee productivity are linked, for better and at times, for worse.

Hopefully, your current office design is not undermining productivity or driving turnover. However, even if it is not working against your business, it is not necessarily working for it. That is, you may not be optimizing all of your available space, fully supporting your employees, or completely elevating your brand. 

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Office Design

3 Ways that Office Design Could be Adding Costs & Reducing Productivity

office designBusinesses invest in everything from training to technology in order to reduce costs and improve productivity. However, despite these significant investments and best efforts, there is an element that may be pushing in the opposite direction by adding costs and reducing productivity. This aspect, surprisingly, could be the office design itself!

Below, we highlight the 3 ways that office design works against employees, instead of supports their performance and results: 

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office redesign

4 Ways How an Office Redesign Can Make Employees Happier & More Productive

office redesignFinding ways to make your employees happier isn’t just good manners – it’s also good strategy! Indeed, as reported by Fast Company, happier workers are 12 percent more productive than their (unhappy) counterparts. And a study by researchers at Kansas State University concluded that: “When employees have high levels of psychological well-being and job satisfaction, they perform better and are less likely to leave their job — making happiness a valuable tool for maximizing organizational outcomes.” 

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Dental Office Renovation Office Design

5 Dental Office Design Best Practices & Tips from the Experts

dental office designJust as dentists would never even think of advising their patients to perform “self-dentistry”, when it comes to reimagining their practice, it is important to get advice from interior solutions specialists. With this in mind, here are 5 dental office design best practices and tips from the experts that all dentists should keep in mind when it comes time to renovate, refresh or re-invent their space:

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Office Design

3 Principles of Modern Office Design

modern_office_design.jpgIn the past, the primary consideration for workplace design was functionality. That is, as long as the space was secure and people had enough space (however barely in some cases!) to get their work done, then spending time and resources on design was seen as purely an esthetic exercise. My, how times have changed!

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Dental Office Renovation Office Design

4 Dental Office Design Tips to Incorporate at Your Practice

dental office designAs revealed in a survey by Dental Products Report, 69 percent of dentists believe that patients see office design as a reflection of their dentist’s competence, and their patient’s confidence in the practice as a whole.

With this in mind, below we present 4 dental office design tips that make the right impression and send the right messages, and ultimately help lead to more satisfied and loyal patients:

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Office Design

Executive Office Design: How to Give Your Leaders the Ideal Office

office designWhile having an executive office is a lofty perk, it is also a well-earned one as well. Indeed, a study by Harvard Business Review found that 60 percent of executives have an average workweek of 72-hours, which is a far cry from the average workweek of 34.4 hours.

As such, it is definitely in your organization’s best interest – along with your roster of executives – to ensure that their work environment is productive, efficient and optimized for success. To help make this happen, here are 5 executive office design tips that can make a transformative difference:

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medical office design Office Design

3 Medical Office Design Best Practices to Benefit Patients and Productivity

medical office designWhile medicine and health care have changed dramatically over the number of years and especially the last few decades, medical office design thinking certainly has not been left behind – at least not in today’s most profitable and thriving practices.  

Gone are the days when patients were clustered in cramped waiting rooms, and staff were expected to function in an environment that was built for anything but operational efficiency. Instead, both patients and staff alike are benefiting from the following medical office design best practices:

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Office Design

How to Make an Open Office Design More Private

how_to_make_open_office_design_more_private.jpgA handful of years ago, many organizations – Google being the most notable among them – implemented what has now become known as an “open office design.” As the term suggests, this layout minimizes or eliminates cubicles and other traditional barriers between employees and teams, in favor of large, singular space that promotes interaction, communication and collaboration.

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Office Design

3 Trends to Keep in Mind for Your New Office Design

office designLike many businesses, a new office design may have been on your agenda – or at least, in the back of your mind — for several months, or perhaps even years. And finally, after all of that thinking and discussing (and yet more thinking and discussing), you and your team ready to move ahead and refresh or re-invent your space.

However, before your interior solutions firm brings blueprints, plans and renderings to life, you will need to define the type of office design that is going to support your current operations and future direction.

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Dental Office Renovation Office Design

3 Ways that Dental Office Design Drives Profitability

dental office designAll dentists know that a professional image plays a key role in attracting and keeping profitable patients. To that end, dentists invest in advanced equipment and technologies, hire experienced and competent hygienists, administrators and other staff, and take a personal interest in the happiness and satisfaction of every patient on their roster.

Naturally, these commitments go a long way to establishing the right image. But there is another piece of the puzzle that is often overlooked, yet can substantially increase profits; or unfortunately in some cases, diminish them: dental office design.

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Office Design

7 Keys Factors of Successful Office Design

successful office designWhen it comes to office design, viewpoints can vary on everything from how space should be used, to wall covering materials and colors, to open vs. closed workspaces, and the list goes on. This divergence of opinion is positive and should be encouraged, and can be one of the most interesting aspects of the entire office design process.

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Space Planning

How an Office Space Plan Sets Up a Redesign for Success

Office_space_planning_redesign_success.jpgAs noted by Entrepreneur.com, the work environment is rapidly evolving, and that means office design must shift as well. Below, we highlight the key reasons how an office space plan sets up a redesign for success:

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Office Renovation

How Design-Build Firms Help Your Office Renovation Run Smoothly

office design renovationWhen it comes to your office renovation, naturally you want the reap the rewards and benefits of your investment, such as greater staff efficiency, higher customer satisfaction, an enhanced brand and image, and so on. Yet while end results are important, you cannot afford to overlook the process or project management. And that is where design-build firms are part of the puzzle.

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Office Design

Why Value Engineering is Beneficial for Office Design

why_value_engineering_is_beneficial.jpgThere are many factors that combine to make an office design project successful. However, one of the most important factors – and yet also one that many office design firms do not offer – is value engineering.

We will discuss why offering value engineering is not standard across all firms in a moment. First, let us briefly explain what value engineering is in the context of an office design project.

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Office Design

7 Office Design Best Practices for Startups

startup_office_design_best_practices.jpgWhile some days are better than others, and wearing multiple hats is the norm instead of the exception, being part of the startup experience is unique and exhilarating. Each day is different, the possibilities are inspiring, and the sky is the limit.

Naturally, there are many factors that drive and determine startup success, including marketplace demand, timing, competitive advantage, availability of capital (and access to more capital when — not if – it is needed!), a talented and hard working team, and of course, a big dose of good luck never hurts.

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Office Furnishing

Where to Donate Used Office Furniture in Chicago

Where_to_donate_office_furniture_chicago.jpgAn office redesign is one of those exciting “out with the old, in with the new” experiences – except for one important detail: you are likely to wind up with used office furniture that you no longer want or need.

Naturally, storing these excess items on-site is not a welcome idea, since they will just take up space and add clutter. And moving them to a warehouse or storage facility does not make sense either since as noted, these are items that you no longer have use for.  

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Dental Office Renovation Office Design

3 Dental Office Design Tips to Make Your Patients Happy

dental_office_design_for_happy_patients.jpgAs noted by Dental Economics: “When patients have a positive experience in your practice, they will not only be more inclined to accept recommended treatment and return for ongoing care, but also refer friends and family.”

While there are many ways for dentists to improve patient experience — such as adding new services, enhancing the practice’s website, offering financing options and so on — among the most low-cost, high-impact strategies is to upgrade your dental office design.

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Office Design

3 Ideas for a More Creative Office Design

creative office designExecutives and managers who believe that creative office design is merely an optional “nice-to-haves” should think again – because creative workspaces can reduce absenteeism and turnover, drive retention and efficiency, boost performance and productivity, and increase revenues and customer satisfaction. In other words, creative office design is great for the bottom line!

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Office Design

3 Office Design Tips to Boost Employee Engagement and the Bottom-Line

office design to increase engagementFor many years, boosting employee engagement was viewed as an important, yet not essential objective; at least not as far as increasing productivity, profitability and the bottom-line was concerned.

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Office Design

3 Office Design Questions to Ask Your Employees

office design questionsWhen it comes to developing your office design plan, obviously you need to focus on aspects such as budgets, scheduling, logistics (e.g. maintaining operations during the renovation/construction or temporary re-allocating work to another site), permits and approvals (typically required for any project involving architectural changes), and the list goes on.

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Office Design

Office Design Factors that Affect Productivity

office_design_affect_productivity.jpgn today’s relentlessly competitive business landscape, finding smarter ways to increase employee productivity is not just a best practice. In the long run it makes the difference between success and survival.

However, one aspect that is often overlooked by managers and decision makers – but certainly NOT neglected by employees who must deal with it on a daily basis – is how office design impacts productivity. Here are the key factors that matter most, either positive or negatively.

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Office Design

4 Office Design Trends for 2017

2017-office-design-trends.jpgWhile the fundamental principles of office design remain stable year after year — such as the importance of proper space planning, using value engineering to reduce costs, balancing functionality with esthetics, and so on — there are always an emerging set of styles, preferences, approaches and ideas that shape the discussion, and set the tone. With this in mind, here are 4 key and influential office design trends for 2017:

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Office Design Space Planning

Why Space Planning is an Essential Part of Office Design

space_planning_for_office_design.jpgA critical – and yet often overlooked – aspect of successful office design is space planning, which is about far more than just deploying equipment, furniture and people. That’s because the operative word in space planning isn’t SPACE; it’s PLANNING. As such, businesses need to work with their interior solutions team to answer key questions well in advance of their office design project. These questions include:

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Office Design Office Furnishing

New Office Design: 5 Tips for Choosing the Right Office Furniture

Interior of a modern office building, empty room-450749-edited.jpegAs you ponder, plan and prepare for a new office design, naturally you will focus on aspects such as space utilization, lighting and HVAC, traffic flows, and so on. However, there is another critically important piece of the puzzle that is just as important: choosing the right office furniture.

To help point you in the right direction, here are 5 tips to keep in mind:

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Office Design

3 Conference Room Design Best Practices

3_conference_room_design_practices-047900-edited.jpeg

Whether you are developing the layout for a new location or re-inventing your current environment, one of the most important pieces of your office design puzzle is the conference room. Below, we highlight 3 best practices to help point you in the right direction:

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Office Design

Hot Desking Advantages and Disadvantages

Hot Desking Advantages and DisadvantagesOne of the most innovative office design ideas in recent years is known as “hot desking.” No, this doesn’t involve desks mysteriously disappearing from one day to the next and showing up for sale on Craigslist. And for shivering employees who work in cold offices: sorry, this has nothing to do with temperature, either.

Rather, hot desking is when employees do not have assigned workstations or cubicles, and can therefore work anywhere they wish –– provided, of course, that space is available. As you might expect or have experienced, there are some pros and cons associated with this office design, and we highlight some of these below.

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Space Planning

5 Space Planning Questions to Ask When Planning Your New Office Design

space_planning_office_design.jpgDeveloping an office design plan – either for your current location or a new one – is an ideal opportunity to evaluate priorities, refine strategies, and make smart decisions that will turn the cost from an expense into an investment. To that end, here are 5 questions to ask:

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Office Design Open Offices

3 Tips to Make Your Open Office Design More Productive & Profitable

open office designA growing number of organizations of all sizes – from small businesses to large enterprises – have implemented, or are thinking/planning of implementing, an open office design. This is a layout in which employees are co-located in a shared space and environment.

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Office Design

Office Design Insider: Are Cubicles Good or Bad?

are cubicles good or badOf all elements, aspects, and features of the office-design world, perhaps no single discussion point triggers as intense a reaction than when the topic turns to cubicles. Indeed, people seem to be divided into two distinct camps: those who like cubicles and see their advantages, and those who dislike (if not hate!) cubicles, and view them as a plague on workplace landscape. 

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Office Design

3 Office Design Strategies that Make Small Offices Look, Feel, and Function BIG

office designOn today’s highly competitive and constantly changing business landscape, many companies – especially startups – are recognizing that the smartest way to get big is to stay small; office space-wise, that is.

If your company has decided (at least for now) that the best route to long-term success and profitability is to maintain a smaller workplace, here are three office design strategies to help your relatively small space look, feel and function BIG:

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Office Design

4 Key Workplace Benefits of Sit-to-Stand Desks

sit and stand desk office designProgressive and forward-looking business leaders are always looking for innovative ways to improve their workplace; both because it is good for employees, and because it is good for the bottom-line. And over the last few years, one of the most effective and exciting introductions to the office furniture roster are sit-to-stand desks.

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Dental Office Renovation

5 Dental Office Remodeling Tips

dental office designAccording to a Dental Products Report survey, 69 percent of dentists believe that patients view dental office design as a reflection of their competence as a dentist and their practice as a whole.

In other words: dental office design does not just serve a functional purpose of giving patients a place to wait and receive treatment. It also plays a key role in influencing patient experience and perception, which translates into satisfaction, loyalty, and referrals. Indeed, sound dental office design is not just beneficial for aesthetics — it’s also good business strategy!

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Office Design

The Importance of Optimal Lighting in Office Design

lighting in office designIn the past, lighting in office design was not necessarily considered as something that should, or even could be optimized. This is not to suggest that business owners and other decision-makers were indifferent or uninterested when it came to lighting-related choices. Rather, the primary focus was to ensure that there was “enough light to allow people to work.” Indeed, this explains why even today in offices that have notably different design approaches, the lighting is basically the same and rooted in a “if it’s bright enough for people to see and work, then it’s fine and we can focus on other elements” philosophy.  

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Office Design

The Psychological Impact of Paint Color in Office Design

3D Color chart - isolated over a white background-422269-edited.jpegBlue

Blue is often viewed as calming and soothing. It is also a color that many people associate with trustworthiness and intelligence (which is why many attorneys and public relations consultants advise their clients to weak blue blouses, suits or ties when they want to cast a trustworthy image!). 

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Office Design

5 Ways to Brighten Up Your Windowless Office Design

windowless officeIt’s well known that letting natural sunlight flow into an office environment boosts employee health and increases employee productivity. And those factors are important for everything from recruitment and retention, to revenue and profits.

However, the fact remains that not every office can reap the benefits of natural sunlight. Some offices don’t have windows, and installation may prove too costly. If this is the case with your current situation, then then we heave good news for you and your employees. Here are five practical and cost-effective ways to brighten up your windowless office design

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Space Planning

3 Office Space Planning Metrics to Improve Your Design Decision-Making

office space planning metricsWhether you often find yourself on the giving or receiving end of a persuasive argument – or sometimes an emphatic plea – regarding space planning decisions at home, you know that the discussion (or argument!) is often subjective, and based on personal preferences, tastes and styles. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this. As the old saying goes, your home is your castle.

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Dental Office Renovation Office Furnishing

Furniture Tips to Optimize Dental Office Design

dental office design While it was not necessarily an afterthought or a secondary consideration, at in the past choosing furniture for dental office design was more of an administrative than an analytical process. That is, dentists (along with their team members) typically opted for standard, conventional and generic selections.  

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Office Design

Why Office Construction Management is an Essential Part of Office Design

office construction management office designWhen some businesses want to refresh their work environment so that it is more modern, ergonomic, employee-friendly, customer-centric, productive and efficient, they can focus their efforts (or more typically, direct the efforts of their interior solutions partner) on making key changes that make a big difference, but do not require any fundamental construction or reconstruction.

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Office Design Open Offices

4 Ways to Optimize an Open Office Design

Office DesignOpen offices might be the most polarizing concept in the office design world. Some businesses love the approach and point to numerous advantages. However, some other businesses are left scratching their heads wondering where all of the benefits are and what the hype was all about.

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Office Design

4 Office Design Tips to Improve Employee Communication & Collaboration

Office DesignWhile effective and efficient employee communication and collaboration has always been important, on today’s relentlessly fast-changing business landscape, it’s more vital than ever. Indeed, today’s robust game plan often becomes tomorrow’s agile workaround, and the only thing that all project managers know for certain before an initiative kicks off is “to expect the unexpected.”

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Office Design

4 Office Design Pitfalls to Avoid

Office DesignEvery office design project is unique, and each one is based on a complex set of factors, variables, details, preferences, materials, resources, and so on. However, just as there are some established principles and best practices to adopt, there are some mistakes and pitfalls to avoid. Here are four of the most common:

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Office Design

4 Office Bathroom Remodeling Best Practices

Office Bathroom RemodelingWhile it may not be as “high profile” as the corporate boardroom, the fact remains that a functional and employee-friendly bathroom is not just an important piece of the office design puzzle: it is pivotal!

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Office Design workplace kitchen

Office Design Best Practices for Creating Break Rooms

Office DesignIf you are planning to include a break room in your office design, then be assured that this is a smart decision. Indeed, far more than just “nice-to-haves,” break rooms are strategic investments that have been shown to improve employee productivity, quality, performance, engagement, and even recruitment and retention.

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Office Furnishing

Do’s and Don’ts of Choosing Ergonomic Office Furniture

Ergonomic Office FurnitureChoosing ergonomic office furniture for your environment can significantly improve worker health, safety, productivity and performance. What’s more, it can also help make you an “employer of choice” when it comes to recruitment and retention, which is particularly valuable in marketplaces where the battle for top talent can be even more intense than it is for customers!

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Office Design workplace kitchen

3 Benefits of Including a Break Room in Your Office Design

Break RoomIn ancient times — so we are talking before the 1990s or so — break rooms were standard office design features. True, some were better and bigger than others, but it was rare to work at or visit an office and not encounter a designated break room, usually stocked with a couple of gigantic vending machines, some plants, and of course, everyone’s least favorite break room element: “the unlabeled lunch bag in the refrigerator that someone forgot.”  

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Office Design

What Should Millennial-Friendly Office Design Look Like?

Millennial-Friendly Office DesignMillennial-friendly office design is an approach that reflects and enhances the workplace values that are important to the group of workers that fall into the Millennial cohort (generally viewed as those born from the early 1980s to the early 2000s), and which now represents the largest demographic in the labor market. According to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by Pew Research Center, there are nearly 54 million Millennials in the workforce, and the numbers continue to climb.

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Office Design

What is Authenticity-Centered Office Design?

Authenticity-Centered Office DesignOn today’s business landscape, it is common to hear businesses of all sizes — from small startups to large enterprises — emphasize their commitment to “authenticity.” For example, they tout their systems, practices, protocol and policies that support transparency, visibility, fairness, ethics, employee engagement, environmental responsibility, and giving back to the community.

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Office Design

Should Your Office Design Include Glass Wall Systems?

Glass Wall SystemsAn increasing number of businesses in all sectors and industries are choosing glass wall systems instead of cubicles or walls for their office design configuration. In this article, we will focus on some of the benefits and limitations of this option for office design.

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Office Design

3 Signs that Your Business Should Invest in Executive Office Design

executive office designFor previous generations, the executive office was hallowed ground characterized by heavy (and expensive) furniture and, to evoke the words of Will Ferrell’s hilarious portrayal of anchorman Ron Burgundy: “a smell of rich mahogany and many leather-bound books.”

However, these days it is not uncommon for executives to work in the same environment as basically everyone else, including the intern that started last week. Often, the only real difference is some extra square footage, but even that is often occupied by files, boxes, exhibit equipment (that massive banner display has to be stored somewhere), and so on.

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Office Design Space Planning

3 Costly Misconceptions About Office Space Planning

office space planning mistakesWhen it comes to refreshing, renovating or re-inventing your work environment, there are many best practices and smart strategies. And one of the most vital — yet often overlooked — elements is rooted in office space planning. Here are three costly misconceptions that quickly turn what should be a successful project into a stressful scenario:

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Office Design

The Worst Advice We Have Ever Heard About Office Interior Design

Office Interior DesignAt Key Interiors, we have been an established part of the interior solutions industry for more than 30 years. And throughout this journey, we have seen some exciting and innovative office interior design concepts emerge, such as hot desking, benching, open offices, sit-to-stand desks, and the list goes on. Indeed, the best thing about this industry is that there are always great new developments and ideas on the horizon.

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Office Design

Should Benching be Included in Your Office Design?

Office DesignIn the world of sports, “benching” happens when a player earns the ire of his or her coach and is told to take a seat vs. get in the game. Fortunately, things are a lot less confrontational and controversial in the office design world!

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Office Design

3 Office Design Questions to Ask for Optimal Employee Communication

Office DesignWhile customers and cash flow are said to be the “lifeblood of business success,” it goes without saying that effective employee communication is not far behind. Indeed, everything from productivity, performance, customer service, quality assurance and brand reputation trace back to strong internal communication — or in some unfortunate cases, the lack thereof.

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Office Design

The 3 Biggest Problems with Office Design — and How to Solve Them

Close-up of human hand holding key. Idea concept-342878-edited.jpegIs your office design a liability instead of an asset? Unfortunately, that is the case if it is triggering any of these three major — and common — problems: 

1. Poor Space Utilization

Office design is not just about making an existing space functional and appealing. In the big picture, it is also about ensuring that space — which of course is a major expense — is utilized effectively and optimally.

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Office Design

Discover 3 Space Saving Office Design Ideas

office designWorkspace is not just one of the costliest business expenses — especially in certain parts of the country like the Chicagoland area — but it is also among her riskiest. This is because unlike other costs such as telecommunications systems or computer networks, workspace is not scalable: businesses that sign a lease (or pay a commercial mortgage) for a fixed number of square feet must pay the agreed upon amount each month. The price is fixed, whether the space is optimized or not.

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Office Design

What Office Interior Design Will be Like in 100 Years

office interior designWhether the right word to describe it is lame, cringe-worthy or just plain embarrassing, the fact remains that most prognosticators who imagine what life will be like 100 years from now get things very, very wrong.

For example (and if your doctor has advised you to avoid lame, cringe-worthy and just plan embarrassing things you should probably stop reading!), here are some bold predictions from the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris:

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Office Design

Tips for Using Psychological Insights to Create Your Office Design Plan

office designWhether it’s McDonald’s choosing yellow and green for its restaurants, Intel adding the signature “ding” tone to the end of its commercials, or countless companies using celebrities to represent their products and brand, the psychological roots of business run very deep. In fact, there are several branches of applied social science that explore (and frankly, exploit!) the fact that what goes on between our ears has a direct impact on the buying decisions we make.

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Dental Office Renovation Office Renovation

3 Dental Office Renovation Best Practices

dental office renovationYou may have been mulling it over for months — or perhaps even years — and now, at last, you are ready to move forward and make your dental office renovation vision a reality. To help make the experience successful and rewarding, here are three best practices to keep in mind:

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Dental Office Renovation Office Design Office Renovation

Pediatric Dental Office Design: Tips for Catering to Kids & Grown-Ups

pediatric dental office designAs noted by DentalEconomics.com, by the year 2020 pediatric dentists are expected to comprise the second-largest group of practicing dentists — which means that competition for family loyalty and referrals will grow even more intense than it is now. 

Of course, families will ultimately choose (or in some cases, change) their pediatric dentist based on a variety of key factors, such as what solutions and services are offered, billing policies, local proximity, and so on.

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Office Design

5 Ways that Modern Office Design Impacts the Bottom-Line

Young female businesswoman in the office-798200-edited.jpegWhen it comes to residential design, it’s perfectly fine — and in fact, usually preferred — for decisions to generate qualitative benefits and outcomes. For example, adding a bay window can make a living room brighter and more welcoming, while installing decorative wall coverings can make a den (or man cave) cozier. 

However, when the scene shifts to the workplace, executives typically need to justify or authorize office decisions based on their quantitative connection to ROI. To that end, here are 5 ways that modern office design impacts the bottom-line:

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Office Design

3 Elements that Separate Old School from Future-Focused Office Design

Image of young businessman standing with back opening door-1-237346-edited.jpegThere is nothing wrong with having a fondness for the classics. For example, some of the greatest music, literature and art that many people around the world enjoy today was created centuries ago. And in a somewhat more practical and down-to-earth way, a number of organizations are embracing a more conventional or classic approach to things like workplace attire (i.e. “business casual” is tilting more towards business, and less towards casual).

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Office Design

3 Tips to Make the Most of Your Studio Office Design Strategy

High angle view of an artist drawing something on graphic tablet at the office-812221-edited-844117-edited.jpegOn today’s business landscape, long-term success — and in many cases, short-term survival — isn’t just driven by sufficient cash flow and profitable customers. There’s another “C” in the mix that can be more valuable, and also rarer, than both: creatives! 

Now, before you start imagining folks wearing frocks and mixing paint on a palette: today’s creatives are the skilled professionals who work across all fields and industries, and who are tasked with coming up with everything from a standing ovation-worthy speech for the CEO at the next employee retreat, to a killer marketing campaign that drives brand visibility and attracts new customers, to a training program that boosts employee engagement and productivity — and the list goes on.

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Office Design Space Planning

5 Essential Design Tips from Professional Office Space Planners

office space planningRegardless of whether they conduct operations from a stylish and trendy loft or the top floors of a downtown skyscraper, all businesses need to get optimal value from their space — so that it’s an asset that drives productivity and profitability, instead of a liability that contributes to inefficiency and waste.

To help your business get the most ROI from your environment, here are 5 essential design tips from office space planners. These are experienced and knowledgeable professionals who know that “time is money” isn’t the only axiom on the business landscape — because “space is money”, too.

Categories
Office Design Office Renovation

What Does Design Build Mean in Office Renovations?

design build in office renovationsA design build approach is typically associated with new construction projects, such as building a new warehouse facility, commercial space or residential home. However, design build also applies to office renovations, where it delivers several important advantages.

Before answering the question “what does design build mean in office renovations?”, it is helpful to take a step back and look at the traditional project delivery model(often referred to as design-bid-build), and highlight where it falls short.

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Office Design

5 Critical Questions to Ask When Evaluating Office Design Companies

office design companyWhen it comes to refreshing — or in some cases, re-inventing — their work environment, many businesses need to answer important questions about their (soon-to-be-new) space, such as:

  • Do we need to encourage and enable cross-team collaboration?
  • What are our privacy preferences, and what are our privacy obligations per regulations?
  • Do we need to occasionally accommodate remote workers and/or teams?
  • Do we need or want to establish multi-purpose space for different uses?
  • Do we want our space to incorporate energy efficient “green” technologies and innovations?
Categories
Dental Office Renovation Office Design

3 Misconceptions About Dental Office Interior Design

Dental Office Interior DesignEvery dentist, whether they have just started their journey in the field, or are thinking about life-after-dentistry, knows that dental office interior design plays a key role in both practice success and patient satisfaction.

What’s more, most dentists have translated their awareness of dental office interior design into significant improvements and investments. Indeed, gone are the days when waiting areas and treatment rooms were suitably clinical, functional, and sterile, but devoid of  any “humanizing” factors such as plants, artwork, or soft carpeting. Some pediatric practices even have aquariums to soothe and engage anxious kids (and give their parents a break too).

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Office Design

5 Medical Office Design Tips for Happy Patients, Engaged Staff & Successful Practices

medical office design tipsWhen it comes to running a successful and patient-focused practice, all doctors regardless of their area of specialization would agree that the “5 C’s” they need to demonstrate every single day — and sometimes well into the night — are competence, communication, compassion, confidentiality and consistency.

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Dental Office Renovation Office Design

3 Dentist Office Design Ideas

dentist office design ideasOne of the keyanxiety triggersfor people who are reluctant to see the dentist is the clinical look and feel of dental environments. Uncomfortable plastic chairs in the waiting room, buzzing fluorescent lights, PEOPLE Magazines,  –– these factors can all contribute to a negative experience at a dental practice.  Indeed, just thinking about it is enough to convince many patients to put off going to the dentist.

Fortunately, while this may have been the norm in the past, it certainly doesn’t need to be now and going forward — which is particularly good news for dentists who want to increase their scalability. And what dentist wouldn’t want happy, relaxed patients who look forward to their visit instead of dreading it? To that end, here are three creative dentist office design ideas that can turn dread into delight:

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Office Design

The Differences Between Contemporary vs. Modern Office Design

Office workplace with laptop and smart phone on wood table and london city blurred background-335112-edited.jpegWhen exploring options for refreshing, renovating or perhaps re-inventing your work environment, you’ll likely come across the terms “contemporary” and “modern” used interchangeably in various articles, books, videos, discussion forums and websites. 

However, while contemporary and modern are synonyms in everyday communication, in an office design context they refer to distinct concepts. Below, we summarize the key differences: 

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Office Design Office Furnishing

3 Types of Ergonomic Office Furniture Items to Include in Your Office Design

ergonomic furniture in office designFor decades, employees were obligated to “fit” into their office environment — which typically meant facing a daily grind of sitting in painful chairs, working at awkward desks, straining to reach inconvenient cabinets, and the miserable list goes on.

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Office Design Space Planning

5 Office Design Space Planning Best Practices

office design space planningUnlike residential design space planning which is largely a matter of personal preference — for example, some people like wall-to-wall furniture, others lean towards “less is more” concept — office design space planning is a strategic function, because it impacts everything from real estate costs to worker productivity. 

If you’re thinking of refreshing, renovating or re-inventing your environment, here are five best practices to steer you in the right direction:

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Office Design

Unconventional Workplace Design: Turning Unique Spaces Into Offices

unconventional workplace designModern offices take the shape of a company’s needs. Plain and simple, the idea of a workspace being a square-shaped grid with matching cubicles of equal size is not only outdated, but unfeasible in many cases. That’s because plenty of companies occupy spaces that weren’t designed for them. Instead, modern businesses will often repurpose buildings and spaces that were once used for other functions –– like manufacturing, residence, or even commercial sales. As such, unconventional workplace design has become more important in the past few years. Fortunately, there are ways you can mold your workspace into a thriving office environment –– no matter how strange a space it might appear at first.

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Office Design

5 Creative Office Design Tips for the New Year

creative office designThe holiday season may seem a long time ago already, but the New Year has only just begun. And with it comes the opportunity to better yourself, develop healthy habits, and re-prioritize what’s important to you. The good news is, you can take that New Year’s optimism and channel it in any number of ways –– including redesigning your office. So if you’re feeling especially creative, or if you’ve been putting off reconfiguring your office for some time, here are five creative office design tips to help get you started in 2018:

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Office Design

CEO Office Design: How to Create the Optimal Workspace

ceo office designIn the modern corporate world, there are a number of executives who eschew a private office and instead set up shop alongside their employees. While this spirit might be commendable, in practice it presents a myriad of problems for the contemporary CEO –– from a lack of privacy, to a decrease in status and even productivity. So how do you strike the right balance between the stuffy, off-limits offices of yesteryear, and forgoing an essential workspace entirely in your office layout? The good news is, there are measures you can take to ensure that your CEO office design creates a room that is both private enough to allow for quality work, and still inviting and open at the same time. Here’s how:

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Office Design

4 of the Best Office Design Practices for Small Office Spaces

small office spacesWe can’t all be blessed with the type of wide open spaces or eye-catching views we’d like at work. Nor can every business afford a costly expansion and renovation to suit their needs. However, there are measures you can take to maximize a small office space. Indeed, with a little creativity and a little elbow grease, you can transform a cramped workspace into a thriving mecca for your team members. So, here are four of the best office design practices for small office spaces:

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Office Design

How to Make the Most of a Studio Office Design

studio office designThere’s a common misconception in the design world that a larger canvas allows for greater creativity; that if you’re saddled with tight quarters you’ll just have to make do with your surroundings. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Indeed, anyone can make the most of a studio office design –– provided they keep an open mind and apply sound design elements to their space. Here’s how you can get started revamping your studio office:

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Office Design

Warehouse Office Design: Turning A Warehouse Into a Workplace

warehouse office designModern entrepreneurs are finding innovative ways to create new products and new business models previously unheard of in the corporate world. So it should come as no surprise that many small business owners are applying that same innovative methodology to their workspaces as well. Indeed, more and more businesses are exploring unconventional office spaces, and warehouses –– in addition to factories, apartment complexes, and any other unoccupied building –– provide companies with the space and freedom they need to carve out a professional identity. Warehouse office design doesn’t just enable a business room to house their employees, but it can also allow a business owner the opportunity to mold their space in a way few others can.

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car dealership design Office Design

How To Solve Common Issues with Car Dealership Design

car dealership designAs anyone who’s worked in sales can attest, location matters a great deal when it comes to closing a deal. People react differently given the different situations they find themselves in; it’s only natural. You don’t comport yourself in a church they same way you would at the gym, after all. That’s why it’s essential when designing a car dealership that you create an atmosphere where your customers feel comfortable. The more at ease your customers are, the better chances you have at making a sale. To that end, today we’ll discuss several common problems in car dealership design, and how you can correct them:

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Office Design

4 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Designing a Small Office Space

small office spaceCramped. Confined. Cornered. Claustrophobic.  

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waiting room design

5 Reasons Your Healthcare Waiting Room is Letting You Down

healthcare waiting roomProfessionals in the healthcare industry strive to provide the best service they possibly can to their patients. Yet, too often their good work is undermined by a daunting, Orwellian waiting room. Indeed, it’s only natural that many people are nervous about seeing a doctor –– which is why your healthcare waiting room is so vital. It’s there you’ll either make a vibrant first impression, or else set your patient on-edge. To that end, here are five signs your healthcare waiting room is letting you down –– and how to make it right instead:

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Office Design

4 Secrets to Creating the Perfect Law Office Design

law office design“Perception is reality.” It’s a phrase lawyers –– perhaps more than professionals in any other field –– understand intimately. Because whether you’re presenting a case in court, or entertaining guests at a house party, the way you present yourself to the world matters. Indeed, the same can also be said for office design as well. And when it comes to law office design, there’s a delicate balance to strike between form and functionality. The good news is, you can transform your law office into a dynamic space that works both for you –– and your clients.

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car dealership design Office Design

Car Dealership Design: How to Wow Your Customers

car dealership designIn the past going to the car dealership was a delightful day out. After all, what could be more exciting than purchasing your own car? Unfortunately, though, too often modern-day customers don’t experience that same “wow factor” consumers in the past felt for automobiles and car dealerships. So how can you recapture some of that spirit and impress your customers at the same time? The answer is down to innovative car dealership design. And you can begin revamping your car dealership by following these five simple steps:

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Office Design

Repurposed Office Design: How to Make an Old Workspace Vibrant

repurposed office designIt’s natural that most business owners would have a vision in mind when they picture their ideal workspace. After all, part of the fun of owning a small business is dreaming about the possibilities of growth, expansion, and improvement. However, there’s often quite the disparity between how people would like their offices to look, and how they actually are. Indeed, more and more companies are having to make do with offices and workspaces that weren’t designed for their needs. In fact, some businesses occupy buildings that weren’t even meant for their line of work. With that in mind, today we’re going to examine several repurposed office design best practices, and show you how you can make any office environment feel like a thriving workspace.

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Office Design

3 High Tech Office Design Ideas for Progressive Businesses

high tech office design

Innovative, modern workspaces are often expressions of the forward-thinking companies behind them. After all, successful entrepreneurs recognize the value of a cutting-edge, high tech office and will take whatever measures necessary to ensure that their team is fully equipped with everything they need to gain an advantage over the competition. Many companies face problems when dealing with high tech office renovation because they just don’t know where to start! Indeed, it can be daunting to try and completely reimagine a state-of-the-art, modern workspace from scratch; luckily, Key Interiors is here to make the process easy by providing a solid blueprint for all business owners to follow! 

Today, we’re sharing 3 high tech office design ideas for workplaces of all sizes. Keep reading to learn more about creating the modern workspace of your dreams!

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Office Design Open Offices

5 Open Office Design Ideas for Every Industry

open office designSome companies never consider the possibility of an open office design because they feel it wouldn’t suit their business. Professionals in certain industries have ignored this potentially beneficial office upgrade, in large part because it’s considered “untraditional,” or they fear the shake-up would cause more harm than good. The truth is though, open office design can work for just about every business –– in every industry. And while we can’t cover every single profession in this blog post, today we’ll highlight five open office design ideas that can improve any workspace:

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Office Design

5 Innovative Solutions to Orthodontic Office Design Problems

orthodontic office designOrthodontists and dentists occupy a unique section of the medical industry. As a result, they face a different set of office design issues as opposed to other medical professionals and other businesses in general. Indeed, it can prove difficult to strike a balance between developing a welcoming environment for patients, while also creating a workspace that functions smoothly for your employees. Situations like these call for a little innovation; and with that in mind, here are five creative solutions to common orthodontic office design problems: 

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Office Design

Workspace Design Psychology –– How to Improve Engagement and Productivity

workspace design psychologyAn office at its best is more than just a set of rooms, desks, tables, and chairs. Instead, the best workplaces don’t feel like offices at all. They inspire people to create and perform better than they could anywhere else. So the question then becomes, how do you create a truly dynamic office? What about the way an office is designed allows for greater productivity and collaboration from your employees? Today we’re going to take a look at several factors that influence workspace design psychology –– and how you can use it to your advantage.         

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Office Design

How Building Information Modeling Can Transform a Design Project

business information modelingMany times in business and in life, the process is just as important as the end result: the destination as vital as the journey; the effort as integral as the outcome. If you’re a believer in doing things the right way, then know that office design projects are no exception to that rule. And with Building Information Modeling (BIM), businesses of all sizes can now renovate and redesign their offices with greater confidence, time-efficiency, and cost-savings opportunities than ever before. Don’t know how building information modeling works? Then don’t worry –– we’ll explain everything you need to know here:

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Office Renovation

5 Signs Your Business Needs Commercial Building Facade Renovations

commercial building facade renovationsYou don’t have to be a linguist to figure out that the word “facade” derives from the French word for “face.” This is hardly breaking news. Nevertheless, plenty of businesses do neglect the literal “face” they present to the outside world –– their building’s facade. An uninspiring facade will not only affect companies that rely on foot-traffic to survive, but B2B and client-based businesses may also suffer due to a poor exterior appearance. Indeed, you could be losing money as a result of improper facade maintenance! So don’t put it off any longer –– here are five signs your company needs commercial building facade renovations ASAP:

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Office Design

Commercial Office Design for Millennials: Everything You Need to Know

commercial office design for millennialsThe times, they are indeed changing. According to a study from the Pew Research Center, Millennials are already the largest generation in the American workforce. And that number is going to rise in the near future. As such, businesses across all industries need to adapt in a number of ways to accommodate this new wave of professionals. In particular, companies should reconsider their office design in relation to Millennial workers. Reconfiguring your commercial office design for Millennials might sound like a drastic step, but in reality it isn’t; it’s merely a natural progression. Still, in order to help your business make this transition as smoothly as possible, here are three things to look out for when renovating your office for the next generation:

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Office Design Office Renovation workplace kitchen

5 Break Room Renovations that Will Wow Your Employees

break room renovationsWho says work can’t be fun? Progressive businesses have realized over the past few years that the way their employees think about their workspaces –– and their jobs –– varies greatly from professionals in the past. As such, a modern office needs to provide more than just functional solutions; indeed, the best companies to work for tend to offer their employees a workspace where they can explore their creative impulses, collaborate with others, and –– of course –– unwind. The break room is no longer a luxury for companies that want to attract, and hold onto, top talent in their field. With that in mind, today we’re going to examine five innovative (and cost-effective!) break room renovations that your employees will love:

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Office Design

4 Tips for Creating a Modern Chiropractic Office Design

chiropractic office designProfessionals in the medical field often face an uphill battle when designing their workspace. That’s because unlike other businesses that can focus solely on creating offices that maximize productivity, medical facilities need to take more factors into account. For one, medical offices need to accommodate any number of patients, as well as other visitors to the facility. Additionally, medical facilities have to provide an intuitive layout and boast certain creature comforts that have become the norm in our modern society. And of course, good medical office design should boost employee engagement and productivity levels. In short, it takes a lot of planning, foresight, and experience to strike the right balance in a medical workspace renovation. Today then, we’re going to take a look at a specific facet of the medical field, and focus on chiropractic office design. Here are four tips to help any chiropractor (or any medical pro) get started on their office redesign:

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car dealership design Office Renovation

3 Car Dealership Renovation Best Practices

car dealership renovationIt’s natural to assume that given the rise of digital media over the past twenty years people would value online interactions more than face-to-face meetings. However, that assumption is incorrect. Rather, most customers prefer interacting with a human being –– especially when making a big decision. This is one reason why car dealerships continue to thrive, despite the abundance of online intel relating to cars and car ownership. Deep down, people want to “talk it out” in person. As such, the physical layout of your dealership is an important aspect of your business’s performance. After all, if your dealership design is letting you down, you could be losing out on any number of sales as a result. To that end, here are three car dealership renovation best practices –– to help you court more customers and focus on closing more deals than ever before! 

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office redesign

How to Master an Office Redesign in 4 Simple Steps

how to master an office redesignLet’s get logistical, baby. Transforming an office from what it currently is into what you want it to be can be a complicated process, involving numerous moving parts, contractors, and revisions along the way. Indeed, the task can prove so daunting that many companies desperately in need of a renovation put it off because they feel they don’t have the time, energy, or resources to complete one successfully. Fortunately, we can help with that. Here’s how to master an office redesign in 4 simple steps:

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Dental Office Renovation Office Design

Your Worst Nightmare About Dental Office Design Come to Life

dental office designFor many, (around ten percent of the population) the thought of going to any dental office is a terrifying one. Indeed, dental phobia is real, and medical professionals in the dentistry field need to recognize this if they’re going to overcome stereotypes and negative connotations. The good news is, the way your practice is laid out and organized can have an alleviating effect on nervous patients. Conversely though, a poor dental office design could compound your patients’ fears, and irritate your other visitors as well. On that note, today we’re going to examine the worst case scenario in dental office design. Here’s a few nightmarish design elements to avoid like the plague at your office:

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Office Design Office Renovation workplace kitchen

Lunchroom Renovations: 3 Solutions to Common Design Problems

lunchroom renovationsLet no one ever underestimate the power a good meal has to restore and invigorate a stressed-out employee. Indeed, whether we realize it or not, the way we choose to take our meals can have a big effect on our health, mood, and productivity. Given those facts, it’s easy to see why many forward-thinking companies take their lunchroom renovations seriously. Wondering what you can do to give your cafeteria or lunchroom an update? Here are three design ideas to help you get started tackling common business lunchroom issues:

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Office Design

Office Remodeling Examples: Get a Gorgeous Office Without Breaking the Bank

office remodeling examplesAll business owners have an obligation to themselves and their staff to manage their finances responsibly. It’s not always fun forming a company budget, but it’s an essential element to generating a sound business strategy. Unfortunately, budgetary restrictions sometimes prohibit a business owner from doing everything they’d like to accomplish under ideal circumstances. And far too often, management chooses to forgo a much-needed office renovation to cover other areas of need. The good news is, you don’t have to break the bank to achieve a stunning office redesign. Indeed, here are four office remodeling examples you can emulate at your workspace. Simply click on the links in the blog to see the work for yourself!

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Office Design

4 Office Layout Ideas for Growing Businesses

office layout ideasEvery business owner wants to promote growth; that much is obvious. However, when a company actually manages to achieve growth, business owners often have to deal with new set of (unexpected) challenges and obstacles. Unfortunately, a growing company’s current workspace can actually hamper its progress. Indeed, operating out of an office that doesn’t suit the needs of your business as it grows and develops will undoubtedly cause frustration among your ranks. To prevent that from happening, you should consider implementing any one of these four office layout ideas at your location. Check them out here:

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Office Design

The Ultimate Guide to Commercial Office Design for Gen Z

commercial office design for Gen zWhere does the time go? Though many of us already in professional environments may be loathe to consider it, huge numbers of young people within Generation Z are poised to enter the workforce. Indeed, the oldest members of Gen Z are about to graduate from college, and as such, business owners need to adapt and adjust to this new breed of employee. With that in mind, today we’re going to focus on how companies can make their office spaces more inviting to young people. Consider this your ultimate guide to commercial office design for Gen Z:

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Office Design

Food Industry Office Design: 3 Tips to Create the Ideal Workspace

food industry office designThe food industry is massive and nuanced. In fact, the sheer amount of businesses involved in the growing, processing, and distribution of food makes it difficult to account for just how much the industry contributes to the national or global economy. (Regardless, it’s still the biggest industry on earth.) With that in mind, it’s not surprising that many food-based companies perform multiple functions within the industry itself, such as processing, researching, marketing, and developing food products. Others, meanwhile, focus on one particular aspect of food-based commerce. Regardless, the fact remains that thousands of businesses populate the food industry –– and each has its own unique challenges to overcome. Office design shouldn’t be one of them. Here then are three food industry office design tips for professionals looking to boost employee productivity and revamp their workspace.

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car dealership design Office Design

Car Dealership Design Ideas

Car salespeople understand the importance of making a good impression with a customer. Making a good impression, however, is about more than some dealerships seem to realize. Indeed, the way your space is arranged, and the amenities you have to offer your visitors can have a massive impact on your sales team’s performance. To that end, here are a few examples of sound car dealership design ideas brought to life. We bet you’ll see some design elements you can implement at your location!

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Dental Office Renovation Office Renovation

Dental Office Renovation Ideas in Pictures

Every business should strive to deliver the best possible customer experience for their patrons. That’s especially true of dentists and other medical professionals. Indeed, in order to retain and attract new clients, dentists need to create an office atmosphere where their patients feel relaxed and at ease. Unfortunately, that’s not always a straightforward project. At Key Interiors we’ve worked closely with dental professionals for years to find solutions for their workspace problems. Below, you’ll find a few examples of how we’ve brought dental office renovation ideas to life. Check them out for yourself!

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Office Design

Modern Office Design Ideas

At Key Interiors, we know how tough it can be to start an office redesign from scratch. Fortunately, one of the best way to get the creative juices flowing is by seeing how other companies have handled renovation projects. You can learn a lot about your office –– and good office layout practice in general –– by taking a look at some professional examples. So if you’ve been struggling to come up with a few modern office design ideas for your company, make sure to check out this gallery of some of our previous work:

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Office Design

Why We Love Sustainable Office Design (And You Should Too!)

sustainable office designAt Key Interiors, we believe workspaces should be designed to maximize productivity and eliminate distraction. Sustainable office design, then, is a practice we love since it offers business owners and employees many substantial advantages. Sustainable office design is a practice of creating commercial workspaces by eliminating waste, using recycled material, and adhering to environmentally conscious standards. (You can think of it as “green” office design.) However, we understand why some business owners may be hesitant to implement a sustainable office design at their location. That’s why we’re here to explain how sustainable offices can work for companies across industries.

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Office Design

How To Design Your Office To Keep Your Employees Active

office design to keep employees activeEven the most industrious employees experience profound lethargy from time to time. However, there’s a difference between the occasional dip in productivity and a continual, office-wide morale problem. Furthermore, the way your office is laid out can have an adverse effect on your employees’ activity levels. As luck would have it though, you can always change your office design and renovate aspects that need updating. With that in mind, we’re here to share a few tips on how you can redesign your office to energize your employees:

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Dental Office Renovation waiting room design

5 Ways To Completely Revamp Your Dental Office Waiting Room

dental office waiting roomIt’s difficult to overstate how important customer service is to the viability of a modern business. After all, how your current customers perceive your operation won’t just determine your immediate success but can also affect your ability to attract new consumers too. And dentists in particular need to be aware of this fact. A few negative reviews from unsatisfied patients can tarnish even the most prestigious practice. With that in mind, we’re here to provide a few solutions to one of the biggest pain points in the dentist-patient relationship: the waiting room. Here are five ways you can completely revamp your dental office waiting room –– and delight rather than irritate your patients:

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Office Design

How Your Business Can Benefit from Tech Office Design Elements

tech office designThe tech industry is constantly evolving. Technology is never static, and, unsurprisingly, tech companies themselves also undergo change at a rapid rate. What’s more, the way tech startups think about their office design is often unique and exciting. These are businesses looking to push the envelope and their workspaces typically reflect that fact. The good news is, all businesses can benefit from elements of tech office design –– regardless of their area of expertise.

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medical office design Office Design

3 Medical Office Design Trends With Staying Power

medical office design trendsEffective office design typically combines both classic and contemporary stylistic elements. When a workplace design skews too “old school” it can miss out on key benefits modern advancements provide; alternatively, an office built with only modern trends in mind could quickly become dated after only a few years. Indeed, not every design innovation will stand the test of time. Considering how important office design is to the overall effectiveness of a clinic or facility, it’s critical for professionals to strike the right balance between modish and timeless design choices. That’s why we’ve decided to focus on three medical office design trends that can improve your workplace environment for patients and staff members alike:

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waiting room design

4 Cost-Effective Small Waiting Room Ideas

small waiting room ideasPreviously on our blog, we’ve written about how business owners can maximize a small office space. And we’ve also covered how to improve the look and feel of a waiting room. But we’ve never tackled how to optimize a small waiting room design –– until now. Indeed, it can be difficult to come up with solutions to small waiting room problems, since so many design upgrades rely on having lots of space –– or money. Don’t worry, though. We’re here to provide you with four small waiting room ideas that will enhance customer experience without busting your budget:

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Dental Office Renovation Office Furnishing

3 Dental Office Furniture Best Practices

dental office furnitureDental offices are some of the most varied workspaces in any industry. On one hand, dental offices need to be warm and accommodating for visitors of all ages and backgrounds; however, they should also support employees and ensure high levels of productivity. As such, everything about a dentist’s office –– from the color scheme, to the layout, to the very furniture –– can affect a practice’s bottom line. With that in mind, today we’re here to provide a few helpful hints about an often overlooked design element, namely, dental office furniture. Check out these three best practices before you make any impulse buys!

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Office Design

5 Bad Office Design Choices that Will Hurt Your Business

bad office designExceptional professionals have the uncanny ability to work in horrible conditions. You could send them to a lunar rover or a submarine 10,000 leagues under the sea and they’d still find a way to get the job done. However, for the rest of us, environment matters a lot. Whether or not we realize it, office design and layout can and does have a major effect on productivity. Unfortunately, business owners and interior decorators alike often make bad office design choices. Though they might seem like good ideas at the time, these five measures will actively prevent your team from reaching full potential. Learn about them now so you can avoid them later:

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Office Design

4 Engaging Modern Office Interior Design Concepts

Modern Office Interior Design ConceptsIn terms of interior design choices, modern business owners have an overwhelming amount of options at their disposal. One one hand, this is obviously a good thing. But it also raises a lot of questions and concerns about how to best create a workspace. Is an ideal office setup trendy or classic? High-tech or old-school? Creative or comfortable? The reality is, only you know which design style is best for your business because your company is unique. Indeed, perhaps the biggest mistake entrepreneurs can make in regard to interior design is accepting a boilerplate concept for their office space. Rather than settling for one of a number of cookie-cutter workspace layout plans, check out these four engaging modern office interior design concepts that will be sure to excite your team:

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medical office design Office Design

4 Practical & Effective Medical Office Design Ideas

medical office design ideasProfessionals in the medical field have some of the most stressful jobs on the planet. Their workspace design shouldn’t contribute to it, though. Unfortunately, many medical facilities aren’t designed to optimize employee performance and visitor experience. Indeed, satisfying both of these criteria presents a unique challenge to interior designers and it’s difficult to strike the right balance between them. However, note here that you can achieve a harmonious medical clinic design that improves both employee productivity and patient satisfaction. And you can start by checking out these four effective, real-life solutions:

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Office Design

How to Create Effective Collaboration Spaces for Your Office

collaboration spacesModern employees don’t usually have much in common with each other. They may come from different cities, hold different interests, practice different religions, work on different projects, and think about the world in vastly different ways. A big challenge then for many business owners is figuring out how to ensure their team members get along and collaborate effectively. And any professional with a little experience in management will already know that you can’t “force” collaboration. Rather, business collaboration is something that either naturally occurs in an office or, alternatively, doesn’t. Nevertheless, there are a few ways to create collaboration spaces that will encourage your staff to work together more often –– and more effectively. Check them out here:

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Office Design

How to Eliminate Office Distractions

office distractionsA busy, bustling office is a productive one, right? Well, not necessarily. The reality is that business owners need to be able to recognize when their employees are distracted from their work –– as well as what they can do to prevent such distractions from occurring. Remember, business leaders are responsible for ensuring their team members have everything they need to perform at their best, and an unfit office design could lead to a glut of distractions that inhibit productivity. Here then are three ways that business owners can address office distractions and eliminate them once and for all:

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Office Design workstation design

5 Awesome Ideas for Modern Workstations

modern workstationsIt’s entirely possible for professionals to spend more time at their desk than in their own living room during the course of a regular work week. Still, the harsh truth is few modern workstations boast the amenities, tools, and tech that employees need to operate at their best. Indeed, a poor desk setup can have a major negative impact on your mood and productivity. To combat some office workstation woes, make sure to check out these five awesome ideas to improve your desk situation ASAP:

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Office Design

5 Reasons to Consider Installing Modular Office Walls

modular office wallsAn office redesign is a big project –– no matter your industry or budget. Indeed, choosing to renovate your current workspace is one of the most important decisions any business owner could make. And because redesigns are such large undertakings, many professionals are turning to modular office walls as an alternative to traditional construction methods. But are modular walls a good idea for your operation? Here are five reasons you should at least consider them for your office redesign:

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Office Design

4 Benefits to Business Murals Inside & Outside the Office

business muralsIt’s difficult to put a price on the power of art. After all, how can you quantify the emotional response a compelling painting produces? What is clear though, is that people love engaging with murals and art related to businesses. In fact, business murals offer major benefits to companies that utilize them both inside and outside of their offices. Here are four reasons why you should consider integrating murals within your office design:

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medical office design Office Design

4 Amazing Ideas for Medical Office Designs

medical office designsThe value of a good first impression can’t be overstated. And that’s especially true for medical practices, hospitals, and testing facilities. A medical office design can either inspire confidence and relax nervous patients, or exacerbate their concerns. Given that fact, medical professionals can’t take any risks when it comes to their design choices. Here then are four amazing ideas for medical office designs of all shapes, sizes, and budgets:

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Open Offices

Open Office Etiquette: 4 Helpful Guidelines

Open Office EtiquetteIn an ideal world, open office designs should boost collaboration, productivity, and improve the way your business functions. In practice, though, getting all of your team members on the same page –– in the same space –– can be more difficult than it first seems. While business owners want their team members to feel comfortable with each other, it’s not a wise play to opt for an open office design without also implementing some rules for decorum. To that end, here are four simple guidelines that will help your team maintain good open office etiquette:

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noisy workplace

5 Tips for Dealing with a Noisy Workplace

noisy workplaceA noisy office isn’t always an indication of great productivity. Indeed, while business owners certainly want their employees to feel comfortable collaborating with each other on important projects, research indicates that ambient noise in the workplace not only affects professionals’ ability to concentrate, but could also lead to increased stress, strain, and health risks. Another problem for business leaders is that distracting noises can come in a variety of forms. In order to help you and your team stay focused and energized in a noisy workplace, then, make sure to check out these five helpful tips:

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Office Design

How to Beautify an Ugly Office

ugly officeComing to terms with the limitations of your office can be a difficult thing to do. After all, no business owner wants to admit that their workspace isn’t up to standard or that it’s lacking in anyway. Yet, many offices are indeed somber, messy, cluttered, dated, and/or boring. The silver lining is that it’s possible to beautify an ugly office quickly and efficiently. Here are four options worth exploring today:

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Office Design

5 Interior Design Factors that Increase Productivity

factors that increase productivityWhen most business professionals talk about increasing workplace productivity, they focus on abstract concepts. Unfortunately, business owners can’t purchase “positive-management techniques,” or “self-accountability,” for their team members. And while it’s possible to change a company’s culture strictly through attitude adjustment, altering the physical layout of a space is often a much more effective way to boost morale and performance. Given that fact, make sure to check out these five interior design factors that increase productivity:

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boring office

6 Ways to Quickly Improve a Boring Office

boring officeFor some professionals, going to work is like entering an Orwellian nightmare. The cubicles are small and uniform. The lights fluorescent and harsh. The color scheme is drab and gray. There’s little-to-no artwork, and the break room –– if there even is one –– is criminally understocked. In short, they work in a boring office. And, unsurprisingly, most people fail to reach their full potential when placed in an environment that’s not conducive to creativity. In fact, rather than cutting down on distractions, boring, outdated workspaces are more likely to cause employees’ minds to wander. To alleviate some common office woes, consider implementing any one of these six tactics:

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Office Design

Cubicle vs Office: What’s the Best Design Choice For You?

cubicle vs officeIn the world of interior business design, there’s probably no more hotly-contested topic than whether to install cubicles or to adopt an open-office plan. Indeed, the cubicle vs office debate has plenty of detractors –– on both sides. Certain studies suggest that open office designs decrease productivity, while psychologists argue that cubicles make people miserable at work. So how should a business owner lay out their ideal workplace? Today we’ll explain the pros and cons associated with these different design choices and help you make an informed decision that will benefit your company:

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Office Design

5 Cozy Office Ideas for Modern Businesses

cozy office ideasConsidering that many professionals spend 40, 50, or even 60 hours in the workplace every week, it only makes sense for modern offices to boast many supportive amenities. Indeed, an office really should be a home away from home for employees. And it’s no surprise that when professionals feel comfortable in their surroundings, they’re more productive and happier as a result. Given all of those facts, today we’re going to explore five cozy office ideas that you can implement at your HQ today:

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Office Design

Here’s Everything You Need for an Office Collaboration Space

office collaboration spaceFor many business owners, getting their employees to collaborate with each other more often is at the top of their to-do list. Given the increasingly specialized nature of many positions, it’s of particular importance to ensure that everyone on your team stays on the same page. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. And creating an office collaboration space that actually improves employee communication can be quite challenging. That’s where we come in. Below, we’ll list everything you need to design a workplace that brings your team together:

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Office Design work environment

Interior Design 101: 6 Positive Work Environment Ideas

positive work environment ideasCreating a positive work environment is a two-part process. How well employees get along, collaborate, and, in general, work together depends on 1) the culture of a given company, and 2) the actual physical environment employees inhabit. It’s unwise to overlook the role interior design plays in developing a functional office atmosphere. To further the point, here we’ll focus on six positive work environment ideas business owners can implement to great effect:

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Office Design

5 Office Organization Hacks for Small Workplaces

Office Organization Hacks for Small WorkplacesWhen it comes to interior office design, size can matter a great deal. However, it is possible to build a functional workplace in a small office, even if you’ve struggled with a lack of space in the past. The key to maximizing a work area is, unsurprisingly, organization. It’s imperative that your team is able to make use of all of the space available to them. Fortunately, if they do, improved performance is almost certain to follow. With that in mind, today we’re going to explore five office organization hacks that provide serious benefits to small workplaces:

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Dental Office Renovation Office Design

5 Dental Operatory Design Best Practices

dental operatory For some, entering a dental operatory is like stepping into a nightmare. Indeed, almost three in four American adults experience some trepidation about the dentist’s office, and between five and ten percent have full-blown dental phobia. That’s the bad news. The good news is that dentists can combat this stigma in a number of ways. One of the most effective methods for putting your patients’ minds at ease is to create a dental operatory design that is both modern and welcoming. Here are five best practices that will help you achieve that ideal balance:

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Office Design

6 Ways to Make Your Office Reception Area More Welcoming

office reception areaFirst impressions matter a great deal. For better or worse, snap judgements color our perceptions of people, places, and products. In the business sense, most professionals first encounter a company through its office reception area. Indeed, this space can either set up positive expectations or potentially disorient and disappoint a new visitor. Obviously this can have big consequences. If your business entertains guests, clients, job applicants, or visitors of any sort, then your reception area needs to be on point. Thankfully, today we’ll share six ways you can make this space more welcoming and pleasant:

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Office Design

5 Tips for Improving Individual Workstation Design

workstation designModern offices are diverse places. Most contain multiple workstations, open areas, break rooms, conference spaces, and other rooms designed for specific functions. Naturally, office design as a whole will encompass all of those elements. However, as one would expect, different design best practices apply to different parts of the office. Designing a CEO’s office presents an entirely separate challenge to renovating a lunch room, for instance. With that in mind, today we’ll share five tips for improving individual workstation design so that you and your employees can start working more effectively today:

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office redesign

Business Office Remodeling: 5 Trends to Watch in 2019

Business Office RemodelingIt’s difficult to overstate how beneficial a new, vibrant office can be for a growing business. Compelling workplaces help boost productivity, attract top talent, impress clients, and promote your business’s brand. However, as with any other industry, interior design is constantly changing. As such, it’s important for forward-thinking business owners to recognize the latest trends in business office remodeling to ensure that their workspace is firing on all cylinders. Here we’ll outline five trends from this year that have real staying power:

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workplace kitchen

6 Tips for Creating an Awesome Workplace Kitchen Area

workplace kitchenIt’s no surprise that modern professionals spend a lot of time at work. In fact, the average person will spend around 90,000 hours (over ten years) of their life at the office. Given that fact, it’s wise for business owners to create office environments that are welcoming and comfortable. One of the best ways to make employees feel at home (while at work) is to create a vibrant workplace kitchen area. Here are six tips that will help business owners achieve that goal:

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Office Design

6 Tips for Pulling Off a Work Office Makeover

work office makeoverNo one should ever underestimate the power of a few small positive changes. Little alterations for the better can still be very meaningful. And that’s true in regard to office design as well. In fact, pulling off a successful work office makeover can boost morale, help employees focus, and make a space more welcoming to visitors. Today, we’re going to share six tips professionals can use to spruce up their workspaces right away:

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Office Design Open Offices

Open Office Concept Pros and Cons: What You Need to Know

Open Office Concept Pros and ConsSometimes a perceived advantage is just as good as a real one. After all, if your customer base thinks your company is more advanced than your competition, then you might as well be. However, when it comes to office design, businesses can’t afford to invest solely in “perceived” benefits. Rather, they need an office renovation to provide tangible results. That’s why we’re going to take a close look at open office concept pros and cons today. Open office concepts are popular –– and they can be highly effective –– but it’s still important for business owners to know what they’re getting when they sign up for an open design.

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Office Design

What is Contemporary Office Design?

contemporary office designOdds are, most business leaders don’t think about their office layout and design on a daily basis. However, even if you don’t realize it, office design nevertheless has a big impact on your productivity and morale. Given that fact, contemporary office design tends to focus on the subtle aspects of a space that dictate employee experience. Defining contemporary office design is straightforward; contemporary design encompasses the styles interior designers are currently creating for workspaces. Today, though, we’ll go one step further and explain several key characteristics of contemporary office design. Check them out here:

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Office Design

3 Meeting Room Design Ideas for Small Businesses

meeting room designProductive meetings are key to business success. This might sound obvious, but plenty of companies hold lackluster, ineffective meetings that serve only to waste their employees’ valuable time and limit progress. Unfortunately, some small businesses struggle to find adequate space to hold meaningful meetings. Conference rooms that are too small or are in other ways deficient will make it difficult to run meetings in an efficient manner. Fortunately, today we’ll outline three meeting room design ideas for small businesses operating with a limited space or budget:

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Office Renovation

The Ultimate Office Renovation Checklist

office renovation checklistWhen tackling a big assignment, it’s always best to break it down into smaller components. This way, you can focus on individual aspects one at a time and work more effectively. The same principle holds true for carrying out an office redesign or renovation. Unfortunately, plenty of business owners don’t know where to begin with this task. If you’ve never renovated an office space before, it can be very difficult to learn everything there is to know about the process in a short space of time. With that in mind, today we’re going to share our ultimate office renovation checklist. Following these eight steps will help you form a plan that works for your business: 

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Office Design

5 Effective Types of Office Layouts

types of office layoutsAs with any major decision, it’s important for business leaders to research different office design templates before they make a final choice. Informing yourself on a subject will enable you to make sensible decisions. Thankfully, business owners have a number of options at their disposal when it comes to renovating their office. Today, we’ll highlight five different, but effective, types of office layouts. Check them out here: 

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Office Design

Is a Quiet Office Good For Productivity?

quiet officeDistractions in the workplace can come in a variety of forms. Noises from traffic outside, smells emanating from the kitchen, an impromptu call for a meeting –– all of these things can break an employee’s focus. However, some offices are so silent, so devoid of distraction that even the smallest disturbance can become a big issue. This leads us to the seemingly paradoxical question: is a quiet office good for productivity? Yes and no. The key to developing a positive workspace environment is about finding balance. Loud, noisy offices aren’t ideal, but neither are cathedral-quiet workspaces that make people feel self conscious.

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Office Design

4 Tips for Optimizing Reception Desk Designs

Reception desk designsYour business’s reception area is the place where visitors form an initial opinion of your operation. As most professionals already know, a first impression matters a great deal. The nature and layout of a reception area may serve to delight and intrigue visitors, or leave them feeling confused or disappointed. It may seem odd to focus so much on one facet of office design, but the reception area –– and in particular reception desk designs –– may have a direct effect on a company’s ability to draw in clients and/or attract talented employees. Given that fact, today we’re going to share four tips for creating the perfect reception desk design –– regardless of your industry or area of expertise.  

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Office Design

4 Highly Effective Executive Office Layout Ideas

executive office layout ideasAt every level of business, appearance matters. And the higher you move up the corporate ladder, the more important it is to make a good impression with prospective partners, clients, and team members. However, executive offices must offer professionals a space that prioritizes appearance and productivity in equal measure. After all, what’s the benefit of an office that looks good, but doesn’t suit a professional’s needs? With that in mind, today we’ll take a look at four highly effective executive office layout ideas. Check them out here: 

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Office Design

5 Tips to Create the Ideal Medical Office Layout

Medical Office LayoutHave you ever rearranged the furniture in your living room? If you have, then you know that just a few key layout changes can entirely alter the way that a space looks and feels. In the same vein, changing the makeup of a medical facility can have a big effect on patient satisfaction and employee productivity. With that in mind, today we’ll look at five tips that you can use to create the ideal medical office layout for your clinic. Check them out here: 

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Office Design

How to Optimize a Private Office Layout

Private Office LayoutProfessionals employed in office environments typically either 1) work in a private office or 2) work in an open layout model. There are pros and cons associated with each strategy, but the ultimate success (or lack thereof) of an office design choice depends most on the execution of the plan. At the end of the day, creating an effective office layout is a matter of getting the best out of the space available. To that end, today we’ll focus on private office layout, and explain how business leaders can optimize these areas. 

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Office Design

5 Waiting Room Entertainment Ideas

waiting room entertainment ideasPatience may be a virtue, but the reality is that many people lack it. According to a recent survey, 85% of patients have to wait between 10-30 minutes after their scheduled appointment to see a doctor. These wait times are hardly unreasonable, but they’re also the “worst part” of a trip to the doctor’s –– according to 63% of those surveyed. People just hate waiting, and waiting rooms have been known to spike anxiety and nerves. This is certainly a problem for professionals in the medical field, like dentists and doctors, but a lackluster waiting room can affect any business negatively. Today, we’ll highlight five waiting room entertainment ideas that professionals can implement to keep their patients, visitors, or customers comfortable and relaxed. Check them out here: 

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Office Design

5 Medical Clinic Design Best Practices

medical clinic designLittle things matter a great deal in interior design. Nowhere is this concept more apparent than in medical clinic design. Small choices like the artwork on display in a waiting room, or the layout of an exam room can have big effects on patient satisfaction and employee productivity. Clinics are unique workspaces in that they must address the needs of both patients and medical professionals. And finding design solutions that achieve both criteria can be difficult. With that in mind, today we’ll focus on five key medical clinic design best practices. Check them out here:

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Office Renovation

Do I Need To Hire An Architect For My Next Office Renovation?

do-i-need-to-hire-an-architect-for-my-next-office-renovationAt Key Interiors, a question that we’re often asked is: “do I need to hire an architect for my next office renovation?” This is a very important question. There are two answers to this question: yes, and no. Let’s start with the yes.

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Collaborative Workspace Office Renovation work environment

Office Renovation Tips: How to Make Your Workspace More Collaborative

office-renovation-tips-how-to-make-your-workspace-more-collaborative.jpgLike many businesses across all sectors and in both the B2B and B2C space, you may have decided that enabling more efficient and effective collaboration among employees is a top priority.

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Collaborative Workspace

The Benefits of Collaborative Office Space

the-benefits-of-collaborative-office-spaceOver the last few years, a growing number of businesses – from small start-ups to monoliths like Google, Twitter and Microsoft – have shifted towards collaborative office spaces as a way to foster both informal and formal interaction, knowledge sharing, and teamwork.

Categories
Office Design work environment

How Office Design Increases Employee Retention

how-office-design-increases-employee-retention.jpgAs reported by HiringSmart.com, the costs of turnover aren’t just excessive: they’re shocking, and for some businesses, dangerously destabilizing.
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Office Renovation

4 Tips to Keep Your Office Renovation on Budget

4-tips-to-keep-your-office-renovation-on-budgetAnyone who has experienced a “runaway” home renovation project understands all-too-well that what can start out as a straightforward plan, can quickly become a proverbial money pit.

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Office Renovation Open Offices

How an Open Office Renovation Can Save You Money

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Office Design Office Renovation

4 Budget Friendly Office Renovation Design Tips

4-budget-friendly-office-renovation-design-tipsReinventing your office so that it’s more functional, efficient and esthetically impressive can be surprisingly affordable. Here are 4 budget friendly office renovation design tips that will give you the impact and results you want – but without breaking your budget:

Categories
Office Renovation

Why Your Office Renovation Needs a Punch List Before Completion

why-your-office-renovation-needs-a-punch-list-before-completionIn the not-so-distant past, towards the end of an office renovation project a document containing minor construction-related tasks was circulated between customers, architects and contractors. When all parties agreed that a specific task was completed as per contractual expectations and requirements, it would be hole-punched (often, two copies of the document was punched so that the architect and contractor would have the own). And hence, through this process the aptly-named “punch list” was born.

Categories
Office Design office redesign

How a Strict Office Redesign Timeline Can Save Money

how-a-strict-office-redesign-timeline-can-save-money.jpgWhen it comes to planning an office redesign, the choice of materials, the need for specialists and licenses, and the overall scope of the project will impact cost. And so naturally, adjusting any of these variables will either increase or reduce the final price.

Categories
Office Furnishing Office Renovation

The 4 Major Furnishing-Related Mistakes During an Office Renovation

the-4-major-furnishing-related-mistakes-during-an-office-renovation.jpgAn office renovation should be a major milestone in your company’s history: one that establishes a new chapter, and represents progress, growth and evolution.

However, as with any other significant undertaking, there are potential pitfalls along the way that can turn an exciting undertaking, into an unpleasant ordeal. And one of the biggest sources of unexpected costs and frustration has to do with furnishings.

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