hong kong renovation

Coworking Space and Office Renovation for Startups

In the market for office renovation for startups, shared office space (named coworking space) can sometimes be the key to economical and innovative work environment in the entrepreneur’s office. What are the keys to designing successful coworking space? One company answers three questions in their designs.

“How can the design of a space encourage collaboration and innovation?”
“How is the community mapped and visually represented in the space?”
“How can the design of space promote autonomous behavior from its members?”

Not only does the space have to work for a single entrepreneur, it needs to be functional for a group of entrepreneurs working for different startups. One of the keys to adapting to the needs of the employees is to allow an ever-evolving room for change in the space.

The key in coworking design is to build office space that influences behavior. To encourage collaboration among workers, sometimes the space can be divided into work areas by merely adapting lighting and heights of ceilings to form ‘rooms’ in an open area. Innovation can be encouraged by the changeable nature of the space. For instance, one group might use a white wall as a projection screen, while another might want to post graphics on a wall. Making the space ones own and innovating within the office environment can encourage creativity and establish ownership of space.

In conclusion, the most important key in coworking space is that entrepreneurs need to adapt space to their own needs. While design is important to forming certain positive behavior trends in an office, the state of constant flux itself enables an innovative work environment. According to the same design team,

…Openness provides room for members to take control of shaping and hosting their environment which in turn helps to engender a more collaborative and sharing culture within the space.

For more information on office design for startups, contact us.

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Designing the Office Renovation for Startups

When engaging in office renovation for startups, different factors come in to play than in other fields of design. Not only does the startup sector come with different needs in office space, it also demands an entirely different business model. Success in this sector relies on meeting demands in both of these area. According to one design company,

“The industry standard is to take almost every client over budget … (our) whole idea is that when you’re not working on commission, your incentive is to get the best deal for your client.”

A pricing model that lets businesses know what they are paying for and holds to a contract’s time and rate guarantees presents an attractive option for startups. Because their design space can be so novel, a transparent contract becomes almost necessary to acquiring startup business.

The design for a startup can be almost oppositional to a traditional work space. Often times, designs try to mimic a home-like environment in order to encourage employees to spend as much time at work as possible. This doesn’t necessarily focus on the traditional types of work space such as desks and office units, instead incorporating relaxing environments. It’s not atypical to see a design incorporate couches, rest space, and music rooms into the structure of an office.

In terms of work space, designs usually take into account the group work nature of the modern startup. Meeting and breakout rooms form the bones of the office, but can also be accompanied by large living-type rooms and drink bars for socializing. The latest craze is inserting hidden rooms behind bookcases or closets for resting.

In the competition for the most qualified employees, office design can swing the weight in the favor of ‘cool’ office space. Combined with a straightforward pricing model, design companies have the key to recruiting the modern startup.

To learn more about designing for startups, contact us.

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Eco-Friendly Interior Design: Tips & Tricks Before You Meet with a Green Designer!

Eco-friendly, also known as “green,” interior design is an emerging interior design trend that takes the environmental impact of the redesign into account. As more people become conscious of their so-called “carbon footprint,” eco-friendly/green design is becoming more popular. So, what are some things you should keep in mind before you meet with your green interior designer?

Think of some things you can “upcycle,” or re-use in a different way. For example, do you want your interior designer to redesign your couch? Some cotton fabric processes can be toxic, so if you have an old set of curtains that could be put to good use, turn them over to your interior designer to have them re-dyed and re-hemmed to fit the couch!
Your floor will, most likely, be the first thing that has to get an overhaul. This is especially true if you have carpeting, which is a harbinger for diseases and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Some “green” flooring options include, but are not limited to, reclaimed wood, bamboo, and cork. You can also get an area rug for these new floors made of hemp or wool, which is much more environmentally friendly than wall-to-wall cotton carpeting.
Whenever possible, shop locally. Even though you may think you’re paying more for local materials, the reality is, you’re saving money — and the planet — by not paying for transportation costs, such as fuel and oil.

openUU is an interdisciplinary design studio founded in 2011. We encourage people to create within our unique space, and we can even integrate “green design” into the space that works for you. For more information about us and our services, contact us today.

OPENUU In Blog, Renovation Resources

Revolutionize Your Bathroom Renovation

Your bathroom renovation should be as essential as any other area of your living space. You will discover that there are particulars you may not have considered, yet will make substantial differences.

Toilet

The traditional seat height has been 15 inches until a few years ago. Now, the trendy “comfort height” of 17-19 inches is all the talk about toilets. You do not have to conform to trends, do what is comfortable for you. The same goes with oblong seats vs round seats. Take into consideration that oblong will take up more space, and are generally a little more in price. For additional information, glance over this quick about home article that reviews what to take into account while toilet shopping.

To Tile or Not to Tile…

Tiling is a great investment that lends itself to creativity with no boundaries. When it comes to the specifics of what sort of tile to use, what size tile to use or how to interchange multiple styles and sizes, you can use a few different resources. Browsing the web is always a convenient resource, such as Daletile’s visualizer, which includes various unique layouts to play with. But going to your local remodeling stores or consulting with an interior designer will prove more useful. Your remodeling stores will have displays that incorporate combinations that can assist with ideas you already have. You can also get an idea of the textures, durability and the endless styles and colors.

If cost is getting away from you, discuss options with the retailer. Incorporating larger tile into the project can be more cost efficient, while still accenting with more detailed trims or backsplashes. If you feel the need to get a glimpse now, here’s an article that explores floor-to-ceiling tile looks, with a few tips and suggestions.

Repurpose?

If the vanity is part of the renovation, consider whether you can repurpose it. This will save on cost and allow finances to be distributed elsewhere. This can depend on how you are showcasing your renovation, in essence to how much of a “wow” factor the bathroom tends to be. If you have an interior designer and carpenter, discuss this option with them. A carpenter can fix up or add onto an existing vanity, or make a new one.

Light it Up!

Lighting is everything, everywhere you go! It sets a mood, it provides for functionality and it adds to design and cohesiveness of the area. Take advantage of any natural light you can utilize, but also “layer” lighting. Lumens has some quick technicality lighting suggestions, while HGTV provides “13 Dreamy Bathroom Lighting Ideas.” Lighting options are extensive, with prices starting at under $100 at larger retailers such as Lowes, and ranging through the hundreds and thousands for more sophisticated and original styles. Again, consult with an interior designer to get the most out of your lighting needs, while still staying creative.

Discover the look you desire, in addition to the functionality you have room for and strive for. The assistance of our professional interior designers can ultimately provide you with the most cost-effective approach while getting what you want out of your renovation. Contact us today to maximize your space and budget.

OPENUU In Blog, Renovation Resources

Bathroom Renovations: What You Should Consider When Getting Started

If you’re a business owner, or looking to upgrade your residential space, a bathroom renovation can be an involved–but highly necessary–project. With some prep work, a quick checklist, and an understanding of the time and money this will truly take, you’ll be able to plan and update your bathrooms in the way you want!

For homeowners, the average budget for bathroom renovations in 2015 was just over $9,000. The high-end spend was around $20,000 (be aware that for a large, extensive bathroom upgrade, especially for a commercial space, this number could rise even higher). As a rough estimate for your needs, you can begin with $175 to $225 per square foot, as approximated by a principal at Collaborative Design Architects. With these calculations, note that if you plan to be very thrifty and save, your cost may run closer to $100 per square foot–and if you plan to replace counters, floors, tub, and more with extremely high-end materials (the works), you could be looking at over $300 per square foot.

Compare these numbers to your project’s size and scope, and estimate from there to begin to develop a budget.

For time frame, you should be aware that bathroom remodels can take anywhere from one week (for a fast, efficient, and round-the-clock team) to six weeks. This will depend on your contractor and your efficiency in getting set up, so determine what factors you’ll be working with in your situation to assess.

As you go further, think through the details that will make differences for your time and budget:

Materials. Your budget will greatly depend on the materials you use. If you’re going for a luxury look, natural materials for walls and counters, like granite, marble, or teak will impress, but may run your expenses up. For a budget-friendly option, look to materials like laminate for your countertops, to upgrade lightly.

Contractors. Before you choose a contractor, be sure to know your options and do your research; carefully check your contractor’s references to be sure you’ll be getting the best return on your investment. Talk to at least three different contractors to assess a baseline budget, and to see where each falls. Consider, also, the flexibility of your contractor. Will he or she be able to work the hours you need in order to finish your renovation on time? Are you more flexible, and able to work with a longer timeline if it means a smaller budget?

If you plan ahead and know what your non-negotiables are–and what you can be open on–you’ll have the bathroom upgrade of your dreams in a smooth, simpler process. For more information on renovations and redesigns, contact us today.

OPENUU In Blog, Renovation Resources

Transforming a Warehouse Into a Retail Space With Clever Design

Transforming warehouses into homes has long been a trendy choice in urban markets like New York and Chicago. But cutting edge interior designers with an eye for architecture have recently been developing these warehouses into exciting and edgy retail spaces.

In a competitive market, industrial redevelopment turns abandoned eyesores into useful properties. Warehouses are often attractive to retailers with their “proximity to major transportation hubs and thoroughfares, high parking ratios, architectural interest, potential for open-plan layouts, and high ceilings. Industrial sites also usually are near water lines, sewage systems, roads, and utility lines.” Upgrading these spaces with clever design that utilizes the unique lines of the space provides a quality, low rent solution for growing businesses.

The creative possibilities of abandoned warehouses are infinite. Furniture retailer Hunt & Gather moved their showroom/gallery into a renovated warehouse to meet the needs of a younger, creative customer base. With the new open floor plan, Hunt & Gather can highlight the unique design of their wide variety of pieces. Taking warehouse design in a completely different direction, urban farmers are using industrial properties to provide green solutions to city spaces. Creative thinking allowed farmers to redesign warehouse spaces to grow plants indoors and control environmental factors like pesticides and climate change.

While an innovative solution, transforming warehouse spaces requires a professional team. Hiring an interior designer with experience in industrial design allows you to transform the unique features of the space from exposed pipes to vintage furniture to create the perfect look for your retail space while remaining safe and following established building codes. Contact openUU to brainstorm ideas for help designing the perfect industrial space for your company’s needs.

OPENUU In Blog, Renovation Resources

4 Ways Office Design Can Increase Productivity

Whether you’re starting from scratch or refurbishing your current office, creating a professional, functional and comfortable space will project the right image to your clients and increase overall productivity.

Studies show that comfort and productivity are interrelated, and most experts agree that almost every office can benefit from a few changes in layout and organization. Consider some of the following ways you can improve the comfort level of your office to increase the productivity of the staff.

Create a comfortable environment

Strive to make your office a healthy and comfortable workplace. Use ergonomic furniture and accessories, proper lighting, and a functional design to minimize discomfort and distraction and help you and your employees work more productively.

Encourage employees to customize their workstations with accessories that help them work comfortably – keyboard trays, anti-glare screens, task lighting and footrests – and to adjust their chairs to the proper height and angle. You can even hire an ergonomic expert to consult with each worker individually. A quick evaluation will determine what each employee needs to do to avoid repetitive-stress injuries.

Improve your layout

Take a look at where employees sit and the location of the office equipment. Consider ways to improve the overall flow of your office. Put printers, fax machines and other shared equipment in areas that are easy to access, and seat work teams or departments together in shared areas or cubicles. Try to open spaces and align desks, so it’s easy to move around the office.

Use mobile furniture

Adjustable and mobile furniture is a good option for growing businesses with limited space; you can easily reconfigure cubicles and workstations and rearrange your office to accommodate growth, partition departments, or separate equipment areas and other noisy parts of the office.

Control noise levels

Consider using panel systems, carpeting, and ceiling tiles to absorb sound and provide privacy. To reduce auditory distractions, put fax machines, copiers and other noisy office equipment in a separate area surrounded by cubicle walls or partition walls. Try to keep nosier employees, such as customer service representatives or salespeople, who spend a lot of time on the phone, away from those who require quiet work spaces.

If you need help with any aspect of office design or layout, consult a professional. They can help you select furniture and assist you with space planning, lighting, interior construction, fire and building codes, and other office design issues.

OPENUU In Blog, Renovation Resources

Reasons to Hire an Interior Designer to Help Design Your Restaurant

As a budding young chef you have worked hard to make it to the top. As you go to open your new restaurant you have carefully considered each item on your menu to make sure it is crafted to your exacting standards of quality and taste. But have you spent the same amount of time considering the design of your new restaurant?

Why Design Matters

The famous Ohio State University study confirmed restaurateurs worst fears when it reported that 60% of restaurants fail within the first year and a dramatic 80% fail within five. While naturally it is important to produce food of the highest caliber, it is equally important to provide a setting that encourages people to stay, socialize, and eat in your one of a kind space. A recent study published by the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management on why restaurant fail lists decor as a key reason many new businesses fold. The study concluded that design failures directly contributed to a competitive and economic loss. Many restaurateurs are not equipped to design for a specific space and “architectural limitations were found to be one of the major factors in restaurant failures especially in urban settings, and some of the architectural limitations in restaurants have even resulted in the greater failure of the business.”

How Hiring a Designer Can Help Your Restaurant Stay Competitive

As the study shows, restaurateurs need to be aware of the specific benefits and limitations of the space they have acquired for their new restaurant. By hiring an interior designerwith the ability to utilize the architectural elements of your space, you can maximize your competitive edge with a restaurant that combines excellent food with a dynamic design. Architectural Digests agrees that a beautiful design can sell a restaurant in their article on the 10 Most Beautifully Designed New Restaurants. Entrepreneur Magazine also offers some Low-Cost Ideas for restauranteurs looking to plan a design on a budget.

If you are looking for an innovative designer to help make your one of a kind restaurant a success, contact openUU.

OPENUU In Blog, Renovation Resources

Top Renovation Tips For Your Commercial Space

Whether you just want to freshen up your office space or you’re going for an all-over renovation, there’s no getting around the messy and time-consuming nature of an office renovation. Here are our top renovation tips to help make this as short and easy a process as possible so you can get back to work… in style:

Think long term

How you need to use your office space now might change in a year or two if you’re planning on expanding your business. Before you start renovating, make sure you know what your five-year plan is for the business so you can make renovations accordingly. You don’t want to go through this process more often than you need to so work with your designer to develop a renovation plan that will allow your business to grow. Introducing smart storage solutions is one way to make sure your business doesn’t outgrow your space or your renovation.

Think about your employees

You might be making the final decisions about paint and carpeting, but consider how you want your employees to work when you start your renovation project. Adding in ergonomic and/or standing work stations in offices can help your employees by reducing the strain on their bodies that can come from desk work. As the research keeps rolling in on the negative aspects of a sedentary work style, more and more employees are searching for ways to work while walking or standing. Be proactive now in order to keep top talent working for you and boost their productivity.

Go light

In general, light colors are more conducive for work spaces, but don’t go too crazy with the coloring. Neutral colors along with windows that let in natural light give offices an inviting feeling in contrast to dark colors that tend to bring down productivity.

Natural lighting

Along with keeping your paint and furniture light, make sure to incorporate natural light in your office. It’s no secret that people generally don’t appreciate the look of fluorescent lights, but research has concluded that natural light really does help people work better. A study from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign concluded that employees who were exposed to natural light in offices overall had a better quality of life than those who were not. These improvements include “longer sleep duration, better sleep quality, more physical activity and better quality of life compared to office workers with less light exposure in the workplace.” Incorporate windows and/or skylights into your design to help your employees and to make your commercial space a brighter and healthier place.

Think about the benefits

Adding up the cost of money and time for the renovation might have you start second-guessing the project, but remember that there are a lot of benefits to renovating your office space. Customers and clients will appreciate your updated look, especially if your current space is sporting old trends. In addition, updating your windows, lighting, even your faucets can save your company a lot of energy usage, which translates to a significant amount of money saved over the long haul. In addition, your employees will be happier and more productive in an updated, contemporary space, which will translate to a boost in business.

Working with a designer is the best way to make sure your office renovation will serve your business now and in the future. For more ideas on how to renovate your commercial space, contact us today.

OPENUU In Blog, Renovation Resources

5 Great Reasons to Hire a Professional Interior Designer

blog-reasons-to-hire-professional-interior-designer

When it is time to think about giving your professional space a facelift, it is a good idea to employ strategies that have worked in other aspects of your business. For instance, when you need a good accountant, you do not hesitate to find one that understands your business needs and can meet those needs successfully. When you need an executive assistant, you carefully consider the qualified candidates and choose one that matches your goals and objectives. When you choose to renovate, the same principle applies.

A good interior designer can do much to make your renovation a smooth and pleasant journey. Here are five great reasons to hire an interior designer.

1) A professional interior designer can save you a great deal of money.

While some think that hiring a designer will be cost-prohibitive, often the reverse is true. A designer with a good working knowledge of structural matters as well as aesthetic concerns will be able to steer you away from costly mistakes in the renovation process, thereby saving you both time and money. And with additional money to spend, you can achieve more of the look that your professional space deserves.

2) A professional interior designer will use a trained eye.

What does that mean, exactly? A designer has been trained to recognize what is right and what is wrong with your space. Often, a designer can make suggestions that you may have never imagined to maximize the potential of your space. Are you interested in a more traditional office space with individual partitions, or are you thinking of a more open design? If you are having trouble deciding what will work best for your business, a designer will discuss how your enterprise works and make suggestions that will help you achieve your goals. Designers are often experts at “thinking outside the box”, thereby making your space unique and wow-worthy.

3) A professional designer will know people.

As you know with your own business, there is much value in having good, dependable contacts. The same is true for designers. Often a professional designer knows a variety of people you will need as work commences on your project. This will save you both time and money, as you will not have to find reliable carpenters, painters, plumbers, and other workers in the building trades without expert advice. And with solid workmen supporting the professional design at every step, the finished product will meet or exceed your expectations.

4) A professional designer can help you budget and plan your renovation well.

With the knowledge of standard costs for various aspects of a renovation, the designer can work with you to find the best resources available for your needs. Taking the guesswork out of your projected budget is a real bonus for you, as it alleviates anxiety regarding the renovation process. Often, your designer can suggest upgrades that will enhance the value of your space considerably, while still keeping an eye on making you and your employees comfortable.

5) A professional designer can help you plan and visualize your space.

You inhabit your office space for hours every day and are accustomed to the way things are arranged there. Sometimes, when you think about renovation, it may be difficult to truly visualize what changes can be made to bring your space back to life. A good designer can see things with a fresh perspective, offering ideas on a wide variety of design options that will get your creative juices flowing again. Then, once you have a clear picture of where you want to go with the project, the designer can ensure that your vision is honored throughout every step of the process.

These are just a few of the benefits of working with a professional designer. To learn more, please contact us. We will be happy to show you how we can benefit your project today.

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