Artful turn-key design

Premium finishes and designs with broad appeal

The project

Catherine Birch of Birch Freeman Design and Nikki Rees of Nikki Rees Interior Design were engaged to design two turn-key offices on King William Street. The sixth-floor commercial spaces, situated prominently along the Monument Station walkway, were earmarked as an ideal central London location suitable for any business.

The challenge

Understanding that there were no specific incoming tenants to design for was crucial to Catherine and Nikki’s approach to the brief. “It was important to create an interior that would appeal to a wide range of future clients without appearing bland and overly neutral,” explained Catherine.

The solution

Having known each other for 25 years, Catherine and Nikki combined their shared love of texture and colour to collaborate and develop a design befitting the building’s premier location. Across both spaces’ flowing, open-plan layout, they combined a light, modern colour palette with rich, premium finishes to create thoughtful points of interest.

In the reception areas, Catherine and Nikki selected a lacquered joinery framework and complementary Autex Acoustics® Groove panels. Available in over 20 colours with a selection of suggested and bespoke design options, the team opted for a fluted Groove style in Parthenon, a natural earthy fawn tone.

The result

As well as improving the zone’s acoustic comfort, the Groove panels, when combined with the joinery, created a soft, feature wall effect. “The moulding helped to give the Groove panels an art installation quality, “shared Catherine. “Groove’s depth and softness created a warm and inviting first impression of the spaces whilst maintaining a subtlety.”

Leveraging their design expertise, Catherine and Nikki effortlessly shaped two blank canvases into welcoming spaces equipped to host a variety of occupants. “The spaces were snapped up quickly by incoming tenants, which made for a very satisfied client,” said Catherine on the project’s success.