Robinson Michael & Jackson, Maidstone

The brief:

Returning client, Robinson Michael & Jackson, came to MPL Interiors upon acquiring a new High Street premises in Maidstone. As part of a successful franchise network, the aesthetic needed to uphold the property brand’s corporate identity, while being set apart from other offices in the group. A sleek, industrial design was requested, pairing familiar elements with subtle colours and geographical markers. MPL was also asked to draw up plans to convert the upper floor for subletting purposes and to provide all new office furniture.

Our approach

Our site survey found the MPL team in a former charity shop. Lots of old internal cladding and partition walls made determining the true structure of the premises challenging, therefore a complete strip out was necessary. The client was fond of some industrial-style rails that were from the site’s previous incarnation, and these were to influence some of the finishing touches.

Detailed technical drawings were drawn up to facilitate a complete overhaul of the power, data, lighting, heating and cooling of the new office, followed by 2D space plans and mood boards. Our client was especially keen to collaborate on our 3D designs, with the digital aspect allowing key stakeholders to shape various iterations of the final look.

A fresh take on brand continuity

As its longstanding refurbishment partner, MPL was able to blend facets seen in other Robinson Jackson branches and give them a fresh spin in Maidstone. For example, the Karndean luxury vinyl flooring with hexagonal insets last seen in the Ebbsfleet office makes a reappearance in Maidstone, although the reception furniture is more streamlined and upholstered in pale blue.

Pendant lights are another recurring theme but this time they appear in industrial black, while the timber slats that are fixed horizontally in Ebbsfleet have rotated 90° to appear vertically in Maidstone, and this time in a lighter shade of grey.

Wonder walls

As with previous refurbishments for The Robinson Jackson Group, interest has been brought to walls with the use of colour and texture. The Maidstone office features two types of Dreamwall panelling – exposed brick and raw concrete - which work well with the timber detailing to achieve the client’s industrial request. Framed black and white photographs of the Maidstone locale help provide a link between the office and the community, while internally illuminated wall logos reinforce the brand.

One of the cleverest wall elements, however, is the floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall colour photo at the back of the premises. Despite MPL creating two meeting rooms in this space using stud and glass Crittall-style partitions – and the photo actually being two separate applications – the image appears as one seamless photo when arriving at the office.

Sign of the times

As well as an overcomplicated interior to strip back, the shop’s frontage was completely overhauled by MPL. We identified that two massive pillars either side of a central front door were purely aesthetic, so we successfully gained planning permission to remove these and install an unobstructed glass façade with side-set door instead. The exterior is finished with a trough fascia and projecting sign – both internally illuminated – with A2 and A3 cable-strung, LED display pockets.

Tailor-made

A number of bespoke elements help divide the space and increase functionality. A generous reception desk is set level with a storage unit featuring open shelves – delineating the public-facing area from the staff quarters. A complementary refreshment station houses a drinks fridge and a coffee machine, with sliding door storage keeping clutter out of view.

There’s also a ‘digital corner’ where the client’s fondness for the industrial-style rails was incorporated. A neat bar-style counter, perching stools, iPads and a magazine rack create a cosy nook, with an integrated power supply to prevent trailing wires.