Sawyer & Co, Hove

The brief:

The owner of Sawyer & Co came to MPL looking for a complete office refurbishment, having grown tired of its current incarnation. The agency also wanted to make better use of its space, with a request to replan the layout in the rear portion of the premises.

Our approach:

As a wholesale change of aesthetic was required, MPL’s first job was to strip out the office’s existing elements, including the old flooring, lighting, cloakrooms and kitchen.

Once all the previous elements were removed, MPL was able to appreciate the space in all its glory – double height ceilings, oversized sash windows and a number of original mouldings all typical of buildings in this Brighton & Hove Conservation Area.

It was clear that the previous interior design scheme – dark furniture and dark floor coverings – was absorbing huge amounts of natural light, despite this office’s corner position and expanses of glazing.

Lighten up

MPL’s new specification would remedy that. A new blank canvas was created, with freshly painted walls, ceilings, plasterwork and woodwork in a soft white. New skirting boards in a complementary period style replaced the outgoing damaged version and radiators were colour matched to the walls so they blend into the background.

The ambience was kept light thanks to a carefully curated full furniture pack, chosen and installed by MPL. White was the predominant specification colour, with a new white reception desk with vinyl logo decal; a white coffee table in the waiting area; two, white, 6-person bench desks; white general desks and white storage units.

The sofa set in the reception area is upholstered in pale grey to continue the light theme and the previous charcoal grey carpets have been replaced with Karndean herringbone vinyl tiles and an oatmeal coloured carpet.

Different ways with walls

While the white backdrop and natural light keep this office bright and airy, the lofty proportions allowed MPL to add character via the walls. The two sections of the office – a public-facing front of house and a rear, private quarter – have recurring themes. A bold botanical print wallpaper, brick slip-style panelling and timber slats bring a naturalist quality to the spaces, complemented by a halo-illuminated wall logo, olive-coloured upholstered meeting room chairs and real house plants.

Back office reborn

As requested by the client, the rear office was reconfigured, transitioning from an awkward space into a series of more usable areas. New stud walls and Crittall glass partitions, together with the relocation of one of the cloakrooms, allowed MPL to create a new eight-person meeting room, a three-person private office, a storage room, and a new kitchen with a peninsula counter with under counter storage and space for bar stools.

Additional elements

This project also involved the installation of a new air conditioning system, new power/data supply and distribution, waste disposal, a wall-mounted 60” screen, frosted vinyl to the storeroom window and A3 landscape LED, cable-strung light pockets to create new window displays.