Graham & Co, Winchester

The brief:

Our client gave us a simple yet strong message ‘we don’t want our estate agency to feel like a standard office.’ The brand’s arrival in Winchester was its third office opening, occupying a former clothing boutique. The bones of this two-floor premises were sound, therefore there was a request to keep as much of the original structure as possible.

Our approach:

As you would expect from a cathedral city oozing with Georgian and Tudor buildings, this project required a sensitive approach. What started as a modest redecoration project soon became a full interior design job, with deepening conversations between MPL and the client.

Colour but with class

The Graham & Co brand identity has been firmly rooted in red and yellow since its inception but with the client’s brief and the heritage location, Winchester called for a design departure.

Dashes of the client’s corporate colours have been applied to upholstered items but in more muted tones. A burnt orange-red and a golden ochre keep the agent bonded to its brand but they lend the space a more sophisticated edge. These two shades are joined by a sugared plum and coastal blue, seen across office chairs, foot stools and accent chairs.

Wall details

The office walls have been painted in a soft cream and a dark grey inspired by Farrow & Ball’s classic Down Pipe – a canvass to which elegant embellishments have been applied. Decorative mouldings affixed to the walls introduce the Georgian elegance seen across Winchester, also serving to infuse the space with a refined, homely feel. There’s also slimline wall sconce lights in antique brass for an ambient light that highlights the wall details.

Projecting a new image

This office shop front was a departure from Graham & Co’s usual primary red fascias. Several different shop front iterations were provided to the client, easing them away from overt branding to a more understated look.

The shopfront now sports a chic Down Pipe-inspired coat of charcoal grey paint ,with Graham & Co’s corporate colours in the ampersand element. Finishing touches include cable-mounted, double-sided display pockets and an opening hours decal on the front door. The aesthetic is striking but in keeping with its neighbours and respectful of the Conservation Area.

The fresh take on period classics extends to the floor, with the original solid oak panels stripped back, repaired and revarnished. A modern chandelier in the waiting area also brings a ‘best of both’ approach – an antique brass finish with opaque, spherical shades but in a contemporary spiral design.

Furniture that’s new but old

While the choice of furniture upholstery colourways was very deliberate, so was the style and form of each item. Instead of a full suite of ‘matchy matchy’ coffee tables, chairs and sofas, an eclectic furniture feel was preferred. This gives the impression the furniture has been collected and carefully curated over time. A bespoke desk cluster was required to the rear of the office, built around a structural column and in proportion to the space.

Additional elements

Our work for Graham & Co in Winchester also included the full redecoration of an open plan manager’s office on the first floor, all-new LED ceiling spotlights, LED wall-mounted display pockets and the installation of panel-style electric radiators.