Douglas & Simmons, Wantage

The brief

MPL Interiors was brought in to execute an office fit-out in a former paint shop in Wantage, Oxfordshire, for estate agent Douglas & Simmons. The client wanted a contemporary front-of-house and a more quirky back office.

Our approach

The shop was already divided into two halves, with separates entrances and an internal dividing wall, plus the floor plan and structural elements were almost a mirror image of each other. MPL Interiors used the existing boundaries to create two offices for one business - sales and lettings.

Different but the same

One of the biggest jobs was to distinguish the two divisions while reinforcing the Douglas & Simmons company branding. So not to compromise its corporate identity design, MPL chose to keep the client’s strong shade of cobalt blue as the overriding colour in the front half of both offices, marking out sales and lettings with accent colours (light blue for sales and orange for lettings). This colour variation can be seen on the vinyl window decals, occasional arm chairs and scatter cushions are either.

When country lodge meet corporate

The back offices take on a country lodge feel, again with two separate areas for sales and lettings. The colour palate changes from white and blue to grey, with on-trend split face wood-block feature walls, original Victorian fireplaces and occasional furniture. MPL also made an arch opening at the rear of the office so staff could freely move between the two divisions.

Additional aspects

Other details in this refurbishment include back-lit LED windows displays, two Samsung digital display screens, bespoke office desks with Douglas & Simmons personalisation, and a customised dividing wall built out just enough to create a shallow shelf, on which sit 3D letters with added feature lighting.

MPL Interiors’ remit also included the full refurbishment of a meeting room, fitted with bespoke office seating and decorated with digitally printed wallpaper. The exterior paintwork, cloakrooms, kitchen and storage area were also given an overhaul, with an air conditioning system and new lighting installed to complete the project.