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Accessorizing for Comfort and Fun 

Accessorizing for Comfort and Fun 

by | Jun 25, 2024 | Design News, Home Design, Hospitality Design, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Procurement and Purchasing

One of r.o.i. Design’s good clients asked for our help supplying furnishings and accessories for their company’s family condo. Located in the Downtown entertainment district of Grand Rapids, we saw this as an opportunity to meet their deadline and stay within their budget. 

We don’t often work on residential projects, but we have extensive experience designing hospitality environments for developers and owners.  

This project involved replacing most of the furniture and lighting. In addition, the art and accessories, including rugs, lamps, wall décor, and tabletop items were also replaced. 

We called on our favorite suppliers to find cost-effective items that could be sourced quickly. Our agreement included r.o.i. Design to hold items in our warehouse, and then delivery and installation in one or two visits. The goal was to make it as painless as possible for clients but look fantastic! 

The transformation took the condo from a formal-looking space to a comfortable family space.  This allowed our client to conveniently share sports events, concerts, art openings, and great restaurants with business and personal friends from near and far. 

Some of our favorite items included the new dining room table and chairs, chandelier, “boho” art, and new hallway lighting. 

    Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge images.

      How Design Impacts Hiring and Retention

      How Design Impacts Hiring and Retention

      by | May 29, 2024 | Design News, Workplace Design

      r.o.i. Design responded to a call from a mid-size manufacturer who asked, “Can you help us make our Core Values more prominent in our facility?” They thought it would help them during their interview process as well as engaging existing employees.

      This group had just undergone an office remodel and while things were “fresh”, they felt they weren’t communicating their purpose to employees, future employees, and customers. “We want employees to know they are coming to work not just to make parts, but their actions and leadership’s actions are part of a larger mission. They are impacting the lives of our customers and creating positive change.”

      This group wants everything about their space to reflect who they are, and they realize that it is more than words and posters. Making their “brand” important impacts more than the hiring and retaining of employees.

      This notion is supported by business leaders, as cited in the article “Importance of Interior Design to Grow your Business” written by Ideagram for LinkedIn.

      “Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future.”  — Robert L. Peters. Interior design is an opportunity to reflect your brand identity. Your physical space should align with your company’s values and vision. (1.)

      “Design is the last great competitive advantage.” — Seth Godin. A thoughtfully designed interior has the potential to enhance the overall customer experience and set you apart from the competition.

       “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” — Steve Jobs. A well-designed interior can enhance the functionality of your space. Through thoughtful layout planning and efficient use of space, you can optimize workflow and improve productivity.

      A master plan for branding design can be created thoughtfully and rolled out over time as budget and buy-in allow. For our mid-size manufacturer, the process had to start with leadership, making sure they were all on board to make communicating the brand a high priority. A priority worth the investment in design.

        © Photos Credit: Stewart Signs.

          Hudsonville Vision Care Upgrades Its Patient Experience

          Hudsonville Vision Care Upgrades Its Patient Experience

          by | May 29, 2024 | Interior Design, Lighting Design, Medical Design, Workplace Design

          Doctors Walt and Gammage joined Hudsonville Vision Care in the 1980’s and are preparing for the next generation of leadership, which has already started with Dr. Wustman, who joined in 2017. Subsequently, this meant enhancing the interior, with expanded offices and exam rooms, and new finishes throughout.

          Keeping the family-friendly focus, Hudsonville Vision Care improved the reception and waiting areas, expanded the eyeglass showroom, and made the testing area more efficient and modern with new technology.

          Those returning to the space might say the biggest change is the increase in light. Lighter wall colors, better LED lighting, and a lower ceiling section over the selections area. All the eyeglass displays are new with interior lighting to showcase the frames even more.

          Keeping things neutral, they added interest by adding wood to the back wall, and stone accented by shiplap to the reception desk. The frames display has wood storage, but light frames with maximum mirroring.

          Additionally, they added offices so the front desk and the basement were relieved of administrative work. The administration is closely positioned near the doctor’s offices for improved communication.

          For more about Hudsonville Vision Care see: www.hudsonvillevisioncare.com

            © Photos Courtesy of First Companies, Inc.

             For more of our medical projects click here. 

              Beacon Hill Creates New Breakroom Space for Employees

              Beacon Hill Creates New Breakroom Space for Employees

              by | May 29, 2024 | Interior Design, Procurement and Purchasing, Workplace Design

              Working with seniors, whether independent or needing special care, requires a caring staff. That staff also needs care and nurturing, and sometimes just a quiet place to take a break.

              Beacon Hill at Eastgate focuses on creating a culture that supports its hard-working team. To that end, they are investing in creating new breakrooms that offer comfort and restful aesthetics.

              The first breakroom was converted from an older, unused breakroom being used as a storage space. Since it had an existing kitchenette, the rough plumbing was already in place. The room needed new finishes, new lighting, and a new layout.

              Beacon Hill started as Michigan Christian Home in the 1950s. The facility has grown over time and changed ownership. Beacon Hill was established in 2010 to become five buildings; memory care, and nursing care with more than eight dining rooms and restaurants, a chapel, exercise, theater, and game rooms. The buildings have been modernized as needs have grown. The most recent apartment building, “The Vistas” set the stage for a contemporary hospitality look and feel that leadership wants for all spaces going forward.

              This breakroom features restaurant-style tables, booth seating, and lounge soft seating, procured by r.o.i. Design. Light levels vary from very bright to soft lighting to accommodate a variety of uses. New flooring such as luxury vinyl planks in the eating area and carpet in the lounge area were installed. The room got all new paint, graphic wallpaper, cabinets, and appliances, creating a non-traditional breakroom.

              r.o.i. Design looks forward to sharing more with its readers on upgrades to Beacon Hill at Eastgate. For more about Beacon Hill, please visit: beaconhillgr.org.

               

              Click on thumbnails below to view larger images.

              How to Make Your Property Rise Above the Competition

              How to Make Your Property Rise Above the Competition

              by | May 3, 2024 | Procurement and Purchasing

              Utilizing contract purchasing to provide FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment, or another version is FF&A, Furniture, Fixtures and Accessories) is not only convenient but creates value.

              While not a permanent part of the building structure, they do add value both financially and aesthetically. The FF&A selection and procurement process is typically not included in most architectural services but is handled outside of architecture in the interior design process. This final stage of selection and procurement of the items that complete the space is one of the services offered by r.o.ii Design.

              Especially for multi-family housing, a strategic design plan that includes furnishings and accessories will provide years of return on investment.

              While multi-family housing (apartments, student housing, vacation rentals, and senior living properties) are residential communities, they require the function and durability required of a commercial environment with the aesthetics of residential design.

                When making design decisions, there are several things to consider.

                 

                      • The budget for a furnishings package varies based on the level of finishes, the quantity of accessories, the quality of the artwork, and the related costs in design, coordination, storage, and setup.
                      • The demographics of the target residents impact the choices made in location, laying out the physical space, lighting, and amenities, can all influence the overall design.
                      • Strategic use of color and texture combine to create an inviting and comfortable space to gather. Elevated amenities and spaces that promote social gatherings and interactions are desirable in today’s market.
                      • Marketability attracts prospective residents.
                      • Good interior design can help your property:
                        • Stand out in competitive market
                        • Attract tenants
                        • Maintain high occupancy
                        • Increased functionality and durability; reduced wear and maintenance cost
                        • Positively impact the bottom line

                In the multi-family real estate market, the value of aesthetics sets one property apart from another. Balancing the aesthetic needs of a diverse tenant demographic requires a specialized knowledgeable team.

                Contact us to set up a consultation to see how we can help you maximize your budget and stand out in a competitive market. Rondageyer@roidesign.com or call (616) 272-5302.