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Commonwealth Engineering: A Partnership in Design 

Commonwealth Engineering: A Partnership in Design 

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Design News, Interior Design, Workplace Design

r.o.i. Design works for a variety of architects and contractors who need interior design at a variety of levels. Robert Pomeroy, Senior Vice President and Principal of Fishbeck Architects and Engineers, reached out in 2021 during a reorganization of their interior design department and asked us to finish up three projects for them.  

“Finishing up” meant working with the architects and project managers to assist in delivering the project as designed. This included answering questions, working with vendors, reselections of materials for budget or lead time issues, responding to submittals, managing FFE (Fixture, Furniture, and Equipment) taking meetings, and overall holding the thread and integrity of the design. And, since this was during COVID when most of us were working remotely, it was especially challenging. 

One of those projects was Commonwealth Engineering in Jackson Michigan, which was completed in late 2022. This was a remodel of a historic bank into their corporate office. In this project, we worked closely with their facility manager and senior management in selecting furniture and furniture finishes along with coordination of construction details with Fishbeck. 

The first floor of this project has many mid-century features that Fishbeck’s designers embraced and complimented with metal, leather, and wood details along with beautiful architectural finishes. The lower-level houses meeting and conference spaces, one of which is in the old bank’s vault. 

Congratulations to Fishbeck and Commonwealth Engineering on a successful remodeling project. 

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Comfortable Seating: Our Expert Advice 

Comfortable Seating: Our Expert Advice 

by | Jan 26, 2023 | Design News

r.o.i. Design has been supplying clients with furnishings for more than 20 years and the need for comfort in seating is crucial, especially when you can’t test out the sit. 

Here are some helpful tips we have learned when shopping for comfortable seating. 

Upholstered Seating 

Something to look for in comfortable upholstered seating is the dimensions. The overall height plus the depth of the seat needs to total 38” to 40”. So, if the seat height is 19”, then the depth of the seat needs to be 19 to 21”. If the seat height is 20”, then the depth of the seat needs to be 18 to 20”.  

Some other items to consider are: 

  • An older person may need a taller seat height and less seat depth. Arms are essential for helping a person get themselves up out of the chair. 
  • A younger person is more likely to sit at a lower height but may need the option of a back cushion. 

In a commercial setting, it is important to use durable fabrics. Technology has come a long way and r.o.i. Design recommends using Crypton woven fabrics or vinyl-coated fabrics. We recommend no less than 30,000 double rubs (an industry standard of wearability), but we specify fabrics closer to 100,000 double rubs for our projects. 

Break Room Seating 

While most companies want their employees to be comfortable, don’t plan on break room seating to be used for more than 30 minutes at a time. 

  • Chairs with a poly shell that has some movement in the back improve comfort. 
  • An upholstered seat in a wipeable fabric is nice but take into consideration how it changes the seat height (see the note above on dimensions for upholstered seating). 
  • A chair with a metal sled base will be easier to move and more likely to keep its structure than a four-legged chair. 
  • Four-legged metal chairs are more stable when built with stringers (metal rods that go between the legs). 
  • Proper floor glides should be used based on flooring material to prevent damage to the floor. Most chairs are sold with hard vinyl or metal glides. 

We are continually informing our clients to help them make good decisions when purchasing commercial furnishings. Let us know how we can help you! 

 

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BDNY 2022

BDNY 2022

by | Dec 14, 2022 | Design News, Procurement and Purchasing

Scroll down to see photos from our visit. 

Boutique Design New York (BDNY) is the leading trade fair and conference for the hospitality industry’s boutique and lifestyle design community. 

This November,  r.o.i. Design attended the BDNY conference in New York looking for the latest ideas for the hospitality “touch” to share with our customers and include in our designs. 

We weren’t disappointed.  

This 24-hour excursion was a 12,000-step adventure with two red-eye flights. We met with our current furniture distributors, renewed the relationship with inactive furniture distributors, and created relationships with new furniture manufacturers. We saw the latest in wall finishes, wall décor, and decorative lighting. 

We are pleased that we already knew and are engaged with many of the manufacturers of finishes and furniture (thank you to our product representatives) and look forward to including our new learning in our designs going forward. 

Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge photos from our visit. 

Pantone Color of the Year 2023

Pantone Color of the Year 2023

by | Dec 14, 2022 | Design News, Interior Design

When it comes to the color of the year, there are a lot of experts and a variety of opinions. In September, we reported on Sherwin Williams’ Color of the Year, Redend Point SW9081. Benjamin Moore announced its choice for Color of the Year,  Raspberry Blush 2008-30 on October 12.  

Pantone, widely recognized as one of the authorities on color and color trends, recently announced its Color of the Year. For 2023, Pantone has chosen Viva Magenta 18-750, which it describes as “a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength.”

As interior designers, we recognize color trends and how they affect many industries, including fashion, industrial design, packaging, and interior design. These color trends announced by Pantone usually are seen first in the fashion industry. Each project we work on is unique, and color selections are based on many factors. We try not to let color trends dictate our design choices, but are aware of their influence on the entire industry. 

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images.

© All photos courtesy of Pantone USA

Built by Women- October 19, 2022 

Built by Women- October 19, 2022 

by | Oct 26, 2022 | Design News, Meeting and Conference

r.o.i. Design joined over 200 other participants attending this landmark event hosted by Fishbeck and sponsored by the Professional Women in Building Council (PWB), West Michigan Women in Architecture, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Western Michigan Chapter, National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) Group, and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) West Michigan. 

99% of the audience were women from all disciplines:  construction, architecture, engineering, mechanical services, design, and product representatives. We all recognized this was a “first of its kind” gathering and the organizers promised to make this an annual event. 

The keynote speaker was Katie Johnson, Treasurer of The House She Built and she passionately told us the story of how 4 leaders organized the effort to build a home in Utah with women-only builders, designers, and craftspeople.   

They researched the nation for female contractors (through social media and referrals) and folks came from across the nation to provide expertise and training in many categories of trades. Katie told stories about how these leaders and trade consultants became “family”.  

The outcome of the project was a home that was sold at top dollar and the developer that gave them the land bought the floor plan and specifications saying it was better than the project plans they had for the development. 

All the leaders donated their time, and much of the materials and subcontractors brought in their time at no cost, because everyone saw the goal of highlighting women as leaders in construction as an overdue spotlight.  

The Grand Rapids event proceeds were donated to West Michigan Construction Institute, which presented its goals and agenda, inviting the audience to continue to support its efforts. 

In addition to the building of a home, the effort caught the attention of Mollie Elkman and Georgia Castellano, and a children’s reader book, The House that She Built, was written and produced. While Katie was in town for the event, she visited Townline School and handed out these books to all the students.  

r.o.i. Design connected with so many companies we work with, meeting the women who make it all possible within those companies and we look forward to building on those relationships. 

Sherwin Williams announces their choice for Color of the Year 2023 

Sherwin Williams announces their choice for Color of the Year 2023 

by | Sep 28, 2022 | Design News, Interior Design

When it comes to the color of the year, there are a lot of experts and a variety of opinions. But Sherwin Williams announced Redend Point SW9081 as its choice for Color of the Year 2023.  

Their website says “Bring home the warmth and intrigue of Redend Point….This color is a soft neutral that is highly flexible and imparts a cozy warmth and natural earthiness to any space”. This color is a warm blend of rose and clay and is on track with the finishes we have seen at NeoCon and in the palettes of current product lines.  

Benjamin Moore will announce its choice for Color of the Year on October 12.  

Behr Paint has announced their choice of “Blank Canvas” DC-003, which looks like it sounds, warm white. 

If you would like to experiment with color, check out the Color Wheel at Canva and find your favorite color combination, and learn more about color theories. https://www.canva.com/colors/color-wheel/ 

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images.

© All photos courtesy of Sherwin Williams and Behr