Collaborating on Furniture Design
For r.o.i. Design, furniture is integral to the design. Quite often we have the opportunity to work with our customers in selecting and designing the furniture and furnishings in their space. This is important to us because it elevates the design to a very personal level, where people are touching, sitting, and experiencing the design in visceral ways.
When we have spent the effort to help a professional service client create a welcoming, branded feel in their interior, sometimes it requires a non-typical office furniture solution.
When we have worked diligently to create a restaurant, lobby, or corporate space that wants to look like a hip restaurant, the furniture may not be able to be compiled from standard options. Thus, we have provided specialty services around furnishings for our customers.
We have also designed procurement programs for developers, working directly with manufacturers to be able to design, select, purchase, and deliver common area furnishings for multi-family facilities.
Furniture has a functional and aesthetic responsibility in commercial interiors and planning for appropriate furnishings take intention and focus.
The last layer of interior design includes wall art and r.o.i. Design has learned planning for meaningful wall décor has incredible influence on how the space impacts employees, customers, and guests.
It is an opportunity to support a company’s brand, communicate values and goals, as well as add aesthetic interest.
For Wolverine Power Cooperative in Cadillac, Michigan we worked with them to create an assemblage of their customer logos using a cable system to suspend the logos. This brought a sense of pride to staff and board members as they passed by. In the same project, we created a custom wood “service map”, that outlined where they provided power; but the map was interesting as “art” in addition to telling a story. They also asked us to help them create a “word wall” using words that describe how they want to be perceived. We created a graphic and then had it printed on vinyl wallcovering.
For multi-family developer Eagle Point Properties, they like the common areas of their projects to have photos and imagery that represents the location of the residences. For downtown Grand Rapids we found historic photos of landmarks and purchased the rights to print those photos. For their project in Virginia, close to Washington D.C., we featured the architecture and landscapes that describe this region, rich in American history.
Hutchinson North America built 616 FAB House in Grand Rapids in 2016. This space serves as a gathering and meeting space but is surrounded by displays and imagery that demonstrates their tradition of innovation. Working with them and their Paris, France associates, we selected historic images and arranged them throughout the space similar to a museum exhibit. In the same space, were close up details of machinery and operations of the past alongside robotic demonstrations of current technology.
Wall art and décor can be personal, and any effort we made to create custom wall art programs have resulted in positive “returns”.
Dr. Brent Medema’s attention to detail isn’t only focused on his patients’ teeth. He appreciates design, and as an owner of a downtown condo, wanted his new dental office to reflect his urban modern style.
r.o.i. Design was introduced to Medema Endodontics through First Companies. They engaged us to design the interior of this space, which they then built-out and delivered in 2018. From that introduction we found a client who was interested in every aspect of the design, scrutinizing finishes and decisions, resulting in a wonderful product. We’d like to recognize Jordan Irish, First Companies Project Manager who was attentive to design details and customer requests.
The clean look supports the surgical nature of the practice but isn’t so clinical that it ignores patient comforts. Dr. Brent made sure there were wall art and furnishings that appealed to his patients and helped create a welcoming feeling.
Our favorite details of the design include the lobby and reception ceiling and lighting details, the exam room corridor wall, ceiling accent insets, as well as the overall color scheme.
Medema Endodontics is an expert practice with a focus on patient care, medical technology and continuous learning and practice improvements. For more about Medema Endodontics, medemaendo.com.
Architectural Concepts has been a friend of r.o.i. Design since 2000. We have collaborated on many projects with conceptual planning and interior design, while they delivered the architecture and managed the construction. Hutchinson Antivibration Systems is one example of our shared projects, where we designed their innovation center, the 616 Fab House.
While that relationship is a long lasting one, their original office interior was not. Like many 20-year-old interiors, it was tired and presented a dated color scheme. Ken Watkins, principle and owner, decided his team deserved to work in the kind of space they create for others.
We were engaged for interior design. Our process was transparent because we have worked comfortably with them for a while. We felt like we could take some risks. We brought in two to three possible schemes, some hand sketches, and photos. The staff at Architectural Concepts (Jackie, Dave, Matt, and Ken) sorted through what they liked, and we discussed how finishes could be applied.
Like all good collaborations, the end product was a mixture of finishes from all three schemes. Even though the office is relatively small, four carpets were used (3 as accents), and six paint colors were selected.
It was with great satisfaction that r.o.i. Design was hired to assist them to update their space with selections for new flooring, new paint, and new details. We provided new window coverings, new furniture, and overall support for their continued success.
The most noticeable change to the office was the wall that surrounds the new meeting room. Exposed metal studs were incorporated into the design as a finished element as a celebration of architecture as well as Ken’s honest and “exposed” style.
Ken, while a passionate architect for their commercial and industrial client, is also earnestly involved with a second business alongside his wife, Shelly. They run a non-profit called Genesis Waters which is dedicated to bringing clean water to communities around the world. They travel quarterly to locations to work with teams to create clean water systems and related infrastructure. Photos of the people they serve are featured in the office, which is beautiful décor but also an inspirational reminder of the meaning of “work”.
For more information about Architectural Concepts contact Ken at archconcepts@sbcglobal.net or for Genesis Waters Shelly’s email address is shelly@genesiswaters.org.
© Image Courtesy of First Companies
Van Haren Dentistry needed a new home, outgrowing their office after 10 years of dental practice, and reached out to First Companies’ Craig Baker for help. First Companies put together the team of r.o.i. Design and r2Design Group, architect Jon Blair to create a space to meet Ryan Van Haren’s needs.
r.o.i. Design was eager to provide a warm and friendly space for this team who uses the word “kind” to describe their practice. We found Dr. Van Haren to be a very caring professional with a love of family and desire to serve his patients and wanted him to feel at home in his new space.
© Image Courtesy of First Companies
The new office has improved patient spaces, including waiting, consult, and hygiene/operatory. It also has more efficient space for staff, including reception, lab, sterilization, and break room.
One element from the old office was brought along: photos of Grand Rapids’ sister cities are displayed in the lobby, consult room and hygiene/operatory rooms. These colorful photos of people from around the world are a bright and refreshing accent throughout the space.
© Image Courtesy of First Companies
Our favorite features in this design include the pop of the color orange, use of a panelized wood tile, lobby and corridor ceiling details with edge lighting, as well as a friendly hospitality area with full height tile walls.
© Image Courtesy of First Companies
Not only did r.o.i. Design provide complete interior design services, we designed their new logo and designed the signage for the outside of the building. Again, a friendly and welcoming use of the “V H” hopes to reflect the nature of the practice. We also supported their process of procuring furniture, working with Custer Office.
© Image Courtesy of First Companies
First Companies delivered the space by the 4th of July. Congratulations to Josh Reynolds and the whole team from First Companies.
For more information about Van Haren Dentistry go to vanharendentistry.com.