Interface was recruited by flooring contractor, Loughton Contracts, to provide an adventurous modular flooring design to enliven its Essex head office.
With décor more than five years old, Loughton Contracts decided it was time to refurbish its work space – consisting of an open-plan reception, hot-desk area and break-out zone, boardroom, and back offices – with new modular flooring. The company wanted an adventurous new design that would not only create a bright work environment to inspire employees, but demonstrate the skills of its installers as well.
Interface’s Concept Designer, Amy Farn, carefully considered the brief and designed a scheme which clearly defined the separate activity zones, but also united the space through the use of colours, patterns and textures that work well together.
“While our team of contractors often work away on projects, our building is still a base for them to come back to, so it was important to us to give them a space that they would enjoy spending time in,” Paul Smyth, Managing Director at Loughton Contracts explained. “At the same time, our main office is our ‘shop window’ for prospective customers, so we needed a flooring solution that would reflect the high standard of work we can deliver.”
Bold Net Effect Black Sea B601, B602 and B603 flooring tiles were used in the main space, transitioning from grey in the reception area to black in the office zone in an attractive wave-like design to provide a focal point to the entrance for visitors. The central hot-desk was distinguished from the rest of the office with square 50cm x 50cm carpet tiles in a host of vivid shades, including Heuga 725 Fresh Cobalt, Orange, Spring and Cherry colourways. Square tiles in a variety of green tones were installed in the break out area, creating a bright, pixelated effect that gradually merged with the rest of the flooring.
In the boardroom, Loughton Contracts wanted a calmer decorative scheme to encourage a more relaxed, reflective environment for both customer and internal meetings. Muted Walk the Plank 25cm x 100 cm Skinny Plank carpet tiles – in Interface’s Cyprus colourway - were installed in a herringbone pattern, mimicking the effect of wood to evoke a restful atmosphere. The offices to the right of the reception were also fitted with products from Interface’s Luxury Living range, while tiles from the new Touch and Tones collection were used in the back offices.
Amy explained: “Interface’s recent Human Spaces report into the effect of office interiors on the health of workers worldwide found that having access to natural elements, such as a window view of greenery or indoor plants, had a significant positive impact on worker emotional well-being and productivity. With this in mind, we incorporated blue, green and stone hues that reflected the natural world, alongside other bold shades, into the final design to create a space that the Loughton Contracts team would enjoy working in and feel motivated by.
“In addition to helping provide an unconventional design, using modular flooring also means that individual tiles can be easily replaced once they are worn, rather than needing to install a full new carpet. This will help Loughton Contracts cut long-term maintenance costs, while minimising the effect of daily wear and tear on the look of the office in the eyes of employees and visitors.”
Speaking about the results of the flooring, Paul concluded: “Having previously had a single shade of grey throughout the office, we wanted something bold for the floor that would stand out in the minds of visitors.
“Our new flooring has done so much more than give our space a fresh look. It has provided us with a great opportunity to demonstrate the potential of modular flooring to customers and, based on the feedback from colleagues, has helped make the office an even more attractive place to work for our team.”
