Category

Office Interiors

May 05
Love0

Is your workspace ready to attract and retain the top talent in your industry?

By Chameleon, Office Design, Office Interiors, Uncategorised

Flexible working is becoming a major consideration for professionals seeking a new role post pandemic…

New research has shown that more than half of UK professionals consider flexibility of hours or location to be more significant when seeking a new role than it was before the pandemic, whilst 38% thought that workplace culture would play a greater role!

While the majority (68%) said flexibility about work location had improved during the pandemic, and more than half (57%) said flexibility of hours had got better, attitudes towards workplace culture were less positive – only a third of respondents said the quality of their company’s culture had improved in the pandemic, with 20% saying it had declined.

Workspaces now have to adapt to suit the changing needs of their users, including introducing technology to make flexible working more accessible for everyone.

Find out more about how we can transform your workspace into a flexible hub that encourages collaboration and inspires team culture here!

 

Apr 26
Love0

Chameleon creates contemporary experience centre for Victory Leisure Homes

By Chameleon, Office Design, Office Interiors

Victory Leisure Homes have been creating luxury leisure homes and lodges for over a decade and in the summer of 2020 they enlisted us to bring their customer experience centre vision to life at their head office in East Yorkshire.

The once empty and under-utilised reception area has now been transformed into a 140m2 showroom. The bright and modern space includes: a welcoming meet and greet area, a refreshments corner and an L-shaped seating zone, where customers can look through samples and discuss design options. There are also two meeting rooms included in the design.

Fiona, our interior designer said: “Victory wanted an experience centre that would be welcoming for customers but would also work for more corporate, formal meetings. Together, we developed a space that perfectly balances an aesthetically pleasing, relaxing customer area alongside practical, ergonomic meeting spaces.

“It’s a fantastic project and we’re really proud to have been a part of this impressive transformation.

“We developed a tonal colour palette, which has created a very relaxed feel to the experience centre. There’s lots of wood, planting and neutral accents that all naturally complement one another and create a really contemporary finish.

“The meeting rooms’ foldable walls mean that these rooms are very flexible. Victory wanted the option to transform the meeting spaces into VR rooms, so the ability to reconfigure the design via the foldable walls is a great addition.

“We designed a handleless storage unit, incorporating wooden slats to the front of the design, creating interest whilst incorporating the natural design elements Victory requested. The piece large enough to hold a variety of samples without being too bulky. It’s sleek and smart and ties all of the natural elements together perfectly.”

Gary Corlyon, MD of Victory said: “Our new customer experience centre is exactly what we were looking for. It’s light, bright and modern, giving customers a taste of what they can expect from one of our models. We’re extremely proud of the space and truly believe that it sets us apart.”

See more of this project here – Victory Leisure Homes

Apr 14
Love0

Spotlight on: Ideagen

By Chameleon, Office Design, Office Interiors

In summer of 2020 we completed the design, fit out and refurbishment of tech giant Ideagen’s new £2 million head office located in Nottingham, creating a modern, industrial feel in the 30,000 sq ft space.

Kevin, our head of design said: “We wanted to create a space that not only had a contemporary finish, but also focused on wellness. Our designs incorporated biophilic elements to bring the outside in, providing a variety of areas for the team to relax and refresh.

“The office is split over two floors and includes a variety of workspace settings including collaborative and agile spaces On the ground floor, we have designed Ideagen its very own coffee shop – inspired by the independent group of coffee shops: 200 Degrees – that provides employees with free breakfast and unlimited coffee every day. The space aims to transport you from the office environment to a high street coffee shop allowing employees to take a break and socialise with colleagues.

“It is truly a workspace designed for the future.”

You can check out more of this project here: Ideagen

 

Mar 05
Love0

Savills’ new workspace at The Lumen, Newcastle

By News, Office Interiors

Savills’ new flagship office based at The Lumen, in the heart of Newcastle Helix – is now complete!

Working alongside Fiona Collier at Bluesky Design and M J Phoenix & Son, our team sourced and installed the entire suite of furniture for the 3,000 sq ft space.

Stand out pieces from the relocation project included bespoke veneered boardroom tables in Birds Eye maple with a crown-cut maple border, the tables unique ‘domino’ design allows them to be reconfigured side by side and end-on whilst retailing the same pattern.

“It was a pleasure to be part of Savills’ relocation into one of the city’s newest and most notable addresses” said Pat, our North East Business Development Manager.

“The finished space is an incredible mix of flexible workspaces for employees. The designs for meeting booths, lounge areas, high benches, quiet rooms and formal meeting rooms, along with detailed specifications on textures and form, meant we were able to really get creative with our choice of furniture. We sourced and commissioned some beautiful and functional pieces, many of which were bespoke to fit with fabric specifications and dimension.

“Every interior design project has its own set of logistical challenges, especially during a global pandemic. Our team worked quickly and efficiently to ensure all social distancing guidelines were adhered to and the project was delivered not only safely but to our usual high standard. We worked closely with suppliers ensuring that the deliveries where staggered to keep contact to a minimum, without compromising on the project timeline. The finished result is absolutely something to be proud of.”

You can view more of the completed project here: Savills, The Lumen

 

Feb 23
Love0

Why your workspace is an important tool for supporting employee wellbeing

By Office Design, Office Interiors

Wellbeing in the workplace is something that has been raising its head for some time now, however, the pandemic has raised concerns about people’s health and wellbeing to the top of everyone’s business agenda.

Employers play a vital role in not only protecting employees from the risk of COVID-19 infection, but also their mental wellbeing. As well as worries about becoming ill, many employees are isolated, others face income or job loss, while working parents have to juggle caring responsibilities and work. Ultimately, our workspaces will have to work harder than ever to support those working in them after the lockdown ends.

Studies have shown that light and room acoustics have an undeniable impact on productivity, human interaction, and wellbeing.  Washington State University found people working indoors with plants in their view complete tasks 12% faster, have improved memory retention by up to 20% and are better able to concentrate than those without.

After spending so much time indoors many of us are craving human connection and socialisation – something that the workplace usually provides for people on a daily basis. Giving your employees space to do this is a great way to not only boost morale, but encourage friendships.

When it comes to creating a space for your team to thrive, it is important to consider how that design will affect their wellbeing, including elements such as:

  • Colour
  • Privacy
  • Biophillic Design
  • Fabrics
  • Zoning
  • Agile working

We’ve spent the past 22 years working with businesses to understand exactly what their employees need from their space. By conducting employee surveys we are able to understand exactly how your team work and what tools they need to thrive, always putting employee wellbeing, flexibility and collaboration at the heart of our designs.

Is your workspace ready to step up and support your team post lockdown? Or has time stood still whilst you’ve been working from home?

Click here to get in touch with our team

 

Feb 08
Love0

Planet-U’s new office space totally transformed in just six weeks

By News, Office Interiors, Uncategorised

Planet-U Energy is the UK’s fastest-growing renewable energy company whose mission is to make renewable energy totally transparent. The team – which has been based in Leeds since it was founded in 2018 – instructed us to assist them with their move to a larger office space in 6 East Parade, Leeds!

We worked closely with their team to gain an in-depth understanding of their company values and vision for the future, in order to design and create a workspace that focused on natural colours and materials, bringing the outside in – in just 6 week.

Here’s what Fiona, our interior designer on this project had to say: “It was great to work with the team at Planet-U to really understand what was important to them and how we could incorporate their brand and values into the workspace.

“To capture their ethos of “better energy, pure and simple” it was essential to bring the outdoors in by using subtle tones, natural finishes and biophilic design to achieve a stripped back and honest interior.”

Working quickly and efficiently we were able to design, fit-out and furnish their project in just a number of weeks, all whilst negotiating tightening lockdown restrictions across the UK. The new workspace will provide Planet-U’s team with the much-needed room to grow as they continue with their recruitment drive and vision of being the UK’s first exclusively renewable energy broker!

Grant Nicolson, CEO of Planet-U Energy said: “Chameleon has truly helped us create a space that works for us. We’re a fast-paced ambitious company and after contracting Chameleon to help us move into our new office space, all within six weeks of signing the lease to moving in, we couldn’t be happier with how they met the challenge of the task. We’re really happy with the end result and can’t wait for clients and staff to see it!”

Interested in what our team could do for you? Find out more here

Oct 25
Love0

How to make the most of a small or awkward office space

By Office Design, Office Interiors, Uncategorised

Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple are amongst some of the business giants that started life working in a small, awkward office space (in garages, to be exact). For start-up businesses, it’s pretty rare to move straight into your dream office; or so you may think.

The term “Open Office” has been a pretty hot topic in the world of business interiors. Initially, the concept of a large, open-plan space had connotations of creativity, freedom, and cross-functional working, but the concept has come under recent scrutiny over how it can cause distraction. The truth is, a balance between a collaborative space and a quiet retreat can be established in any working environment, suiting the needs of colleagues who thrive in either.

The things that make you tick in your working environment, from creative spaces to interior décor, can be accomplished in any space. So, embrace your awkward, or should we say unique, office space. Take a step back and have a think if any of the following could help you make the most of your space.

Natural Light

It’s the cheapest form of energy out there, so how can we make it work for your office space? Psychology Today’s studies show that employees exposed to more daylight report better quality sleep, less daytime dysfunction, and a better quality of life. Draw your blinds and let the light in, it really can help open a space up.

If you find that natural light doesn’t reach all corners of your space, try a layout reshuffle, or look at more natural styles of artificial light.

Glass

If your office space is less than conventional, glass walls or doors can be used to open the space up, as well as create additional rooms. Glass will also help that natural light reach as far as the sun’s rays will carry it.

Storage

Whether you’re battling with lack of space or are unsure how to fill that crevice in the wall, clever storage solutions are a must. Not only can a funky design liven up your office, but it can be functional and space-saving, too. Storage units can be slotted neatly under windows or in corners. They can also host some office decorations such as plants and photographs.

Layout

Don’t be fixed by your desk all day. Look at optimising your office design to create both agile working spaces and breakout zones. An awkward layout may just be a blessing, as a simple re-jig could help you section off your office. A common, functional area doesn’t require a lot of space. Don’t fill it with big, clunky furniture; think light, practical, multi-functional, and spacious.

Our team have fitted out offices of all shapes and sizes. To find a solution that works for you, contact one of our team today.

Apr 30
Love0

Artist Highlight: PET Lamp

By Office Design, Office Interiors, Uncategorised

Founded by designer Alvaro Catalán de Ocón, PET Lamp is a project that mixes the reuse of PET plastic bottles with selected traditional weaving techniques from different corners of the world in order to create unique handmade lampshades. The concept was first ideated due to the growing issue surrounding plastic waste, invading every corner of the planet.

 

In many places there aren’t adequate resources for the collection and recycling of this waste and in tropical zones this problem is accentuated as tropical rains wash the PET plastic bottles into the rivers which in turn wash them out to the sea. PETLAMP believe in reuse as the counterpoint to recycling, asserting that the right manipulation of the bottle would allow for its transformation into a coherent, functional and desireable product for the market, lasting beyond the few short minutes of the objects usefulness.

 

 

Their mission is to make an attractive, desirable and contemporary object by taking care of a global problem. combining artisanal techniques with mass prouced objects, resulting in a serial production of unique pieces. At the same time, as part of their mission, they increase awareness of plastic waste and contribute to preserving basketry tradition, considering waste as an opportunity to design unique pieces. PETLAMP takes a global approach to a global issue but through local activity, bringing together world-wide visual identities in the form of different weaving techniques, materials, symbolism, shapes. PETLAMP demonstrate that PET bottles can have a second life, combining one of the most produced industrial objects with one of the traditional crafts most rooted to the earth.

From their base in Madrid, their challenge as industrial designers is to transform a half-finished product, the lampshade created by artisans in Colombia, into a product ready to be sold on the market: the lamp. PETLAMP currently have projects in Columbia, Chile, Ethiopia, Japan, Australia, and Thailand. For more information visit www.petlamp.org

 

To discover how we can help transform your organisation, get in touch!

 

 

 

Dec 14
Love0

Finance Packages for Office Improvements

By Office Interiors, Uncategorised

No requirement for capital outlay and tax efficient financing means that all businesses can benefit from an amazing workspace environment.

Founded in 1998 Chameleon Business Interiors have been upgrading and improving offices workspaces for a little over 17 years. With offices in Hull, Leeds, York and Birmingham, Chameleon have a UK wide reach. Chameleon’s measured approach to interior design and fit-out means they work with you to provide a fantastic new working environment, whilst providing a return on your investment.

Chameleon believe that good interior design provides a real return on investment, by improving team productivity, client relations and making best use of space.

Shaun Watts, Chairman of Chameleon comments: “Investing in good office space design, shows commitment to your team, it helps retain and attract the best people and the office becomes a more enjoyable place to be a part of. Clients like it too, a well-designed office is a sign of success and it instantly improves brand perception. Our clients often comment that their new office environment has helped them win more business”

Chameleon offer finance packages in order to fund relocations and office improvements. Financing offers a number of key advantages:

–          Monthly payments can be planned as part of revenue expenditure, together with rent

–          Finance payments covers all costs including furniture, fit-out and design

–          No deposit, helps manage cash flow

–          Preserves borrowing power

–          Payments are tax allowable, which means they can be offset against profits

–          Tax benefits, unlike cash finance unlocks 100% tax relief on both capital and interest

–          VAT is paid in instalments, rather than in a lump sum up front

Upgrading your office space is not something that companies do very often. Chameleon often work with clients who are managing their very first office improvement project, so Chameleon have developed a set of free office relocation and improvement guides that you can download from their website.

Air conditioning experts, Airco recently relocated their head office into more suitable premises for a growing company. The finance options offered by Chameleon provided the funding flexibility and added tax benefits required with such a big investment.

Neil Fisher, Managing Director of Airco said “Having worked with Chameleon on many joint projects we had confidence that their team could deliver the quality we required within our agreed budget, to provide a head office of which we are proud…  The finance package proposed by Chameleon meant a prompt start on site, was tax efficient and allowed for effective future finance planning.”

You can see how the new Airco building took shape over a number of weeks with their project time-lapse video.

Chameleon are offering a number of free initial consultations running up to the New Year.

“Many of our clients are starting projects in the next few weeks ready for a New Year grand opening. We are offering our consultative services now so new client’s start their office improvement programme fully prepared and with their best foot forward”. Shaun Watts.

You can learn more about office improvement services by visiting Chameleon’s Website or calling your local office.

Hull: 01482 221004

Leeds: 0113 827 2235

York: 01904 898902

Birmingham: 0121 2624078