GIVE ME A BREAK…SOMEWHERE NICE

In my last column I wrote about the impression that your business is making on your existing and prospective clients when they enter your lobby or reception area. I wrote about comfortable furnishings, a welcoming approach and how to use color to present your corporate image and get bang for your buck. Then I got down to the basic stuff like replacing light bulbs and mopping the floor once in awhile. It must have made an impact because I had several people mention to me they had not realized they had been so neglectful of this important space and the pitiful impression it was making. You’re welcome.

Now I would like to address another often overlooked place in your business; the company Break Room. This space is utilized by one of your most valuable assets – your employees. I know this is the part where you stop me and say, “Sales are down, and profits are down…no money…maybe later…” I get it. I also understand that right now finding great people to hire is not so much of a problem. It is no secret that many qualified people are looking for work and those precious few businesses that have jobs to offer can be fairly picky. You don’t need an attractive lunchroom to woo potential employees to come work for you.

It is also not lost on me that for some reason – companies that provide well for their employees also seem to be doing better in our tough economy. Remember, I have the opportunity to walk through a lot of facilities and I see some of the good and a whole lot of the bad. Could there be a correlation between a happy and appreciated staff of employees and a company’s success? I would suspect so.

So now back to the employee break room. Much like the lobby, it gives an instant impression of your business. Only this impact is different – it affects the people who work for you. When was the last time you actually saw this space? Would you want to eat your sack lunch there? Very few other areas in your facility separate the levels of staff and management more than the employee lunchroom. The attitude that the smelly fridge that has not been defrosted since the Nixon Administration and a couple of wobbly tables and chairs is “good enough”, sends a clear message to your team. Management does not enter or eat here. This room is for the minions. So much for all those “team building” seminars you keep sending everyone to.

Now that I have hopefully tweaked your conscience, let me recommend some easy, inexpensive and worthwhile suggestions for this tragic and common lunchroom scenario.

First, clean up the place. The walls, floors and countertops should sparkle. The refrigerator should be adequate in size to accommodate all of your employee’s needs. Most fridges get messy because they are too small. How is the lighting? This room should be bright, pleasant and welcoming. Remember, the whole idea is that you go to this place for a “break” – not a punishment. This isn’t after school detention.

Second, and this is the fun part, think of a theme. I have designed employee break rooms that resemble 50’s Diners, a tropical oasis, sport’s team venues, cowboy bunk houses – you name it. Sometimes the most successful staff lunchrooms are a complete departure from what you do from day to day. A conservative Law Firm – how about Nascar?  Perhaps your accounting team spends all day looking at figures and data fiercely focusing on minutia – wouldn’t it be fun to have lunch with the characters from Toy Story? Is your staff buried in a sea of cubicles? A lunchroom featuring the open vistas of Utah’s Red Rock country could be just the shot in the arm your team needs! Some of these ideas may seem far fetched to you – but hopefully you get the picture.

Once you have picked a theme you can start introducing color. Focus on large pops of color to create energy. Paint a wall green, blue – something vibrant. Remember it doesn’t cost anymore to paint a wall a color than it does beige. I’m sure you will have a few grumblers initially. But trust me; they will be quickly overruled by everyone else’s enthusiasm. It’s fairly hard to be negative consistently when everyone else is having a good time.

Another reason I like giving the space a theme – is it instantly eliminates the battle over artwork and posters. Look for fun and high energy pieces that convey the feeling of the room and tie in with the look of the space. These items are typically very affordable. Engage your staff – once they buy off on the idea you’ll be surprised to see their level of enthusiasm.

Seating should be comfortable and functional. I’m not a big fan of upholstered furniture in break rooms. It gets soiled easily and shows wear quickly. Tables and chairs can be colorful and provide a great spot for a break or lunch. Remember, it is a break room – not a nap room. The idea is to make the room fresh and appealing, not have your staff “hang out” all day. True, I have had clients provide weekly “Fiesta” parties, Karaoke contests and even Wii Guitar Hero for their employees – they’re not the ones needing this article.

Remember, if you’re intimidated to make the lunch room switch out on your own, qualified design professionals can be of great assistance. It is our job to make spaces, comfortable, appealing, inspiring, and even motivating. We can take a lot of the guess work out of selecting appropriate materials and finishes geared towards your budget that will be practical, comfortable and durable.  

TIME FOR DESIGN

With the New Year well on its way we might still find ourselves a tad overwhelmed, frayed and a little tired looking from the previous grueling years. But I’m not actually talking about a personal self help program here. I’m actually referring to the image of your company, specifically how you are being perceived by your clients and prospective clients – and even your competition as they enter your business.

In my line of work it is just about impossible to turn off the “interior space” button in my brain. I can’t help it actually and people that know me well are used to me heading off into my design zone while they are with me. Even my kids came to identify it when they were little. “Hey mom, dad’s doing it again,” they would say as I would drift off and mentally redesign the fast food restaurant we were eating in.  It was a great day in my life when I realized I could actually use this ability to make a decent living.

Making a good living is exactly what I’m talking about – since this is a business publication. Part of being in business, good business anyway, is about making a strong and professional first impression. Clients today are being more scrupulous than ever about where they are willing to spend their money. What does your business image say about you when they first walk in? Does your company look credible, established and successful? Or do those tired looking lobby sofas and left over Christmas decorations really convey the message of who you are?

The first thing I notice when I visit a new company is the condition of their lobby. And let me tell you, there are a lot of very tired looking lobbies out there right now. With the belt tightening and budget cuts that have happened the last few years, sadly this is one area that should have remained pristine. It speaks volumes to your clients about who you are and whether or not your business is here to stay.

Mind you I’m not talking about opulence here – that would send an equally wrong message that your company is being frivolous during a time in history that requires restraint and caution. No prospective client or especially a shareholder wants to walk into a Bernie Madoff type atmosphere. The days of priceless artwork and $25,000 commodes are over.  

Your lobby should be inviting, current, CLEAN, and approachable. How is the seating? Comfortable commercial seating is vastly different from what you would typically put in your residence. It is by design more durable, typically with a firmer seat and stronger commercial fabric – appropriate for high use applications. Those sofas you picked up at the big box store might be fine for a “man cave” – but they scream cheap, inappropriate and unprofessional to your clients.

The next big culprit is bad lighting. I visited a relatively handsome lobby of a medical company recently. All their perimeter lighting was either turned off or burned out. Sharp looking tailored glass pendent lights over the reception desk were also off. When I inquired why, the receptionist told me they made her “hot”. Guests in your waiting area should be able to SEE where they are and have a clear image of what you do. A dimly lit lobby creates a feeling of uneasiness and can give the impression your business might be going under.

I always admire clients that are not afraid to use color in their lobby spaces. Remember, it doesn’t cost anymore to paint a wall red than it does off-white. This is a great way to create instant impact on a budget. The right color choices can denote confidence, success and even credibility. Your lobby is the perfect place to get bang for your buck with color. If you are shy about using color, hire a professional to help you make thoughtful choices with color.

Everyone looks at the floor. Is the carpet fresh, CLEAN and appropriate? If you have hard surface flooring like stone, marble or tile does it shine? Even if you cannot currently afford to replace flooring in other areas of your building – the lobby floors must be perfect. Have you ever eaten in a questionable restaurant that makes you nervous? Suddenly halfway through your meal you stop and ask yourself, “If this is the part of the restaurant I can actually see – what must the kitchen be like?” The same holds true for your lobby. Clients might never make it much past the front desk – but its good business to make sure that their initial experience is as great as it can be.

I like a company that has a lobby with a strong corporate character. Is your company progressive, conservative or traditional? Do you want to set yourself apart from the competition? Is your signage appropriate? Is your company logo present? All of these things serve to create a pleasant informative experience for your guests, associates and potential future clients.

Working with a design professional can help bring your space together in ways that you might not have previously thought of. Interior Design professionals are trained to look at all aspects of a space and take into account many of the areas I have mentioned above. Through the use of effective space planning, color application, lighting design and corporate identity – your lobby could very quickly become one your company’s strongest assets. As we all scramble to bring in new business in this coming year it is essential to let your clients know you are “ready for business” the minute they arrive. A terrific lobby is a good place to start.   

   

WWLD

Well today is my first blog. I have put it off for as long as I possibly could – but there is just no avoiding it anymore. A number of years ago a wonderful client gave me a beautifully wrapped gift at the end of their project. One of the great things I treasure about my career in design is the wonderful clients and people I meet in the course of my work. Everyday is different and presents itself with a variety of delightful characters and individuals who come into my life. Anyway, imagine my surprise when I opened the gift to find a tastefully framed original piece of artwork. Incorporated into the art were the following letters; WWLD.

When I asked my client what this was supposed to represent she responded with “What would LaMar do?” During the course of her project she said it became her mantra whenever she needed to make a decision. How high should the counters be? “Go ask LaMar.” Should the paint be shiny or flat? “LaMar would want it this way.” Do these fabrics go together? “Well LaMar told me to experiment with pattern and color.” You get the picture. After the project was completed she and her husband felt it was the best way to thank me. I guess thinking about what I would do or say regarding their project helped resolve many arguments and pushed the decision process along nicely. You’re welcome.

I have always felt that design is really nothing more than solving problems. The ceiling is too high, the windows are off center, the fabric is too fragile or the armoire won’t fit through the door. That is what I do everyday. I figure stuff out. It is really peculiar that I enjoy doing this so much. I have never really thought of myself as being analytical in any manner. I loathe board games, (that’s why they are called b-o-r-e-d games…) and mathematical concepts completely elude me while I find being practical and thrifty to be so “lower middle class.” But I do LOVE a good design challenge. So that is why my BLOG is titled WWLD. For awhile a national company paid me to write a column where people could write in with their design questions. I thought it would be “fun.” After a week of answering the most mundane and painful of questions, (Where do I find a lamp heavy enough that my kids can’t knock it over with a baseball bat?) I had to resign. Simply put, I was exhausted. But I still needed an outlet for my writing.

So the blog seems like a viable way for me to connect with not only the design community but also anyone who might like to hear my ideas and opinions on design. I’ll do my very best to be clever and tasteful while informative at the same time. This will not be my attempt to give away FREE design advice – “If you give away what you have for free, you will never be appreciated…or valued”  And I place GREAT value on EXCEPTIONAL design and that is something I can get really excited about. I’m already thinking about my next blog – who knows I might even start tweeting.