Achieving Lasting Style

7/27/2016

by Gillian Morris

Statton Design Group has over 23 years of experience as a commercial interior design firm in the Dallas area. Every Wednesday we will use our experience to provide insight into various aspects of commercial interior design and offer tips we have gleaned through our years of experience with local DFW clients.

We all know how it feels to walk into an outdated room. Like noticing that 70’s era green and yellow wallpaper at your grandparents’ house, certain design choices immediately can date a space. Imagine now, this same feeling as you walk into a corporate office. Except instead of the floral wallpaper, you’re looking at floor-to-ceiling wood paneled walls, rolodexes, and large mahogany bookcases. While these scenes may evoke a feeling of tradition or nostalgia, but they certainly don’t scream cutting edge.

Most clients we work with explicitly ask us to help them achieve a cutting-edge modern design, hoping to avoid the rolodexes and wood panels of yesteryear’s office. But as time passes, the unconventional of today becomes the conventional of tomorrow; in other words, today’s modern design trends will inevitably themselves become outdated.

“Today’s modern design trends will inevitably [...] become outdated.”

One of our goals when designing spaces or selecting furniture for clients is to achieve a timeless look. Regardless of our client’s unique individual style, there are a few ways we ensure that their style stands the test of time.

Targeted Brand Design

One of the most effective ways to ensure a lasting, yet modern, style, is to specifically target an interior design project to the client’s unique brand identity. For example, when we begin working with a client, we often look at their business’ logo to help define the color scheme of our design and furniture choices. Sticking with corporate colors is also a great way to ensure the cohesiveness and timelessness of a space; 10 years down the road when someone walks into an office they are far more likely to connect corporate colors with the company brand rather than a particular design fad. Additionally, honing in on a business’ unique aesthetic and applying it to all aspects of a design helps to transcend fads and strengthen a visitor's feeling of engagement with the brand.

A royal blue backsplash makes the corporate color pop in the break room of Dallas based Open Connect Systems.

Tried-and-True Finishes

Gray carpet with a simple pattern is a tried-and-true office design standard.

There’s a reason why spaces with white walls, gray low-pile carpet, and simple flooring are common: they’re easy to maintain and even easier to furnish, which helps them stand the test of time. Having these neutral finishes as a backdrop in your space is crucial for increasing its design longevity.

Strategic Use of Trends (When Appropriate)

This tomato red accent wall with word map decals is a strategic and easily modifiable use of trends.

Put up that cool piece of art! Paint that accent wall! Get that Parsons table! All of these trends are fine and even beneficial in moderation. With tried-and-true finishes in place, you can afford to add pops of in vogue décor while remaining consistent with the aesthetic of the space.

The great thing about applying trends strategically is that they are easily changed. Swapping out art or repainting a wall is a piece of cake and can be done regularly without too much hassle. As a general rule, we suggest that clients ask themselves one question before selecting any trendy décor item: Is this consistent with my brand aesthetic? If so, go for it!

With the right design team at the helm, you too can achieve lasting style for your business. At Statton Design Group, we frequently help clients achieve these goals through our years of commercial interior design experience. Let us know how we can help you with your next project!

Need an interior designer? Contact us at Statton Design Group for a free design consultation. If you're in the Southlake, TX or Dallas Fort Worth area, we would love to set up a time to meet in person. Give us a call, send us an email or leave your comments below to start finding your design solution!

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