For most people, moving during the pandemic wouldn’t be ideal, but the management team at DMG Interiors, a commercial interior design firm based in Falls Church, Virginia, turned a challenge into a win. As a consequence of COVID-19 and the change in the way their staff was working, the company decided to take advantage of an expiring lease to move into a new, but smaller, space.
While the previous office was 2,850-square-feet, the new space comes in at just 900-square feet—a true downsizing. It’s a small workspace by any standard, but especially for a company where creative endeavors and traditional business activities often take place at the same time within the same areas. Yet, the relocation allowed the team of nine to think about working more efficiently, while adapting the interior to allow for social distancing. It was an opportunity tailor-made for designers used to thinking outside of the box, and not afraid of making a few modifications along the way.
Photo Credit: All photos by Matthew Barrick
“This was an interesting project, because normally you would think that downsizing and social distancing are opposing concepts, but we made it work. We also took advantage of a situation in the real estate market that is pretty unique. There are big opportunities not only for design firms, but offices in general to maximize the space they are already paying rent on,” said Victor Sanz, managing director of DMG Interiors.
With budgetary constraints, and only three months from finding the space to design and move in, the accelerated timeline forced the group to make strategic decisions quickly. They had to work with what was available at the time. “We were able to negotiate a sublease that was advantageous for us, but it was probably the least attractive space. It was the facilities department of a law firm, so it wasn’t very appealing to other companies. But of course, we could see its potential. We kept the details tight and used the elements that were there,” Sanz explained.
A Hindrance Becomes A Stand-Out Feature
The designers wanted a place to receive clients and a material library for their extensive collection of samples. With two distinct areas, the office was perfect for meeting those needs, but it still had to be refined. “There are some awkward things in the office. There is a door that leads to a closet, which is useful, but we couldn’t put anything against that wall because of the location of the door,” Sanz noted.
They decided to embrace the wall and turn it into a focal point. They covered it with a black textured wallcovering from Phillip Jefferies, and decided to decorate it with original artwork to bring in pops of color. A triptych by artist Michael Barringer enlivens the interior, and provides contrast to the black and white found in the carpet. “We decided that was going to be the feature wall, and the only one with a wallcovering. We kept it clean and paced the art there to create the “wow” effect in the office,” Sanz added.
Maximizing Limited Space
The group kept the furniture they had in the former office as another way to reduce costs, but had to make it fit within the smaller area. With most of the staff working remotely, this didn’t require more pieces to be added in, but a smart reconfiguration. “It was just a matter of rearranging the furniture in a way that would make sense, not only for the users, but also for the flow of the office. And that was one of the challenges, figuring out how to do that in a limited space and maintain social distancing,” said Sanz.
In the material library, the existing millwork was used for storage, but it had to be refinished due to wear. “Three out of the four walls have millwork. It was in very bad shape, but we decided to keep it. It worked for use in the library, and I also thought it was a cool architectural feature,” Sanz explained. By painting the back of the shelving a dark color, it echoes the look of the focal wall, and ties the two rooms together.
Books and binders are stored in the library, and there is a collaboration table in the center of the room. The team can have informal meetings there, and because the table is at a standing height, there’s room for bins underneath that hold the fabric swatches, wallcoverings, and carpet samples.
Multipurpose Rooms
The rooms in the office had to truly be multipurpose interiors, versatile enough for a variety of uses. “Flexibility was the only solution for us, to work in a small space, and in a world that is changing so quickly,” Sanz said.
Sanz said staff calls the front reception area the showroom, and that it can be used for focused work or reviewing plans with clients. The conference table there serves as a touchdown station. “Sometimes, when we are training, we have to be closer together. We can sit at each end of this table though, and still be six feet apart. We can also sit here when a client comes in. I may want to discuss a project with them, and I have to lay out these construction document sets. That’s a great table for this, and we use it both ways,” he noted.
The material library serves as a workroom and a conference space where staff can take Zoom calls. A height-adjustable desk becomes an audio-visual center, and employees can turn their monitors to see who is talking or presenting. The library has samples as well as the typical office basics that a worker might need throughout the day. “In one section of the wall, we have office supplies, a printer, and a small kitchenette with a coffee maker. The multipurpose millwork has become a feature of the library room,” Sanz added.
