ABN7 Architects and Claire Canning Design worked with Clippings to transform an outdated office into a modern workplace with boutique hotel vibes.
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When Lindsey Hesketh from ABN7 Architects was approached to lead the renovation of an office in an old terrace mansion, she knew she would need reliable partners to deliver this project fast – the client, a wealth management firm, wanted to move in as soon as possible.
She asked Claire Canning, who she has worked with before, to help her practice with the interior design, and chose, for the first time, a dedicated procurement partner for all loose furniture, desking and lighting: Clippings.
“This was pre-covid, so things were going at the normal mental rate,” Lindsey recalls. “We knew that all products would come from London or abroad and that the building wouldn’t be ready for a while, so we needed a partner who could provide an all-in-one package and deliver at one time.”
“We very concerned about the speed of the turnaround”, adds Claire. “On smaller schemes, Lindsey and I do the ordering ourselves. Knowing how much work that usually is for a little project, we felt very motivated to get Clippings on board.”
The client didn’t just want a functional office, but they wanted it to be a space that would welcoming and friendly to clients, while offering a variety of places for his team to work. That’s why Lindsey and Claire suggested a mix of comfortable upholstery – for the break-out spaces – and functional yet elegant task furniture.
“The space was supposed to feel like a boutique hotel or private members club, but modern,” explains Claire. “The company founder is quite personable and likes to invite people”, says Lindsey. “He wanted a little bit of a domestic, comfortable atmosphere.”
Claire and Lindsey used the Clippings catalogue to research furniture and lighting for the entire building and saved products they liked into the project on the platform. They also used the platform to review products and discuss them remotely.
To create the desired mix of intimacy and openness, Claire combined moody colours with clean-lined furniture and lighting from brands such as Flos, Gubi, Hay, New Works and Hem.
Claire and Lindsey also used Clippings’ connections to workplace brands and were able to source desks from German producer König + Neurath and task chairs from Herman Miller through the platform.
“When you then start to specify and want to get a quote, you can see all product information in the quote, so you can make sure all the costs are in there,” says Claire. That's because Clippings quotes always show the delivery cost upfront.
This project kicked off before the pandemic hit. In the early phase, Lindsey and Claire were very time conscious as the client wanted to move in as soon as possible. So the Clippings procurement team helped make product decisions swiftly and place orders promptly to meet the original deadline. But when everything shut down, the installation on-site had to be postponed – and the duo could rely on Clippings logistics and project management team to sort everything.
“Things started to get stressful because of the Covid delays and products already coming up to Glasgow to be stored, which made us quite nervous – a lot can happen to a parcel in a warehouse”, says Claire. “But Inga from Clippings was great at reassuring us by getting photographs from the storage companies.”
When the site was ready for the delivery in late November, project manager Inga travelled to Aberdeen to inspect all goods and oversee the installation on-site.
Due to the lockdowns, the new office is not yet buzzing with people. “The owner is absolutely loving the place and just wants to get clients in there,” says Lindsey. Looking back, she’s also very happy to have worked with Clippings to take out the stress of dealing with all the logistics. “It was better to work with a partner than doing it all by yourself”.
Images: David Barbour
Discover how working with Clippings can help you get great design into your spaces – and make the entire procurement process so much easier.