THE BRIEF
Wessex Water was keen to give the existing staff restaurant and seating area at its head office a new lease of life with a fresh modern look that would encourage use of the space throughout the day.
Hambury Hird Design was commissioned to give the communal space a more friendly, welcoming atmosphere with multi-purpose facilities where staff would be happy to spend their break time and use for working quietly and informal meetings with colleagues and visitors.
Client: Wessex Water
Designer: Hambury Hird Design Ltd
Flooring contractor: Bath Contract Flooring
Sector: Hospitality and Leisure
Area: 415m2
A herringbone laying pattern featuring Lime Washed Oak from our Knight Tile collection.
THE CONCEPT
By introducing a variety of furniture and flooring solutions to create different zones, Hambury Hird Design has created an emotionally engaging space where employees can concentrate, collaborate, relax and socialise.
The renovated cafeteria provides a convenient mix of touch down workspaces, casual meeting areas and private work booths in addition to regular dining tables
and soft seating. A bespoke flooring design clearly delineates the catering area and is complemented by a gentle wood herringbone design across the remainder of the space.
Rachel Hird, director at Hambury Hird Design Ltd explained: “Wessex Water is a very ethically conscious company. Whilst wanting to achieve a stylish look and feel they were also very keen to re-use and upcycle some of their existing furniture and equipment. So we had to think carefully how we could create a cohesive environment where the old and new would sit comfortably together.”
A bespoke design featuring Pennon and Hexa designs from our Kaleidoscope collection.
THE LOOK
A palette of warm earthy tones around a core of white and grey has been used to create a relaxing vibe and maximise the impact of the natural light that floods through expansive floor to ceiling windows.
Making the most of the flexibility that Karndean flooring offers, a bespoke geometric pattern based on Hexa and Pennon tiles from the Kaleidoscope collection was created for the food and drink serving area. Utilising five stone designs from the Art Select range, this one-off hand-cut floor creates a sense of depth and interest as well as clearly defining the key activity zone.
The remainder of the cafeteria has been fitted with a contemporary oak design from the Knight Tile range. With an eye on the budget, standard full length planks were chosen and laid in a herringbone pattern, echoing the geometric tiles of the serving counter. A border of straight lay planks serves to visually highlight the transition between the serving and seating areas and helps the flooring flow from the geometric pattern to the different angles of the herringbone floor.
Rachel concluded: “The two flooring designs complement each other and break up the different zones perfectly. What was once a dated and uninspiring cafeteria is now a bright and comfortable space that’s a hub of activity throughout the day.”
The above image features Lime Washed Oak in both herringbone and straight plank laying pattern.