Design Development: Fixtures & Hard Finishes
This is the fourth in our seven-part series documenting the journey of creating Warm Welcome Design's new office. Follow along as we take you behind the scenes of our design process, the same thoughtful approach we use with every client project.
This is the phase where we move from ideas to actual selections. Every finish, every fixture, every detail gets locked in so that when construction starts, there are no delays or last-minute scrambles.
Prior to starting construction, we solidified all the hard finishes and fixtures. We have an overall vision for the furnishings, but those will come once we move in. With only 8 weeks for construction, getting these selections right was non-negotiable.
A Place for All That Stored Inspiration
As a designer, I'm constantly absorbing inspiration - from other designers, history, random stores in the mall. I'm always snapping photos and mentally filing them away for when I can actually use them. Usually it's small details, like a specific cabinet door style, and I can't always find the right home for them in client projects.
This office is where I get to use all of that. It's my design playground.
Floor Finishes: Taking Calculated Risks
We technically could have used just one flooring finish in the studio, but I wanted to showcase as much as possible. Being on the second floor means less concern about durability because shoes are mostly clean by the time people reach our unit.
Still, I wanted an immediate impact when you walk in, and the best way to achieve that was with a bold tile pattern at the entry.
Vivian played with it in 3D a few different ways. I initially thought it should be laid on a 45-degree angle, but it looked completely wrong. The second we made it lay straight, I knew it was right.
The pattern was originally going to be all neutral, with black feature tiles with light taupe and white. But during a late-night scroll, I found these rich red marble tiles and thought, if there's anywhere to take a risk, it's here. Once we put them in the render, it was instant. I added them to cart and they became the first hard finish purchased. They set the tone for everything else.
Herringbone: Natural vs. LVP
I always wanted herringbone because it's classic and adds real character. The question was whether to go with engineered wood or luxury vinyl plank.
In commercial spaces, I typically recommend LVP for durability, easier installation, and cost. The products have improved so much that some herringbone LVP samples look extremely realistic.
But we went with engineered wood for two reasons. First, it's what I actually wanted. Since we own the unit and plan to be here long-term, the extra $3 per square foot wasn't a dealbreaker. Second, our plywood subfloor isn't perfectly level, and our installer said a glue-down wood product at ¾" would handle the variances much better than ¼" LVP.
We found a beautiful cool brown in the right scale for the space and locked it in.
Wall Finishes
These selections took more back and forth. To everyone who voted on whether we should do warm neutral or rich burgundy, thank you for weighing in.
We're going with warm neutral paint for about 65% of the studio. We'll layer in color and texture with furniture and finishes, but the foundation stays neutral.
And yes, despite the opinions, we're keeping the ceiling exposed. All the electrical conduit, sprinklers, and HVAC will be visible. Every trade assumed we'd do a drop ceiling, but that was never happening.
I love the industrial loft feel of an open ceiling. The space is commercial and we're leaning into that by painting everything Swiss Coffee. It stays exposed but gets refined with a warm white.
With the ceiling and majority of the studio sorted, we could focus on the moments that matter: a rich, cozy lobby area, a bold botanical powder room, and a Bordeaux-inspired boardroom. We thought through the experience from entry to sitting down for a design meeting.
Fixtures: Making Them Count
We only needed two faucets, two sinks, and a toilet. Which meant they had to be good.
I follow Ali Budd and saw they posted a Phylrich widespread gooseneck faucet in polished French brass from leftover inventory. I DM'd immediately and snagged it for a great price, plus the matching toilet paper holder. I love that it has a story and found its permanent home here.
For the kitchen, we went with a bridge faucet in polished nickel. Two different faucets, two different finishes, for variety.
As for lighting, we're bringing most of our current fixtures with us and adding new pieces where needed. The mix includes linen shades, hanging textured shades, onyx with brass, wood with brass, glass with brass, and two-tone brass and bronze.
Layered lighting is what we do best, and this space will showcase that exactly.
Trim Carpentry: Don't Skip the Details
Casing, baseboards, doors, wall mouldings - these details matter. I wanted them more elevated than typical commercial trim.
I found all our doors on Facebook Marketplace and they're solid and beautiful. The problem was I didn't realize we needed 36" wide doors for the offices and bathroom to meet barrier-free requirements. So now I'm ordering custom ones to match. Not ideal, but I'm glad the space will be more inclusive.
We're doing 7" flat stock for baseboards and working on a semi-custom casing solution, keeping them narrow at 2½" wide.
Construction Begins
With hard finishes locked in, we're into construction. Framing, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing all started this week.
The space is raw right now, but we can see start to see the vision. Six weeks to go.
This is where all the upfront work pays off. When you plan properly in Programming and Design Concept, construction becomes about execution, not figuring things out on the fly. Our trades have clear direction, which means they can do their best work without constant questions or changes.
Next up in Blog 5, we'll share construction updates and show you the progress as it happens.
