The branches needed to have an individual feel but with a cohesive thread that would connect them together as part of the same company.

The designer, MMID, worked closely with Irvine International to source a green accredited wool carpet tile that would suit both of the offices, the building management requirements, budget and the individual styles planned for the different branches. Wellington’s carpet tile colour was selected for its organic and earthy tones and texture ensuring that the overall scheme worked with existing stone and light beech floors.

Another consideration was the extensive art collection. The main wall colour needed to act as a neutral background to highlight the art and not compete with it. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Chrome White was selected as it complemented the stone, created a natural canvas for the art and would be easy to clean.

Three levels of bathrooms were revamped with Level 24 bathrooms being completely redesigned and laid out. To enable the bathrooms to be revamped quickly, a Laminex product was cut into one metre squares and applied over existing floor and wall tiles. This was complemented by Resene Quarter Ironsand on all painted surfaces, including the cabinetry and ceilings and a touch of designer wallpaper to complete the look.

The ceiling domes in the lobbies of the three levels of the building were painted in a striking colour combination of Resene Smalt Blue and Resene Timbuktu. These paint colours were then carefully matched to the rug colour pods and lift lobby runner rugs, custom made by Designer Rugs using a MMID design.

The partners’ dining room was a quirky take on Wellington’s love of rugby. The dining table was refinished in Resene Black with a yellow and black fabric being used on the dining chairs with a pop of yellow for the back cushions. The carpet was changed in this area from the carpet tile to one of Irvine’s most plush products – Peninsula – in black to match the table.

The materials palette was strongly influenced by the funky creative vibe that Wellington is so renowned for. It was focused on being fun and artistic and to ensure the surrounding water and hills seen from every window was engulfed into the working spaces, while maintaining a high standard of professionalism in keeping with the company’s reputation. The initial concept of colour was birthed from the harbour seen from the Level 24 reception windows. Nature’s colours were pulled through the windows into the reception area and then the earthy natural palette was translated into the meeting rooms with pops of colour and fun in these rooms. The cabinets in the meeting rooms were painted in a high gloss finish in a colour palette of Resene Smalt Blue, Resene Timbuktu, Resene Bivouac Green and Resene Chicago to ensure a good saturation of colour was achieved.

Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer was used on many of the walls on Level 24 and 25 as they were a coloured plate finish that was popular in the early nineties but very dated now. The sealer enabled the walls to be finished in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, without the need to remove the original substrate. Doors and surrounds are finished in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel, chosen for its fast drying nature compared to traditional enamels. As an added practical touch, a blackboard was created in the lunchroom using Resene Blackboard Paint.

The same Resene colours have been used continuously through the offices with differing sheen levels to bring out different elements in different spaces. As you walk through the offices you feel the colour but are not dominated by it.

Building contractor: Nailed Construction
Client: Russell McVeagh
Interior designer: MMID
Painting contractor: Cemac
Photographer: Zoe Porter
Supplier – rugs: Designer Rugs
Supplier – cabinets: Ferndale Furniture
Supplier – lighting: ECC Lighting
Supplier – carpet: Irvine International
Supplier – laminates: Laminex Group
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2013

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