I was going to write this piece for my column in ThisDay but I felt this would be the perfect medium for me to vent, without worrying (as much) about word limits and political correctness.
Not enough people know this but there is an area of overlap between interior design/decorating and branding. One should not exist entirely independently of the other. However, when interpreting your brand in the interiors of your workspace it need not be literal. Whenever I meet with commercial clients to get a brief for designing their offices, boutiques, bars, etc.. it is really important that I get a clear idea of their brand identity and the image they are trying to project. I take away as much literature, stationery, logos etc as I can. For me, the space in which your customers or clients meet you says in so many words what your 'mission statement' or slogan may try to capture. I do not however colour match your logo and cover every wall and surface with that exact same shade of blue or lime green!
An office not too far from me has all its interior walls painted lime green. As they were decorating I peeped in through the window and wondered how on earth they'd be able to do any work and be productive in such an acidic space. A few days later I drove past and they'd hung up tangerine coloured curtains! I wondered what they were thinking when they made those choices. What were they trying to say? What kind of business could this be? Great colours, yes. But put together it was just so intense and so.... much!
A couple of days ago I saw one of their business cards. Their logo is green and orange. Oh, I see! Now it made sense. They're a young company, bringing an innovative product to the market. The graphic designer who came up with that logo probably thought Green = fresh. Orange = bold, daring, avante garde. It totally makes sense. On a business card. But in their offices, the spirit of that message could have been interpreted in a light and fresh space. Maybe some modern furniture. The odd splash of orange or green here and there in a potted plant or a piece of artwork. Maybe the floors or ceilings could be clad in an unusual material, creatively used. Possibly some really funky yet simple lighting. That would have said to me: young, innovative, ground breaking company. And not just "I took my business card to Dulux"!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Friday, December 10, 2010
Santa's little helpers
Hello there!
From the guys who brought you the Sexy Summer Threesome, we are back again with a retail experience you will not want to miss. The Santa’s Little Helpers Christmas fair is happening this weekend and we’ve got something for everyone! Home accessories, gift items, jewellery, ICE watches, clothing and fashion accessories, Christmas cakes and desserts, cupcakes, mulled wine, hampers... and the most amazing gift wrapping service you have seen in a long while.
So whether you’re looking to do some last minute Christmas shopping, buy a gift for friends and family, something special to treat yourself or some delicious treats for the kids, it’s all happening in Lekki this Sunday.
Sunday December 12th, 2010
Blue Mahogany Studio, 1B Omorinre Johnson Close, Lekki Phase 1
12noon - 8pm
Christmas begins here!
See you soon,
Omon and Emeka
Xxx
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
We had a young lady come over to the design studio recently. She's working in a furniture company run by a male MD. She's having a great time in her job and says she is definitely learning a lot from them and the projects she has been involved in. However, she feels she's missing something. Her hope was that in internship with us would teach her a little something extra about interior design with "a woman's touch". I initially wasn't sure how to take this but I decided it was a compliment.
It got me thinking though, about how male and female designers or architects might approach a project differently. It reminded me also of a project I was asked to look at a couple of months ago. The prospective clients were are well known restaurant in Lagos that had recently had a huge makeover. They'd flown in an Italian interior designer who had put together a gorgeous scheme. But after millions of Naira spent, they called me in to have a look at the space because it was still missing 'something'. Turned out the designer (very talented I might add) was male. I am not sure how relevant that was to the outcome. He was also gay but again the relevance of that is debatable.
I've put together a few images and wonder if you can tell which ones have 'a woman's touch'.
Photographs courtesy of www.oliversteel.com and www.sheilabridges.com.
It got me thinking though, about how male and female designers or architects might approach a project differently. It reminded me also of a project I was asked to look at a couple of months ago. The prospective clients were are well known restaurant in Lagos that had recently had a huge makeover. They'd flown in an Italian interior designer who had put together a gorgeous scheme. But after millions of Naira spent, they called me in to have a look at the space because it was still missing 'something'. Turned out the designer (very talented I might add) was male. I am not sure how relevant that was to the outcome. He was also gay but again the relevance of that is debatable.
I've put together a few images and wonder if you can tell which ones have 'a woman's touch'.
Photographs courtesy of www.oliversteel.com and www.sheilabridges.com.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Beauty is...
not just in the eye of the beholder, but in all the senses.
We had a few people over for dinner this weekend. Simple nibbles, everyone brought a bottle... It was meant to be one of those evenings where you enjoy good company and have a great time with minimal effort. After just coming back from holiday I was still in a 'chilled out' state of mind. I wasn't about to slave away in the kitchen, spend ages agonizing over flower arrangements and then eons more picking out the perfect hostess outfit. This time I couldn't be bothered to be bothered.
That's what I thought until the first guest called for directions to the house. And then I felt that little flutter of anxiety. OMG, how can we entertain and the house not be absolutely, perfectly... beautiful? What to do, what to do? When in doubt, whip out the props! I've found that the right lighting and a strategic bowl of fruit can do wonders for a room. And scented candles? Absolute magic.
Two lanterns just outside the front door make people feel welcome and a little bit special as they approach. Almost like you rolled out a red carpet, just for them. I cheekily snuck in a squirt of room fragrance by the entrance so that as you walk in you are welcomed by this lovely calming feel-good scent. Dim lighting creates a nice 'restauranty' ambiance and flickering candles dotted around the room suddenly turn our living room into this glamorous entertaining space. Trust me, almost anything looks glamorous in candlelight! Ipod and dock, check! Set to shuffle and turn down just so. By the time you get to the dainty canapes laid out on sleek black platters, you have no idea that really they are just little crackers with a bit of cream cheese, salami and black pepper that literally took us 10minutes to rustle up!
If you ask anyone who was there that night (apart from that weird guy with the tacky belt who looked like he'd rather be at a Timaya concert), they would all say they had a great time and the evening was just... beautiful!
We had a few people over for dinner this weekend. Simple nibbles, everyone brought a bottle... It was meant to be one of those evenings where you enjoy good company and have a great time with minimal effort. After just coming back from holiday I was still in a 'chilled out' state of mind. I wasn't about to slave away in the kitchen, spend ages agonizing over flower arrangements and then eons more picking out the perfect hostess outfit. This time I couldn't be bothered to be bothered.
That's what I thought until the first guest called for directions to the house. And then I felt that little flutter of anxiety. OMG, how can we entertain and the house not be absolutely, perfectly... beautiful? What to do, what to do? When in doubt, whip out the props! I've found that the right lighting and a strategic bowl of fruit can do wonders for a room. And scented candles? Absolute magic.
Two lanterns just outside the front door make people feel welcome and a little bit special as they approach. Almost like you rolled out a red carpet, just for them. I cheekily snuck in a squirt of room fragrance by the entrance so that as you walk in you are welcomed by this lovely calming feel-good scent. Dim lighting creates a nice 'restauranty' ambiance and flickering candles dotted around the room suddenly turn our living room into this glamorous entertaining space. Trust me, almost anything looks glamorous in candlelight! Ipod and dock, check! Set to shuffle and turn down just so. By the time you get to the dainty canapes laid out on sleek black platters, you have no idea that really they are just little crackers with a bit of cream cheese, salami and black pepper that literally took us 10minutes to rustle up!
If you ask anyone who was there that night (apart from that weird guy with the tacky belt who looked like he'd rather be at a Timaya concert), they would all say they had a great time and the evening was just... beautiful!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Uno Home Accessories presents...Sexy Summer 3Some (Home accessories, lingerie and delicious cupcakes and desserts)
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
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