HD – 3 Takeways

Hospitality Design:

Leveling the Seesaw of Challenges Like most of the world, interior designers are on a seesaw that teeters between the desire to return to business as usual and the need to adapt to change. Creating balance in a pandemic environment is a constant focus for interior designers like those on FS Design Group’s team, and one way we do it is by incorporating inviting, hospitality-style design into functional, responsive space.

Now more than ever, interior designers, our partners and our clients must approach every new design project with flexibility to find that balance between what looks great and what works great.

Being flexible in our approach has paid off. Here, we’re sharing two tactics that help us find the right balance!

1. Supply chain solutions. Meeting deadlines on budget has never been more challenging with much-needed materials in short supply. In creating a design, have a Plan B and a Plan C. Our clients appreciate that we have an alternative in our back pocket that will allow a project to be completed with little compromise on materials or aesthetics. Be open minded about alternatives, such as focusing on American-made products, or even those manufactured in Latin America, to sidestep shipping and production challenges on Chinese goods. This means costs for products may be higher but may arrive on schedule without further delaying a project. Looking creatively at the project as a whole and setting realistic expectations will instill further confidence our client has in our design firm.
2. Flexible spaces. Spaces now need to serve multiple purposes and be able to easily pivot. For example, restaurants had to quickly provide outside space to re-open during the pandemic and multifamily properties saw the need to create welcoming outdoors spaces for residents. We don’t know what the future holds, but we’ve learned that being able to change a space immediately will likely be an ongoing need and has already enhanced the function of many spaces. Finishes, technology, lighting, heating, planting, barriers… with some forethought and creativity, all of these can be easily changed, added or subtracted to allow a space to continue functioning as needed.

In so many projects, hospitality design concepts crossing over into other human-centric areas is not a fad trend, it’s as relevant as ever. Hospitals, apartments, offices and all sorts of properties that provide welcoming, beautiful and functional spaces that take cues from hospitality conceptual designs see the benefit in happier employees, tenants, customers and patients.

The pandemic threw design challenges at us all, but they don’t have to prevent a project from making people feel like they want to be there. With a little flexibility, and creativity, those challenges can be overcome, and balance can be restored to our spaces.