Topics
Commercial
Designing for commercial spaces is an exercise in balance: often there are tight budgets and timelines, but if you don’t get it right while staying true to your brand, you risk having uninspired clients who don’t come back in again, or employees who’d rather work elsewhere. We love designing inspired spaces, and here you’ll find all things commercial (projects, blog posts, recognition, and more) at Board & Vellum.
Our commercial portfolio projects.
Tenant Improvement for a Tattoo Parlor
Laughing Buddha Tattoo & Body Piercing
Laughing Buddha’s new space has a soothing, spa-like atmosphere, but one that still keeps the “edge” of a tattoo and piercing parlor.
Softening a Concrete Façade with Greenery
Downtown Retail Streetscape for Club Monaco
A lush, planted streetscape sets this urban retail space apart, with mature plants offering height, and climbing vines drawing the eye up the façade.
Tenant Improvement for a Coffee Shop
The Cottage: Coffee, Bistro & Bar
Coffee shop by day, restaurant, bar, and performance venue by night, this flexible space balances the aesthetics of a Parisian bistro and a rustic, country cottage.
Transforming an Auto Shop into a Brew Pub
Lowercase Brewing Taproom
The open spaces, tall ceilings, concrete floors, and overhead doors of this old auto repair shop work perfectly when transformed into a tap room for a brewery.
Our commercial posts.
Commercial, Third Places
Are Loud Restaurants Really Worth It?
There are certainly reasons why some chefs and restaurant owners prefer a loud space. And, some restaurant patrons enjoy it, too, at least for a little while. Here are a few reasons why loud restaurants exist and a few ways we could make them a little quieter, while still keeping a business profitable.
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Commercial, Interior Design
Creating a Healthier Office Space
Fortunately, trends in office space design have moved beyond fields of cubicles and row after row of fluorescent lighting. Skylights and lush green walls are popular, but even if you can’t incorporate holistic design options like these to support a healthier space, there are plenty of smaller moves you can make to create a healthy office.
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Commercial
Private Offices vs. “Open Office” Concepts for Workspaces
Over the years, the popular (and researched) opinions about what makes for an ideal workspace have shifted from recommending private offices, to semi-private, to the so-called “open office” concepts, and back. But, different types of workspaces are ideal for different types of companies, based on budget, type of work, company culture, and more.
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Commercial
Branding Through Storytelling in Commercial Design
Storytelling is an integral part of humanity: our individual and communal lives are built on stories. When it comes to a brand, a well-told, authentic story reflected in a physical space is incredibly impactful. But, what does that mean and where do you start in the design process?
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Commercial, Interior Design
How to Design a Sense of “Home” into your Retail Space
Evoking a sense of “home” in a retail space can be a key factor in getting your customers to not only linger long enough to make a purchase, but to keep them coming back. But creating this type of experience takes more nuance than simply adding a couch — here’s what to consider when planning your space.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Commercial
What Is a Tenant Improvement Allowance?
As a business owner, understanding what a tenant improvement (or TI) allowance is, is essential to inform the choices you’ll make when selecting a new commercial space and negotiating your commercial lease. The TI allowance will also define how much of the cost of your commercial build-out will come out of your pocket.
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We’re thrilled that you’re interested!
Our Story
Board & Vellum is a young and vibrant firm built on the idea that an informed and engaged team leads to better design and happy clients. We wouldn’t be where we are today without passion and hard work, and those same two things keep us going strong today.
Our Process
Bringing your project from “idea” to fruition is a little different at Board & Vellum. We give personal care to each of our projects, and you’ll be in the loop every step the way. The bonus: we are an integrated firm, so each project has access to plenty of great knowledge — and that leads to better design.
Considering a project? Or, just curious about something?
Send us your questions about design, architecture, interiors, landscape, LEGO rooms… Anything, really. We’re always eager to meet new people, and we’d love to get to know you, your project, and your goals.