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.
Interior Design for a Bubble Tea Shop
Oasis Tea Zone Capitol Hill
The challenge of this café design was how to draw visitors into the deep space from the street, especially with the point-of-sale on a lower level.
From Abandoned Home to Community Anchor
Ada’s Technical Books and Café
Ada’s Technical Books and Café is an adaptive reuse project converting a dilapidated single-story Craftsman home on Capitol Hill into a small, mixed-use retail space.
The Office at Ada’s
The Office at Ada’s | Image courtesy of The Office at Ada’s.
Interior Design for a Coworking Space
The Office at Ada’s
The owners of Ada's Technical Book & Café returned to Board & Vellum for the design of a co-working space for local entrepreneurs fostering small businesses.
Our commercial posts.
Commercial, Interior Design
How To Create a Residential Feel in a Commercial Space
Are you hoping for a residential feel — that "homey" comfort — in your commercial space? You aren’t alone! Spaces that capture that homey feeling draw people in, and can help people feel more comfortable and relaxed in your establishment. How do you pull it off? Here are our top ten design elements to make it happen.
Read more.
Commercial, Interior Design, Third Places
Ten Design Elements to Consider for Your Third Place
Always dreamed of quitting your 9-5 job and opening your own coffee shop? Or perhaps looking to spruce up your existing quaint café? Look no further! Here are ten key design elements you won't want to forget, taking your Third Place’s design to the next level and encourage your clientele to linger.
Read more.
Commercial, Custom Residential, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Multifamily & Mixed-Use
Virtual Reality for Architecture: Experience Your Space Before You Build It
Can you visualize a space from floor plans as if you were in it yourself? Don’t worry, most people can’t, and that sometimes makes it hard to communicate design ideas. Virtual reality can help with that — we can spin up a VR model so you can experience it as close to real as it gets.
Read more.
Commercial
Design Your Retail Space for Selfies (Yes, Really.)
Maintaining a small retail business is really hard — you need great marketing, and to get your space in front of a lot of eyes. We say, design your retail space for selfies! If your shop or restaurant looks unique and interesting, your visitors will help market it for you. Here’s how to get started with design.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Commercial, Custom Residential, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture
Ask an Architect: Highlights from The B&V Blog
Our blog has always been a way for us to pull back the curtain on what we do as architects and designers: to advocate for our clients and help anyone learn a bit more about how we do things. This is a collection of highlights from the past few years, all in one place!
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Commercial, Custom Residential, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Multifamily & Mixed-Use
Hourly vs. Fixed-Fee Billing: What is the Difference?
How do you decide between hourly vs. fixed-fee billing? People really don’t like to talk about money, but you need to talk about it enough to make the right choice about how you would like your project billed. Here is how these two billing methods work, and why you might prefer one over the other.
Read more.Would you like to learn more?
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.