Our A+E Network Executive Lounge Reveal is Finally Here!

Remember a few months back, at the start of summer, when we announced our redesign of the executive office lounge at A+E Networks? With the cool autumn weather coming in strong and fast, it feels like forever ago, but we are now eager to announce that the project is finally complete! When A+E Networks first approached us, we were BURSTING with the thrill of working with the television network responsible for hit shows like Top Gear, Storage Wars, and Project Runway. The network was in desperate need of an office that exuded a “hip, downtown” vibe while maintaining the utility of a business space. Here’s what they had to start with:

 

 

As you can see, the space is pretty large… but also pretty sad: 4,500 square feet of desolate officelandia. So, how did we transform this space? Our game plan going in was to use both modern and traditional elements, blending together eclectic patterns and textures, to create a visually layered room.

One of the first decisions we made was to divide the room into four quadrants. Why? Two reasons. First, usability. In a big open room filled with long tables, there is no way to create a defined space for conferences, group meetings, or casual conversation.  It would be like trying to lounge in the chaos of your high school cafeteria. With the room pieced into sections, the areas for talking are more intimate, and the sofas and chairs are triangulated in a way that facilitates conversation. Additionally, you can have four separate meetings or conversations occurring simultaneously without one group disrupting another, so it’s just practical. The second reason for the quadrants was design cohesion. It’s difficult to construct an eclectic look in a large room that is also cohesive. But by breaking the room up, we were able to design four parts that each have their own tone and personality, and then each of the four sections play off one another to work as a unified whole.

Here’s an overall pic so you can get a better idea:

 

 

For this first area below, we were inspired by the beautiful blend that results when you pair together vintage with industrial. The exposed ceiling gave the space a naturally-industrial feel, so we played off of the aesthetic by selecting very modern chandeliers (picked out by yours truly, Cal the Kuotes’ content manager). You’ll notice that these chandeliers, along with the rugs, mark each quadrant as part of a definitive whole. To add warmth to a space, nothing does it better than vintage! We chose a leather sofa with antique brass nailheads and buttery red and brown tones that add a touch of coziness to the workspace. You’ll also find hints of our Global Bazaar collection in this quadrant, bringing diversity and unique textiles to the look. 

 

 

Get the A+E Look:

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Pro Tip: Choosing standout fabrics and upholstery against an inviting, neutral palette draws the eye in and really makes your design pop. We are obsessed with this beautiful suzani pattern. Coming from Central Asia, the tribal-inspired textile above brings an interesting, international vibrancy to the space. We don’t do much red here at the Kuotes, but we couldn’t keep our hands off of this!

 

 

For each area in the room, we selected a beautiful modern table lamp, such as the industrial cement lamp we chose for above. Table lamps make the space more functional, and their glow makes you feel like you’re meeting with a colleague in the comfort of your own home. Greenery was also added to each quadrant to liven the space and keep any area from feeling too corporate. At the same time, most of the design elements you’ll see in these photos are modernist and businesslike: symmetrical, clean, straight lines, and a gender-neutral color palette. This “corporate-cozy” mixture is great for creating a welcoming atmosphere that maintains perfect professionalism.

 

Get the A+E Look:

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Pro Tip: White and bright always looks stunning, especially in this large open space where the city sun comes pouring in through the windows. The chairs above may be my personal favorite part of this room. The bold pattern and nailhead detailing are stunning. Always make sure your space has a killer statement chair like the ones above. 

 

 

Design is in the details. We fell head over heels when we found the antique toy car you see smiling in the corner. I mean…how cute is cute? It’s the perfect photography prop (not to mention, it’s now Maya’s favorite form of transportation). We also chose hair-on-hide pillows in an exotic chevron pattern to add texture and an eclectic rustic edge to an otherwise modern design. The chairs we chose in this section have a pinstriped twill fabric and driftwood arms because we wanted to choose pieces with materials that matched the industrial appeal. 

 

Get the A+E Look:

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We would like to end our post by thanking A+E Networks. For a project of this scale, multiple hands were on deck to ensure that all of the contracting work went smoothly and that all of the pieces we curated for the room arrived safely and on time. A+E also allowed us to bring a fresh new spin to the executive lounge office. We admire their openness to that idea corporate spaces do not have to be cold, bland, or…well, corporate feeling at all! Many people don’t recognize that a majority spends over 25% of their hours per week at work, so the space you work in should be a space you love!

What do you think of our redesign? Let us know in the comment section below!