AKA Interiors Design Firm
The Office for AKA Interiors started as a vineyard barn in California’s Wine Country. The land and barn were a gift from a family member in order to help fulfill the dream of starting an interior design firm. The barn is in good condition, but is not built to serve as an inhabited building, so the roof and structural frame are the only parts of the barn that will be kept as they are. Since so much work must be done to the building, it makes sense to expand as well, but the building can only be expanded 10’ in every direction before the cost of altering the site becomes a major factor.
The design of the space is inspired by a playful whimsy and balancing contrast. This inspiration appears in the combination of modern, new elements, and reuse of old, rustic materials from the original building, as well as through the use of circles and curves balanced by rectangular forms. Pops of red against neutral wood tones, grays, blacks, and whites create an energizing environment.
Sustainability is very important to the design of this office with the aim to use as much of the barn’s original materials as possible in order to prevent them from going to a landfill, as well as to avoid unnecessarily manufacturing new materials to be used. Additionally, most walls added to the building are also curtain walls, which flood the space with natural light to allow for reduced use of electric lighting.
The first floor of this structure features all of the public space, including the reception and waiting areas, an accessible restroom, and the conference room. The entire first floor is ADA compliant in order to accommodate all clients and other visitors to the space.
The second floor is primarily work space. Large work tables with storage underneath provide plenty of space to spread out project documents., material samples, and any other project components; they were created using wood from the original barn. This floor is completely open with the junior designers and the owner working in the same space to encourage interaction and collaboration. This floor also contains a small efficiency apartment which can be rented for additional income to help pay for building expenses.
The third floor contains unfinished space for future expansion along with a break area and outdoor space. The outdoor space can be used for both work and relaxation. There is lounge style furniture along with a cafe table to provide flexible seating options. Having this outdoor space also allows the firm to really take advantage of the area’s mild and pleasant climate.
