For real estate agent Jarred Hanson, one of the most important design criteria of his new office was the look. Located in a storefront on the historic Main Street of Lake Elsinore, CA, the office would be a very visible demonstration of Hanson’s taste and judgment concerning properties. It needed to send the right message. Working with a palette of white, light grey and wood grain, Hanson transformed a small space with simple elements: exposed brick painted white, luxury vinyl plank floors in a bleached-wood pattern, and crowning it, a high-performing decorative ceiling from Ceilume.
As Hanson’s real estate business grew, he wanted to open his own office, and decided to do it on Main Street in a 100-plus year-old brick building. The space had most recently been occupied by a print shop.
The Hansons did a lot of brainstorming and searched for inspiration on Google, Etsy and Pinterest. They initially considered stamped metal tiles for the ceiling, but found them “really, really expensive,” and Jarred realized that a vintage look was not what he wanted. However, he found just what he was looking for in thermoformed tiles. Ceilume’s Stratford style in white, a clean pattern of concentric squares, complements modern architectural styles well while adding a note of formality to the office.
Installation went simply. The tiles fit the existing two by two grid and are considerably lighter in weight than metal or mineral fiber tiles.
He also wanted to expose the structural brick on the side walls – tying in with the company brand – but found it was too expensive a process. Instead, he added white faux brick on one entire wall, and a discreet area of faux brick on the opposite wall (covering the place where there had previously been a connecting door to the adjoining storefront). Wood-grain plank flooring complements the dark wood furniture. He kept the wall décor minimal, making a small space seem a little larger. However, Hanson feels that the ceiling brought the whole project together.
