“Let’s Go Somewhere Else:” A Story of Missed Opportunity in Interior Design
“Let’s go somewhere else.”
A friend uttered those words, not long ago, as a group of us sat in an otherwise beautiful cocktail bar in Sydney’s Inner West. Gentle and diffuse uplighting, textured snakewood tabletops, vintage art deco tiles... all working together to create the kind of space you want to hang out.
Until you try having a conversation.
When we first arrived, we hardly noticed it. But soon someone pointed out how we were raising our voices just to hear each other. It was humorous at first... though the cat was out of the bag. You couldn’t unhear it: the acoustics were awful.
Every project has them. Massive opportunities that get missed, as they’re hidden by more “talked about” and obvious features. Features like flooring, paint colours, fixtures and furnishings... all elements that appeal to sight and touch, and rightfully get priority. But what of elements that appeal to our ears?
It’s not just a worry in commercial spaces, either. Next time you’re viewing a property, pay attention to the echo. It makes a place feel different... colder, somehow. Furniture and rugs get the ball rolling, of course. But they rarely get you the best results.
What you want is something that actually enhances the look, while reducing resonance and creating the kind of space where you’d want to hold a conversation. Very achievable.
One worry that our clients start with is that acoustic products will clash with their aesthetic. That’s why we launched a custom acoustic design (and install) service: Your aesthetic vision comes first, and then we work with you to design a custom solution (often working with our local CNC partner who make do almost anything— and at a cost that’s usually less than that of imported, off-the-shelf acoustic products).
Our acoustic design service is, essentially, separate to our primary business— which is supplying and building premium music listening spaces and home cinemas. I see it as another way to make an impact with our expertise. (After all, world-class listening rooms demand near-perfect room acoustics.)
All this means is, this service is designed not just for those who seek quality music in the home, but also those who simply want spaces that feel as good as they look.
Here's a short video showing off some of our CNC partner's craftwork. (The wavelike acoustic panel on the forward wall.) The rest of the room was designed and treated by us as well.
This was a music listening space, so we went with a dark ambiance, soft uplighting, and a mix of dark or timber treatment products. Options are, however, endless.
If you (or your clients) would like this kind of wonderful interior upgrade, we have an experienced team ready to serve you. Consultation, design, fabrication, install and, of course, everlasting support. Simply fill out the contact form below and let us know how we can help.
Here’s to the kind of home that makes people say, “Let’s stay here for awhile!”