Our client Mark is a high-profile barrister who recently acquired a new office in Sydney. The space itself came with a spectacular view, however the interior didn’t exactly live up to the standard.

As always, we shared in-depth conversations with Mark that allowed us to determine first and foremost the key functional requirements of his new office. These needs then informed the design—a modern take on the traditional barrister’s office. An abundance of storage was paramount for books and folders, so we installed two large shelving units across the entire back wall of the office. These are positioned above a full-width credenza that contains a mix of file drawers and sliding doors.

We chose American oak timber as a lighter and fresher alternative to the dark mahogany traditionally used in barristers’ furniture, complimented by a eucalyptus green feature wall—a nod to traditional green leather mats often featured on desk tops. We applied a grey Abet Laminati to selected doors and drawer fronts of the credenza to contrast the oak. The bookshelves feature lap-joined verticals that correspond to the handles of the credenzas and a chamfered edge profile at an angle opposite to that of the credenza top. Finally, there is the centrepiece of the room—a large desk with tapered profiled legs in American oak and a green painted front modesty panel to tie in with the surrounding wall. Not a bad view at all.