toi toi toi creative studio: on creating timeless interiors
toi toi toi creative studio was founded by designers Stephanie Lund and Melissa Amarelo.
The intention
T3 is known for their deliberate, timeless, and responsible uses of space. Their goal is to create places people want to be in and for a long time. Even through changes to companies such as the normalization of hybrid work, they are working to make workspaces last.
“We want to create fun spaces. Spaces that people feel good in. Spaces where people stop and think: ‘Wow, what do they do here? Why is this so cool?’ We strive to create spaces that spark interest and emotion. We also want to be responsible at the same time. Sustainability is also always on our radar. Letting in natural light, air flow, water usage, materials: where are these things coming from? Can we use local suppliers? That's also very much part of our mission,” said Melissa.
A toi toi toi creative studio design highlighting natural materials.
An apartment interior by toi toi toi creative studio.
An inclusive place to work
The duo is always looking ahead in terms of accessibility and what is already offered to us in work or public spaces. When they step outside they notice how their environments are either catered towards or against accessibility. This awareness informs a large aspect of their design.
At Contentful, T3 showed their attentiveness to detail through the thoughtful inclusion of spaces such as lounges, open (and closed) concept work areas, meditation pods, nap pods, an ablution room, parents room, fitness room, gender-neutral washrooms, navigated with color coding and braille signage.
“These spaces are so vital to living, like work-life balance. Work-life balance doesn't have to be one or the other. It can very much blend into each other. For example the kids room, why can't you bring your kid to work if you're doing certain tasks and you can have your child around when you need to? It just takes one level of stress off that actually doesn't need to be there in the first place,” said Melissa.
And the two see more change, especially after COVID lockdowns, with companies willing to add more inclusive spaces to their offices.
“More and more people are becoming open to the idea, especially after lockdown. You know, you can't just come back to a desk and a coffee machine. You need more than that,” Stephanie added.
A lounge at the Contentful workplace.
The process
Stephanie and Melissa are not only partners in their design process but also longtime friends. So when it comes to dividing work up between the two, it usually comes naturally. One will take the lead on-site with the trades while the other might handle work with the suppliers.
The pair took us through their usual process and pointed out ways it differs from other studios. They start with interviewing the client, explaining how they see the space to work, and gaining an understanding of how the client wants it to work.
“Maybe they have extra bits of information that we didn't know about, little things they'd like to spend their day doing. It's important to tailor the design to each person. We try to ask questions which they haven't thought of before, to then really open up the possibilities of the design of the space,” Melissa said.
Then the process goes into workshopping, the two seeing the space in person, figuring out the best direction to take and working it out with the clients. But possibly their most important step is in the aftercare, what they call a ‘post-occupancy follow-up’:
“We'll take a survey on how the space is functioning, what might be working well, what might not be working. Generally, things work. But there's always comments because, you know, staff changes over time and people's needs change. Especially with COVID people have been thinking about all of the things that they want to have coming back to the office because post lockdown needs might have shifted a little. So it's making sure you don't just design a space and then leave it, you have to keep following up with it to make sure that it is continuously functioning,” explained Stephanie.
At T3’s own studio a Ficus audrey complements the natural material of an insulating wall.
Color and creating timelessness
Since sustainability is high on T3’s list of priorities, it’s natural that the team strives toward creating timeless interiors. That means inserting biophilic qualities, searching out the most functional furniture, and utilizing colors that don’t just follow trends.
“People really appreciate the way we use color,” begins Stephanie. “Because we can introduce color in a space where it can be subtle. I think people are very scared of color so it's about the way we approach it. People really accept it and appreciate that,” Melissa added.
In toi toi toi creative studio’s own workplace, it’s clear that color play a prominent role in the design.
Plants & T3
When the two enter a space or see a floor plan, they're always thinking of plant placement. Plants are a big part of their “musts” for designing workplaces.
“If there were no plants here would you want to spend time here? No, that's the reality. I don't think I've ever worked in a space where it didn't have plants,” Melissa said.
Stephanie goes on to explain that although they’re always considering where plants should go when they first enter a space, they leave the final say to Plantclub. Melissa finishes with expressing her thoughts on the importance of having experts and collaborators you can trust.
“I think that's the best thing about Plantclub - the level of help that we've received. We have a vision and then you help us understand what plants will be beautiful there. It makes our job easier when we have so many beautiful options and we both want the same outcome.”
Plants complement the statement chairs in T3’s own meeting room.
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