Wayne’s vision from the start for the showpiece executive office for his brand, encompassing 14 offices, was very clear. A space where the Sweeney team could easily gather for regular training, events, board meetings & celebrations. It had to evoke a ‘wow’ from everyone who came & it needed to fit within the budget. With those parameters set, our innovative in-house Design Team set to making magic! The results speak for themselves, exceeding expectations in both looks & function. Maximising the stunning high ceilings & tall windows, we complemented the style of the building with a modern twist.
Sandy & Wayne are an awesome team, heading up the Sweeney brand from their Williamstown home base. Their attitude to work is unmatched and a big reason for this office fitout in Melbourne was a way to cease the continual inconvenient trips to train the troops down in Sunshine.
The Design Team vision was to make the space feel corporate without compromising on a homely, comfortable vibe. The desired ‘resimercial’ feel was achieved, beginning with a neutral base of black, white & timber. Milano Walnut Natural by Laminex was selected as the main timber laminate, chosen for its rich red-brown tones, accented by the maroon & tan elements in the space. Black joinery to the kitchen & black powder coating throughout the Williamstown Sweeney Head Office give a Manhattan feel & keep it sharp.
Entering the boardroom through the large glass sliding door, you are greeted by custom engraved steel handles in Sweeney’s logo, and large scale frostings in the same.
The boardroom features a custom-made LED pendant in black powdercoat hangs, accentuating the height of the ceiling & echoing both the size of the feature slotted laminate ceiling tile & the table below. The table is surrounded by seating with a classy but space efficient compact footprint in stunning genuine tan leather. Carefully specified for their size, functionality colour & quality, the chairs intentionally don’t look out of scale for the rest of the room, which is used as a quasi-training-cum-event space. Equipped with a lifetime warranty, the chairs are durable enough to stand the test of time with constant commercial use. On the floor, the repeated herringbone motif provides a cost effective visual interest without any additional cost. An insert of a beige toned grey tile, Ingrain in Pottery by Godfrey Hirst, bordered with Lakeside from the same series creates subtle zoning within the room, delineating an island where furniture is placed and forming a passage around the perimeter of the large space. The slight touch of deep blue in the Lakeside references the Sweeney brand, tying into the frames of the stackable training chairs, powder coated in the Sweeney cyan blue. A wall painted in Dulux Domino, a chalky black houses the large training screen, gives the light filled space a grounding point and a feature wall in Elegant Oak by Laminex (concealing the doors to storage rooms) adds an element of warmth to the space.
The standout feature - the kitchen & bar, has custom made base cupboards in Black laminate in matt finish by Polytec, creating a simple backdrop for the feature of the space - the herringbone marble look tiles. The herringbone motif continued through from the boardroom/ training room to the kitchen and bar area, providing interest and a natural texture & are the star of the show! Versatile caesarstone benchtops in Raven seamlessly blend with the lower cabinetry, allowing the marble look to shine & keeping the space contemporary & slick. Accented with brass touches such as the Nuevo D Handle in Antique Brass, a Billi unit in Urban Brass and a stunning Faucet Strommen tap in Raw Polished Brass. The brass tones with the Milano Walnut Laminex overheads lend warmth to the largely black & white kitchen/ bar. A 3 door, glass fronted drinks fridge, icemaker, dishwasher, hotplate, oven & frenchdoor fridge/freezer complete this entertaining space & make it perfect for holding regular events.
Dominating the lounge space is a tan leather L-shaped sectional, bringing in the natural texture & colour from the boardroom seating. Unexpected pops of burgundy velvet unite with the tan in the vintage- style floor rug. A marble-topped coffee table & marble base lamp bring the lounge area into keeping with the entire fitout. Walls adorned in Dulux Domino create a dramatic background for the cosy, warm & inviting mix of tan & burgundy.
The bathrooms were kept simple with clean lines, continuing the same concrete- look tile selected on the floors throughout the kitchen/ bar, up the walls, completed with accents of black hardware.
Wayne’s own office was crucial to get right within the tricky shape of the tenancy. Built on a corner block, the building follows 2 roads in the heart of seaside Williamstown. Careful plotting of the angles allowed us to build custom joinery to fit perfectly. For his desk, using hand applied laminate techniques, we created an executive feel without breaking the budget, designing a light timber insert in the dark timber desk. Custom upholstery on his workstation chair again references the Sweeney brand, also reflected in the navy velvet couch.
The herringbone carpet, Ingrain in Pottery is continued in both Wayne & Sandy’s offices, keeping a consistent vibe throughout.
The whole Executive office has a very calming ambience. The logical layout & the well thought out interior design has lead to the formation of an intangible quality whereby one feels at home in the space.
What our clients say...
"Well thanks again for inviting me here today, on behalf of ICON, we are here in the finished headquarters, HQ, for Sweeney Real Estate. We have done 14 offices, we’ve done I'd say beginners fitouts, but this is the bee’s knees
It's been such a success, the team at ICON are just like military precision, the team are coordinated and everything is set in place with a daily running sheet, and everything happens on time, I was just blown away – all the people that I’ve dealt with in real estate over the last 42 years. Especially with trades people that will let you down at the best of times. But your team are just incredible. Nothing is a problem; if there’s an issue – its fixed. If something needs to be readdressed, or you’re not happy with its fixed. It's just been a wonderful process. Really good
Absolutely, there is no one else to recommend. No one else. With you being specific to this part of the industry where you organize all the council permits, all the behind the scenes things, and so forth that a normal person can do, and it takes 6, 8 12 months, VCAT, the whole lot. Whereas you just ease the whole process, which is included in the whole package, it's just brilliant.
But this is the headquarters, this is my future, this is just Rolls Royce, this is the fit out. I’ve checked out other jobs you’ve done, other real estate agents, my good friend Jeremy Fox over at RT Edgar in Toorak, also the corporate headquarters for Jellis Craig in South Yarra, and I'd like to say this is better than those!"
Wayne Sweeney - Sweeney Estate Agents