The modern office

With little time for the interior design of the new Regus offices, Sophia List decided to undertake the project herself.

Located at The White House in George Town, the premises provides flexible working areas for individuals or companies and is part of a global network of similar offices.

There are co-working areas, private offices and conferencing facilities/meeting rooms. They offer convenience, along with a community atmosphere, in the contemporary working world, as approaches to office set-ups change, particularly in response to COVID-19.

“I had contacted several interior design specialists on-island, but unfortunately the timescale was very tight (pre-COVID) and so I decided to take the plunge and do the design myself,” says Sophia.

As the client relationship manager for Regus, Sophia’s only previous experience of interior decorating was furnishing her apartment in London.

Undeterred, she pressed ahead, researching social media platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration, as well as looking at the layout of design stores.

“I have always loved interior design, and how the surroundings of the environment can change the atmosphere and people’s mindset,” she says.

MIAMI TRIP

Sophia visited commercial furniture suppliers in Miami before checking out residential stores like West Elm, all in one day, flying to Florida in the morning then returning to Cayman in the evening.

“The hardest things to choose were thecommercial-grade items such as the bathrooms,lighting, fixtures and fittings, since options were limited and all new to me,” she says.

She later ordered the furniture online and had it shipped to Cayman, ahead of their soft opening in January.

To make certain of selecting the correct dimensions, Sophia sent CAD drawings from their architect Eddie Thompson to the Miami suppliers to ensure desks would fit.

 

“We want our clients to feel like they are working in a positive, modern facility with the ability to network with other clients in Cayman.”

– Sophia List

LOCAL ACCESSORIES

Sophia then sourced a number of ‘nick-nacks’ on-island from design companies HÜIS, Design Studio and Anna Hislop Home.

“They really tie everything in together and give it a homely feel as well as being corporate,” she says. “I also had some prints made from the Cayman Islands National Archives to keep us connected with our local heritage.”

Describing the aesthetic as modern, clean, sophisticated, refined, fresh, open and stylish, Sophia is delighted with the outcome.

“We want our clients to feel like they are working in a positive, modern facility with the ability to network with other clients in Cayman,” she says.

The aim is for everybody at the offices to feel they are still part of a team and have a designated place in which to work, brainstorm, and get out of the house, whether it’s on a flexible basis or Monday-to-Friday routine.

“I’m so happy with how it all came together,” says Sophia. “There were so many risks having it all imported (not seeing everything before ordering) and doing it myself with no previous experience, but we got there.”