Works Beautifully

For London design studio Elicyon – known for crafting some of the city’s most polished private residences – designing a first commercial space felt like an evolution rather than a total change. The office fit-out in Marylebone, for a property developer that was also a former client, bears some of the hallmarks of Elicyon’s residential work. It doesn’t reflect brand values in a bright, illuminated-logo-on-the-wall way – but rather through its expression of quiet luxury, with art, soft fabrics and some unexpected touches.

The studio’s founder Charu Gandhi says that “we wanted to design an office that is, of course, highly functional, but fundamentally is not overtly office-like.” She talks about the broader changes in attitudes that have been accelerated by the pandemic – “there’s a lot more synergy now in how our clients want to live, work and play; it’s much more of an amalgam now” – and how that encouraged her to look outside of her previously residential-only portfolio. “It’s what’s made us much more open to working across different sectors. We feel we can add value across all of them, because fundamentally, we know how a certain group of clients want to spend their time.”

The brief for the office was straightforward yet aspirational: create a contemporary, residential-feeling workspace that embodied the company’s ethos, offered an elevated welcome for visitors and improved day-to-day quality of life for the team. With a lobby-style entrance, three meeting rooms, two smaller ‘Zoom rooms’, an open-plan desk area and a long terrace overlooking the city, the layout of the 310 sqm office was straightforward, and now each space has its own identity across a coherent whole.

One of Elicyon’s boldest design decisions was the removal of the traditional suspended ceiling. Leaning into the industrial potential, the team exposed the workings of the building and painted it a light mint green, a move that reclaimed height and set the tone for the rest of the palette. Warm neutrals, natural timber and walls in soft Bauwerk limewash or jute wallcovering, are subtly tactile and inherently restful, with touches of darker blue that pull from the client’s branding.

The lounge-like reception lobby is wrapped in jute wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries, grounded by a bespoke Holland Cassidy rug and illuminated by a sculptural pendant. An embroidered textile brings art to the heart of the space, emblematic of Elicyon’s belief that workplaces can be professional without feeling too corporate.

Meeting rooms are separated from the main space by Crittall doors, whose glazing helps the light to penetrate, while in the main desk area of the office, square columns have been clad in fluted timber, an aid to acoustics as well a way to visually soften their appearance. The custom oak desks are by Very Good & Proper, with white ash flooring underfoot that provides a calm foundation, echoing the comfort of residential design.

The non-working communal spaces were given particular attention. “Before, the kitchen area was really sad; they wanted us to make that breakout staff space feel enjoyable and a place where the team can get together,” says Gandhi. “And they wanted the terrace to feel quite meaningful – not a leftover space – because they envisioned hosting drinks or events there. So it was also important to create a cohesiveness between the terrace and the inside.”

Functionally, the layout balances private, semi-private and collaborative zones. While the layout is fixed, its configuration nonetheless anticipates future growth, with more desks installed than the 24-strong current team requires.

Elicyon’s elevation of the workplace amplifies the importance of aesthetics – alongside functionality – in everyday professional life, helping to foster creativity, collaboration and a sense of wellbeing. It’s also a brilliant calling card for a property developer, impressing on visitors just how seriously the firm takes great design. It feels like a whole new standard of office space.