A real estate agency turns traditional office design on its head – for the better.

Think of a real estate agency and you think of a brightly lit space filled with rows of desks; a chair on one side, two on the other. But when LJ Hooker’s Willoughby office, on Sydney’s lower north shore, moved into a new development, the team saw an opportunity to do something a little different.

After an initial concept with another design firm feel through, local studio Prospace was enlisted to create a space that redefined the real estate sales environment, taking design cues from the kind of luxurious properties that were selling in the area. In a radical departure from the norm, Prospace opted against a space that was composed of brightly lit signage and property boards covering the windows.

Instead, the floor-to-ceiling windows frame in black steel were left unobstructed, flooding the interior with natural light. The meeting room - at the front of the office - is encased in curved glass and designed as though a welcoming lounge room, filled with dark cabinetry, luxurious teal velvet sofas and homely touches of plants and candles. On the other side of the office, the boardroom evokes the sense of a dining room more so than a corporate space; its large black wooden table, grey chairs and striking gold pendant light adding personality to a room that is often devoid of one.

This attention to detail continues throughout the office, where a focus on materials and texture – raw honed stone, fabric wallpapers, hand-cut leather panelling, a slatted timber ceiling and an abundance of greenery – come together to create a welcoming and inspiring place of work.

It also continued to the choice of appliances, which played an important role in the overall design. Dan Eagles, Director of Prospace Australia, described the specification of the Zip HydroTap in the kitchen space as “non-negotiable”, thanks to it minimising the amount of tapware required on the bench top while also “providing quick and easy service for guests and the team.” Opting for the HydroTap in Matte Black ensures that it fits in with the overall design and blends in with the stone top and splash back, while providing instant, filtered still, sparkling or boiling water to everyone that uses it.

The office still looks as fresh as it does since the first day of moving in, more than a year after completion; a testament to considered design, thoughtfully-specified fixtures and fittings - and thinking beyond the norm.