in partnership with Room & Board
When Jasmin Foster of Be Rooted reached out to Blessed Little Bungalow about helping her with her new commercial space…. My first reaction: I fangirled a bit. My second reaction: I know the perfect partner (Room & Board) to bring the space to life!
Jasmin Foster is a trailblazer, girl boss, and the definition of Black Girl Magic. With years of brick and mortar and ecommerce retail experience, she founded Be Rooted in 2020 (yes, during the pandemic!) an inclusively designed stationery brand. Why? Because she wanted to give women of color a lifestyle brand that made them feel loved, seen, and heard, something that hadn’t already existed in the market. Be Rooted was also the first Black-owned stationery brand on the shelves at Target and has since expanded into five categories: journals, planners, desk, games, and home goods.
Jasmin leased a new commercial space in Lawrenceville, Georgia, just north of Atlanta, and invited me by to see the blank canvas. The layout included an entry/lobby area, private office, two-stall restroom, and warehouse. I’d be tasked with transforming the space into a colorful, energetic space that the team would be proud to co-work and collaborate in. Let’s look at where things started…
First things first, the space felt stale and lacked personality - a far cry from what the Be Rooted brand and products represent. We’d need to paint all the walls and strategically bring in color without shrinking or darkening the space. Second, we needed to bring in furniture that was to scale considering the limited square footage, ergonomic and functional to meet the team’s comfort, but also stylish to make the office a pleasant place to work. Enter: Room & Board! Lastly, we’d fill the room with Be Rooted branding, imagery, and products that celebrated diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Here’s a look at what I designed…
Once each mood board was approved, we got right to work! I had the entry space, office, and bathrooms painted within Be Rooted’s brand guidelines and color palette, and we hired one of my favorite local muralists and artists, Michelle Kee of M.Kee Designs to paint a mural in the front room. I selected an illustration used on the cover of one of Be Rooted’s new stationery products that was the perfect representation of the brand and mission.
Next, we began space planning and selecting furniture for each space. I was so excited to introduce Jasmin to several Room & Board products. She was already familiar with the company, but not their commercial program, Room & Board for Business. We had space for two coworking desk in the entry space. The Parsons collection offered timelessly modern desks that we could customize to the space and tech-friendly with the additional power outlets included, something the overall space lacked. We selected a walnut butcher block for the tabletops for a mid-century modern look with bright white bases. Because of the lack of storage, we chose Copenhagen file cabinets that doubled as additional seating that was easy to access and tuck away with its smooth-sailing casters. For the break space, we selected a counter table, also from the Parsons collection, for the team to prepare, store, and enjoy refreshments, snacks, and lunch daily.
After selecting a few other accent furniture pieces, desktop accessories, and beautiful picture ledges to display all of Be Rooted’s products front and center, we ordered each of the pieces and began staging each room upon their arrival.
When the Room & Board furniture arrived, Jasmin and I were so impressed with the high quality, durability, and sophistication. Moreover, should Be Rooted continue to grow as fast as it has the past three years, the furniture can easily be moved and added on to with matching pieces in a larger space should they outgrow this one. Once all the furniture was in place, I staged and styled each room with accessories and finishing touches. I’m so proud of what Jasmin and I were able to create in such a short amount of time. Take a look…
Before meeting Jasmin, I saw something on Be Rooted’s website that really resonated with me: “Be Rooted wants our customers to know, you are seen and you belong here.” I’m so glad we included this on the walls in Be Rooted’s newly designed office and these words motivate the team as they show up to work each day. My hope is that their new office space inspires both Jasmin and her growing Be Rooted team to continue to disrupt, innovate, create, and make a difference in the lives of so many.
Thank you Jasmin and Be Rooted for allowing Blessed Little Bungalow and Room & Board to be a part of your business’s story! To see more photos of the new Be Rooted HQ, check out my Portfolio, and to learn more about the Room & Board products used, please see the links below.
Be Blessed,
ACG
Design Deets sponsored by Room & Board:
