Trifle* and FLOOR_STORY unveil new coworking space in Shoreditch

Between the contradictions of an old Shoreditch pub and gleaming skyscrapers, the recent home of commercial design studio Trifle* and rug dealer, FLOOR_STORY. Designed by Trifle*, the aim of the fit-out was to establish a humancentric, suitable space for hosting external content, while also supporting co-working and acting as a creative interface for respective clients and guests of the two businesses.  

The multi-functional space on 4 Nile Street now features wooden floors and exposed industrial ceilings, and plenty of vacant room to showcase FLOOR_STORY’s rugs. To achieve the latter, Trifle* had a custom-built sample wall built for over 220 samples, plus a divider across the whole space to create two zones — one for focus work and the other as a welcoming entrance and communal setting.

Using clever configuration, a sense of space is created in a relatively modest floorplan. In social areas, an inviting cream boucle sofa from SoHo Home creates a cosy living-room style seating arrangement, matched with vintage armchairs and a teak mid-century divider from Vinterior. “Trifle* now have a new home which lives and breathes our values and business,” comments Emma Morley, founder and creative director at Trifle*, “a space that allows us to co-create with clients and partners, and collaborate.” 

Accessories to complement the design include books, plants, and ceramics, and the use of a deep windowsill as another surface to hang FLOOR_STORY’s merchandise. Morley continues: “A lovely dimension is added having another creative company such as FLOOR_STORY alongside us and it was a pleasure to design the space for their needs, alongside ours. We look forward to hosting this creative hub.” 

For Trifle*, a separate workspace provides the studio with an inspiring space to draw, think and work. A burgundy Forbo tabletop is paired with chairs and table from Workstories and a repurposed IKEA island accompanies vintage stools alongside powder coated shop fittings, store samples, magazines, finishes, books, and journals.

Meanwhile, a large central worktable hosts the team at FLOOR_STORY. Mood boards, tufts and samples are used for creative intent as well as an ever-changing visual showcase on the walls, inspiring clients and visitors while effectively illustrating and charting progress and processes. Around the tables sit HAG Capisco task chairs fabricated in a classic Gabriel wool in a muted pink tone. 

Areas for focused work have also been implemented in the fit-out with a purpose-built ‘Zoom room’, workshop and meeting room. Inside the ‘Zoom room’, blue and green cladding partners BAUX acoustic panels. In the meeting room, copper blush BAUX panels accentuate a double height wall, and accompany surrounding brick wall in the same colour. Chosen accessories include rich green plants, amber glassware, books and artwork in accents of mustard in deep blues. A sky light has also been inserted to draw eye-gaze upwards and bring light in. 

The entire space at Cairo Studios is cleverly accentuated by FLOOR_STORY’s collections serving as tactile art. The walls and floors work as a gallery space, each rug with its’ own story of collaboration, design and technique. The look, feel and visual direction of the studio can be changed as new rugs and colourways are introduced, edited, or simply revolved to shift mood or season. The entrance space has a view across it all. 

The launch of the shared space was celebrated during the London Design Festival, with the reveal of the latest FLOOR_STORY collaboration with textile designer Kangan Arora – a long standing friend of FLOOR_STORY’s founder Simon Goff, and the first designer with whom the company collaborated back in 2015.