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Some Tips in Colour Choice

Medical Fitouts / By

The right colour choice is critical when it comes to a medical setting. 

 

As we know colour can impact on mood and therefore getting the balance right from the beginning is very important.

 

Something such as making a small space seem large is easy when you use light colours. 

 

The use of light colours gives a small room a sense of space whereas using dark colours in a small area will make the room seem a lot more enclosed and this is not the feeling you want to give patients whether they are waiting to be seen in a reception area or treatment room.  

 

The most important thing for your staff and patients is to feel comfortable and secure and colour can do just that when applied in the correct way.

 

One of the first things clients of ours want to see during the initial design process are hard surfaces such as flooring and joinery. 

 

These surfaces are a base for what will become a  great colour palette that truly reflects the business.

Consider using colours that capture your business’ personality.

This can be achieved easily with feature carpet tiles and joinery panels that match your corporate colours.

 

Shapes can also play a big part in showcasing who you are. Use your logo as a starting point and create shapes on the floor and places like walls and reception counters by utilising laminate to reflect this.

 

When picking colours for a certain space the first thing that needs to be addressed is what is the room going to be used for?

 

For example, if you are creating a space for children be sure to use bright and bold colours in order to create a fun atmosphere. Coupled with funky furniture and features such as black board walls this will ensure kids are kept occupied while parents (and other patients) are waiting.

 

If you need to create a soothing atmosphere it is said that shades of green and blue can have a calming effect on patients which is very important when it comes to a medical environment.

 

Bold colours are not something to be scared of and they are not necessarily for kids only!

When creating your new space pops of colour can really lift the mood without being too overbearing.

 

Consider features that are only seen at certain times, such as using patterns on privacy curtains and even brightly painted feature walls.

 

Vinyl wraps are also being more and more popular these days so think about images that may work well on walls or doors in order to create a fun and uplifting space.

 

We realise that design it isn’t everyones forte so that’s why we like to make time in order to go through exactly what is required in order to make your new clinic a modern and welcoming space that patients will want to visit time and time again.

 

We love creating unique spaces that reflect your business and our experienced team can take the stress out of wondering what will really make your clinic stand out from the others.

 

From the moment we are appointed as your design and construct company we start getting together samples in order to create colour boards that we think will suit your style.

 

Whether it be young and funky or classic and elegant there is a product to suit every mood and we will be sure to find it for you!

6 Beneficial Questions – Part 5 – Payment Terms

Construction Company Beneficial Question / By

This is one that a lot of people do not think to ask in an initial meeting but is information you need to know before taking on the venture of a new office fit out.

All design and construct companies work differently when it comes to payment terms and it is best to know what you are going to be up for up front before you sign anything.

This way you can plan your budgeting around deposits, progress claims and practical completion (if this is the way they like to run it).

It is also worth asking how many days you will have to pay your invoices (7 days, 30 days?) and what kinds of payment methods they accept so you aren’t caught off guard.

6 Beneficial Questions – Part 4 – Insurance

Construction Company Beneficial Question / By


Insurance is something everyone needs in all walks of life……car insurance, home and contents insurance and even life insurance are things we just have in our lives without thinking about them too much.

But make sure you stop to think about the insurances that are required for someone to start work on your site.

Public Liability and Profesmusional Indemnity insurance are things your design and construct company should be able to give you without any questions asked.

By making sure the correct insurances are in place and current you will save yourself a lot of headaches should an unfortunate accident (whether it be big or small) happen during the construction of your new clinic?

6 Beneficial Questions – Part 3 – Timelines

Construction Company Beneficial Question / By

Timelines are key when it comes to new fit outs and you need to be sure the information you are getting is correct (and not being fed to you in order to secure a signature on a contract!).

Whether you have negotiated a lease-free period for your new tenancy or you need to be out of your current tenancy by a certain date it is very important that you and your staff can make a smooth transition from one tenancy to the other with minimal disruption.

Ask for a general timeline on projects similar to yours and if this seems unreasonable don’t be afraid to ask for previous client details in order to get references on efficiency.

6 Beneficial Questions – Part 2 – Experience

Construction Company Beneficial Question / By

Along with being capable of putting together the perfect fit out for you experience is another major factor when choosing a design and construct company for your new medical, dental or veterinary clinic.

Find out how long they have been established for and become familiar with their story.

The last thing you want is to appoint a company that has only been in the game for 5 minutes.

Experience is extremely important not only for knowledge of current products and standards but over time, like everything, we learn from our mistakes and therefore by selecting a company that has been working within the industry for a number of years you can rest assured that they have most likely come across most possible site problems and already have ways of addressing and solving them before it becomes a timeframe issue.

Not Your Average Laundromats by Yellowtrace

Other / By
Who thought doing the laundry could be this much fun! https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/not-your-average-laundromats-retail-hospitality-interior-design/
Not Your Average Laundromats.

VOC’s and You

Other / By

Volatile Organic Compounds or VOC’s are a scary thought in any establishment but they are something we need to avoid like the plague when it comes to using them within a healthcare environment.

 

VOC’s are dangerous chemicals found in many coatings and paints that are released into the air through reaching boiling point. Now the thought of paint reaching boiling point seems quite impossible in day to day life and therefore nothing to worry about right? Wrong………unfortunately these nasty VOC’s can reach boiling point at room temperature and therefore having them within an environment where 80% of the people have compromised immune systems is a big no no.

 

Luckily most of the big brand paint and coatings companies these days are VOC free but it is always worth checking this with your fit out company before any works take place.

The Importance of Security

Other / By

The safety of your staff and patients should be your number one priority so making sure you set aside enough time to go through the best security options for your clinic during the initial design stage is imperative.

 

We are seeing a drastic shift in security these days in which many people are going away from the traditional lock and key solution and moving into digital technology.

 

While it is important to make sure bad things can’t just waltz into our buildings it is just as (or if not more) important that we put systems in place that ensure exiting in an emergency is as swift as possible.

 

By using software and swipe cards in place of a traditional key you are able to configure locks, manage access rights and assign schedules meaning we no longer have to worry about replacing locks when keys are lost or stolen and have complete control of the access to your building anytime, anywhere.

 

One question we get asked a lot when it comes to digital security is ‘but what happens when it fails?’. We understand that this is a legitimate concern and the thought of being locked up inside a building because of a malfunction can be a scary thought but rest assured that most digital security systems are set up to automatically default to unlock should anything out of the ordinary happen. This means easy egress for everyone inside the building.

 

Of course there are lots of options to be considered and this is where speaking with an experienced security rep is imperative.

 

You can’t put a price on piece of mind and by making sure you go through the options thoroughly you are ensuring the safety of the most important people to your business.

6 Beneficial Questions – Part 1 – Examples

Construction Company Beneficial Question / By

When you sit down for your first meeting one of the most important things that need to be discussed before you start getting down to the nitty-gritty is are the design and construct team you are talking to capable of doing your project?

This may seem like a silly thing to discuss considering you have gone to a design and construct company and they should know what they are doing right? But it is not always that straight forward.

It is very important that you see examples of previous projects and make sure they have completed or are capable of designing fit outs similar to what you envisage for your medical, dental or veterinary clinic.

Not only will this give you the piece of mind that you are dealing with healthcare professionals that can deliver what they promise but by looking at past projects you may pick up some nifty ideas for your own upcoming fit out!