From Aesthetics to Authenticity: Rethinking Office Decor

This week, I went to a nice office space in London. You can see that some of the fixtures and fittings nod to the architecture. At first glance, they give off an air of coziness and comfort. Very welcoming for visitors and gives you a sense of being a great place to work.

I also visited a local hotel for my Birthday. While I was at the reception waiting for my family to return, I did some people watching. I noticed a pattern in styling the lamps and floor lamps there, too.

The lighting was closely intertwined with botanical elements. This created interesting shadows and shapes. It seemed to enhance the structure of the original lighting. It gave off an air of consciousness about nature, the environment, and the planet.

This architecture magazine shows how botanicals are now part of the vernacular in office reception design. https://www.arkitectureonweb.com/o/adaptive-media/image/14864267/copertina-hd/NU-MEIS-0511-LoRes.jpg?t=1682673790130

The video below I took when I was people watching in a hotel shows:

Reception areas: the curated threshold where first impressions land. Botanical spill from corners, carefully selected to whisper “we care.” Earth tones, soft lighting, ergonomic chairs—all designed to wrap visitors in the illusion of wellbeing.

But then, I stay a little longer. I ask questions. I meet the people behind the desk and beyond the break-room. I watch the team dynamics. Servers struggle to keep up.

And I begin to wonder—are we decorating over discomfort?

The lush ferns say “eco-conscious.” The velvet sofas say “psych safety.” But I’ve noticed that behind the foliage, the culture doesn’t always flourish as much as the greenery does. I talk to the workers. In some places, it seems that the aesthetic of care has replaced the practice of it. Cozy decor doesn’t always mean corporate kindness. Indeed, green doesn’t mean that the management is grounded.

True sustainability starts not with plant walls—but with people.

I hope to demonstrate that I have created shelf art and wall decor. This art beautifully illustrates the ugly reality of corporate work. While working from home, we can express ourselves through our choice of decor. We can also quietly convey the complexities, tensions, and messiness that our fantastic work emerges from.

Re-imagine your work-from-home space through the lens of truth.

My products are meant to feel like a breath of fresh (and slightly rebellious) air. They are created as pieces that don’t just sit pretty, but speak (like me). They offer a kind of visual activism. It is right at eye level for your bookshelves. This way, you can lead through the screen with authenticity.

Eclectic Inspirations: From Ancient Crafts to Modern Brands

Look up from the main hall at Ashridge house and you will marvel at the amazing craftwork and design choices of those with an eye for style and culture hundreds of years ago.

Overall my visits this week made me notice the extent of my eclectic appreciations, I can be enthralled by ancient design and crafts through to being captivated by 21st century crafting of our cultural practices from brands like Formaly Known as Hackles.

Innovative Wall Ideas for Home Office Inspiration

Previously I complained about companies not getting the walls of the training room right for instructors in this post, here.

But recently I was impressed when I visited one major international corporation in the business district of London and saw a well thought out design scheme for delivering learning.

The whole space and training rooms were all thoughtfully designed to inspire and lock in the learning and development of their talent. Read the captions in the images below to discover how the design details support learning.


The designers of this training space clearly recognized the importance of walls for facilitating learning. They understood that walls play a crucial role for trainers and corporate instructors in enhancing the educational experience.

This week’s photo blog showcases the impact of wall decor in corporate training room environments. From functional and stylish fittings to the carefully crafted calligraphy on the walls, each element contributes to creating a memorable impression and inspires innovative ways of working.

We can take some of these ideas and incorporate them into our home office wall decor. For instance, having a large poster with inspirational quotes can serve as a personal reminder of how we want to work. Additionally, when planning the treatment of our walls, why settle for plain paint? Consider creating a space that includes a glass panel for chalkboard sessions with your team. This setup encourages more interactive meetings and gives leaders and managers a reason to turn on their cameras and engage effectively.

Modern Corporate Furnishings & Fittings: The Arbor, London

Clever Corporate Decor

My work as a corporate trainer/ instructor and coach this week took me for an onsite to our client in their new home in an amazing building. The Arbor Building is in Blackfriars Road in London, UK and it boasts that it is carbon neutral. There are neighbouring buildings and I’m told it is a fossil free development called Bankside Yards which is a major architectural, construction and interiors project feat. I was especially impressed at how beautifully the interiors echoed the sustainability ethos too. See the photos I took below

Continue reading “Modern Corporate Furnishings & Fittings: The Arbor, London”

ANCIENT CLASSICS: MY STYLE TOO

I realised how much I appreciate some classical English stately home decor from my trip to Ashridge House in Hertfordshire recently. I was surprised as I thought a lot of my style comes from my Caribbean heritage and London urban living and my immersion in corporate training.

But I discovered how much I love the juxtaposition of earthy stone tones with the bling of gold frames that can be found in some English Stately homes like Ashridge.

The amazing thing about Ashridge house is that it used to be where Henry the VIII and Elizabeth 1st lived. It is also famous for various films like Beauty and the Beast, Malificent, killing Eve and More.

Continue reading “ANCIENT CLASSICS: MY STYLE TOO”

Why Transitional Art? On Emerging from an Architectural Imprint

Looking at photos of houses that were once my home I noticed a common theme. The commonality might be about the London Building vernacular. But I’m beginning to think 🤔 more about my home style choices and preferences and how that is expressed in my artwork and making.

Our place in Hackney, I was brought here from the hospital. From year O till about age 4 or 5. We lived on the top floor but we used the whole house and the garden because the landlady was nice and liked our family.
Continue reading “Why Transitional Art? On Emerging from an Architectural Imprint”