Before & After - T.O.M.S Place Entrance
We’re so happy for you to judge a book by its cover when it comes to T.O.M.S Place’s entrance.
First impressions count. So we wanted T.O.M.S entrance to represent not only the entire building’s styling and qualities, but we want you to get a sense of the warm welcoming feeling you’ll discover when you explore the space. We hit the jackpot with the 1930’s Spanish mission style exterior and it was our job to make the interior live up to its uniqueness.
When we got our hands on the building and opened those big green arched doors, we were welcomed by dated tiles, blinding fluorescent lights and dark oppressive carpet. Our first move was to strip the floors to expose the concrete and paint the walls a warmer white. We divided the entrance into two distinct spaces, the entrance to T.O.M.S Place on the right and a separate leasable space in front.
We designed this custom front desk to create a statement at the entrance with the colour matching the building’s heritage trusses.
Like throughout the building, the entrance is full of second hand and vintage gems, including the 1970’s primary school weather and calendar chart.
Here’s us giving off a cheese vibe after the front desk was installed!
T.O.M.S Place is located in a very cute pedestrian walkway and its big green doors attracts quite a few people in for a sticky beak. The entrance was a great opportunity to tell the story of the building, promote the tenants that work there today, as well as share what’s on in the community.
Before it was T.O.M.S Place, 1 Tripovich Street has been a market place, skating rink, a book store, a dance studio, a box factory, a storage for an underwear brand, as well as a base for the Red Cross. The ‘Our Story’ wall is a little nod to this history.
All the installation details were custom-made, including the bespoke tenant ‘Scrabble’ style tiles.
We tried to repurpose and find a home for as much as we could of the existing building. Thankfully we had builders that were on board with that and asked us how we wanted to use this old door they found laying around. Now it sits proudly in the entrance surrounded by a plant-filled pegboard. A pretty fancy entry way to a boring storage room.
After a heated debate about the door’s colour, we went for a maroon that is found elsewhere in the building. Once again celebrating the building’s original character.
Here’s Victoria standing under the T.O.M.S signs she hand-painted to start a tour of the space.
