For King architecture + interiors, it’s not the size of the space but the quality that matters -how it feels and the way that it’s orientated. This is clearly seen in King architecture + interiors’ office, located in Collins Street, in the heart of the CBD. Orientated to the north and benefiting from large picture windows both to the north and east, this studio-style space has a sense of calmness from the bustle of traffic and trams along this premier boulevard.

However, when architect Simon King and his wife, interior designer Caitlyn, first saw the office space, it was less than impressive – a series of partitioned spaces that not only made communication between staff virtually impossible but also made the office feel relatively dark and unwelcoming, in spite of the building’s large picture windows. The tacky carpet, a throwback to the 1980s when the prominent office tower was built, was as unsightly.

Although the King’s office is relatively modest in size, it now feels considerably larger post renovation. The rabbit-warren partitions were completely removed and they replaced the carpet with limed timber floors. The heavy drapes were substituted for blinds and the walls painted in a pristine white – the latter being the perfect ‘canvas’ for the team to display projects in the pipeline. And rather than corporate-style office furniture, there’s a sense of the bespoke, with a one-off meeting table designed by leading furniture and lighting designer Ross Gardam. Simple white-steel framed workstations and a couple of comfy armchairs further establish a studio feel, as does the table past the entrance, featuring numerous architecture and design books the couple have collected over many years.

Now one large space, with idyllic views across Collins Street, there’s a welcoming sense of arrival that captures the essence of the practice – simplicity, elegance and a space that just feels right.