The project

Growth Australia is a Brisbane-based specialist in the fitout and refurbishment of workplace environments. With expertise extending across the design and construction fields, the organisation recently took on the task of renovating its own headquarters.

Located right in the city centre, on the corner of Queen Street and Post Office Square, the refurbished space measures 250sqm in total.

“We’ve included an open plan work area and a boardroom which opens onto our breakout area, as well as quiet spaces and meeting rooms,” said Megan Rigden, Design Leader at Growth Australia. “Beyond that, there’s also an oversized mesh entry door, a golf simulator in the boardroom, a beer font, and a whiteboard clad automated garage door.”

Pointing to the “café feel” of the breakout area as example, Rigden explained that Growth Australia approached the project with nothing to hide. Indeed, the refurbishment represented a real opportunity for the business to show itself off; a chance for visitors and clients to see what it is capable of in terms of design and execution.

The process

In this context, modular carpeting by Milliken-Ontera was an ideal choice for the flooring. High end products that lead the way in terms of design and functionality, they are quite capable of making a statement all on their own.

Having previously sourced carpeting from Milliken-Ontera, Rigden was more than happy to continue the relationship. “They are a well-established supplier in our field and everyone I have dealt with there has been friendly, customer focused, and knowledgeable,” she said.

An industry leader, Milliken-Ontera is particularly well-known for its customisation capabilities. By streamlining its processes and employing the latest digital dye injection technology, it has been able reduce the time it takes to deliver finished, bespoke products to just three weeks.

Aware of this reputation, Rigden had initially considered customisation an option. However, in this case, the breadth of choices on offer meant that it hadn’t been necessary. Everything she wanted was right there within Milliken-Ontera’s standard ranges. In any case, the product selection process was very thorough. She was impressed by both the level of assistance offered and the pace at which the project progressed.

“We started with a design concept briefing. I spoke about our high-level vision for the space and Milliken-Ontera came back to us with a large selection of full-size samples to help us better visualise our options and flesh out what we were thinking,” said Rigden.

As a next step, Rigden headed to Milliken-Ontera’s local showroom in Fortitude Valley, to make her final selections. “From there, their internal design team put together a coloured installation plan of the quantity and installation patterns. This ensured we had an exact visual representation before we even ordered the products. On that basis, we were confident to sign off on the order and our installer was able to complete the work efficiently,” she said.

The results

Milliken-Ontera’s modular carpeting can now be seen throughout the office. There is Citizen (in Brownfield) from the Urban Collection in the boardroom and front of house; Jasper (in Basin 3 Glyph) from the Unearthed collection in the internal meeting and quiet rooms; and carpeting from the Dissident 2.0 collection, in a series of five different greys transitioning to a green, in the main work area.

As its name suggests, the Urban Collection belongs to an aesthetic that emerges from those parts of the cityscape which, though they have become derelict or fallen into disrepair, continue to display a dark, melancholic beauty. “To me, the carpet has a high-end seamless feel, like a broadloom product…it has a beautiful texture that reminds me of a muslin or linen, so I thought it was perfect for our front of house client spaces,” said Rigden.

The recently released Unearthed Collection recalls the intricacies of nature, as uncovered in archaeological digs, or happened upon by chance. Though particularly designed for hospitality applications, its suitability extends far beyond that market. Proving this point, the products that Rigden chose for the internal meeting rooms are a perfect fit. “We went with this because we thought it was a really bold choice for the back of house. The deep burgundy colour really grounds those spaces,” she said.

Finally, there are carpet tiles from the Dissident Collection, a range designed with the concepts of revitalised energy and rebirth in mind. “We’ve used five different styles and colours from that collection. We’ve mixed them up in the main open plan work area, and we’ve been a little bit playful. For example, there’s a green strip that represents our brand colour, but also presents as a garden path along the joinery,” she explained.

The reaction

Growth Australia was delighted with the outcome, not just in terms of the carpeting itself, but also the level of assistance they received along the way. Put simply, Milliken-Ontera helped turn the company’s initial design vision into a stunning, functioning reality.

“We were exceptionally happy. Samples were provided the very next day and Milliken-Ontera liaised with us and our installers throughout the process. Nothing was too difficult for them, and our vision fit within budget and lead time,” said Rigden.