Consid has the most beautiful offices in Sweden

PRESS RELEASE 2022-10-10

This year’s edition of ”Sveriges Snyggaste Kontor” has two of Consid’s offices in the final, namely Kalmar and Karlstad. The motivations are filled with love and respect for the renovation and Consid’s unique interior design style.

”Consid’s office in Kalmar is Sweden’s most beautiful with its unique location and history in harmony with a newly created meeting place that offers an office with a home-like feel, topped off with everyday luxury.”

”In Karlstad, no effort is spared to do the house justice. The ceiling and pillars have been cleared of layers of shameful renovations so that the original stucco has been highlighted and, if necessary, newly manufactured in the same form.”

-I love decorating the Consid offices. I have complete freedom to realize my wildest interior design dreams. I want to create a timeless meeting place where people feel at home and want to stay. Each property has a unique history and energy of its own. The most important job is to sense and feel and then create a place for togetherness, says Elisabeth Lejon at Levande Lejon interior design.

Elisabeth Lejon has been responsible for furnishing all of Consid’s 37 offices for over ten years. More recently, Elisabeth Lejon has started collaborating with Sofia Nilsson, the new Interior, and Facility manager at Consid.

– I am not exactly new to the job. I have been involved since Elisabeth started to be responsible for Consid’s interior design. Together we have built up Consid’s interior design concept, which today is a central part of Consid’s identity and branding, says Sofia Nilsson.

Together with spirits

The duo consistently works with local furniture producers and suppliers, focusing on quality and sustainability. Creativity and the love of old buildings are the life force that brings them together. And with respect for the property’s history and associated spirits.

– It is evident, in more than one office, that the old tenants have not moved out. Several inexplicable phenomena have occurred, and it is essential to respect new and old residents, says Elisabeth Lejon.

Sofia Nilsson loves the challenge of decorating the Consid offices:

– I also know that a hefty dose of structure, discipline, and accuracy is needed to have momentum and to complete projects. This assignment involves everything from designing beautiful champagne bars and grand entrances to deciding how the recycling station should be designed and which alarm system should be installed, says Sofia Nilsson.

House with history

The old post house in Karlstad, built in 1910, is a historically valuable building. This impressive stone building shows the period influences of art nouveau and national romanticism. In 2021, it was clear that Consid would take over the premises. The premises had to undergo a significant renovation where old stucco was highlighted. The original limestone floor was restored and combined with materials and colors taken from Consid’s interior design concept. Above the entrance to the premises, there is still the beautiful sign with the text ”Post Office” surrounded by two stone shells that remind us of what once housed the building, which is a large part of the building and the city’s history.

The nomination reads:

”No effort is spared to do the house justice. Ceilings and pillars have been cleared of layers from earlier shameful renovations so that original stucco could be highlighted and, if necessary, newly manufactured in the same form. In contrast, new rooms have been created using glass partitions with black slats, a hallmark of Consid’s offices. In consultation with the property owner, we also got a stylish limestone floor throughout the ground—everything to keep the feeling of the origin. Just like in the old post office, it is the ”central hall” from which the various functions of the office branch off.

Large soft oriental rugs give a timelessness to the whole environment, together with the Sarafatti chandelier from 1956. By creating a classic atmosphere, we also get a sustainable environment, which does not feel dated, but can be built on as the offices grow and expand. As Consid’s interior design concept has developed, the kitchen, like in the home, has become more central. We have taken this idea into account at the office in Karlstad, where we built a new kitchen around a large kitchen peninsula open to the combined cafe and lounge area. The lounge areas for socializing and community create creativity and give ergonomic variety to working at a desk. This is the prominent gathering place for all events that are a large part of Consid’s work model.

We are always looking for holes and niches where we can build in small surprising details. In Karlstad, there were plenty of these opportunities. New wall panels created after the original pieces have handled electricity and heating elements along the robust stone facades. Materials and colors are repeated in all offices, with dark floors as a safe base and a light warm gray tone on the walls. We are generous with textiles, especially curtains that create softness, framing, and sound dampening. With its magnificent ceiling height in Karlstad, the curtain installation was a project.

Depending on your tasks, you choose the location and desk that suits your project. The large main hall has an open landscape with a lounge and cafe, suitable for those who ”come and go.” From there, a French spiral staircase winds up to the entresol floor furnished for greater privacy and closed rooms. Access to quiet spaces and small meeting rooms is a necessary complement. In addition to satisfying essential functions in the work environment, each employee’s mental experience and pride in their workplace is the big win. A new gym has thus been created for everyone to use. Consid’s offices are activated 24/7 all week. Here you want to hang out with friends and colleagues after work, invite the family for Sunday dinner or let the office host the after-party.”

Consid in Kalmar

Consid’s office in Kalmar was built after 1765 when there was a big fire in town. Until the 20th century, the building primarily housed apartments. Around 1920, the house was converted into a business property with shops throughout the street. In 1988 extensive renovations were made to create a mall with a food court. In recent years, bars and restaurants have filled the building. Before Consid moved in, in January 2022, the property was renovated. Today the house is a listed building with many unique details left that we worked with to preserve and make them feel like a natural part of the whole. But also with new purposeful functions in materials and colors taken from Consid’s interior design concept.

The nomination reads:

”Consid’s office in Kalmar is Sweden’s prettiest with its unique location and history in harmony with a newly created meeting place that offers an office with a home-like feel, topped off with everyday luxury.

The office consists of three floors, and on the entrance floor, a meeting place has been created with a unique and preserved shop roof as a beautiful decoration in the kitchen area. As Consid’s interior design concept has developed, the kitchen, like in the home, has become more central. We have taken this idea into account at the office in Kalmar, where we built a new kitchen around a large kitchen peninsula open to the combined cafe and lounge area.

The lounge areas for socializing and community create creativity and give ergonomic variety to working at a desk. A game corner with an outdoor courtyard as inspiration, and ceiling height that extends to the second floor, is thus found on the first floor. Large soft oriental rugs also give a timelessness to the whole environment, together with the Sarafatti chandelier from 1956. By creating a classic setting, we also get a sustainable environment, which does not feel dated, but can be built on as the offices grow and expand. And on the walls, there are apparent local features with portraits of prominent individuals from Kalmar.

Materials and colors are repeated in all Consids offices, with dark wooden floors as a safe base and a light warm gray tone on the walls. We are generous with textiles, especially curtains that create softness, framing, and sound dampening. On the second floor, wooden walls, old wallpaper, windows, facades, and tiled stoves have also been preserved from the building’s previous history.

We are always looking for holes and niches where we can build in small surprising details. To bring out a penthouse feeling with the third floor, a full-scale apartment is recreated, with a balcony overlooking Kalmar’s rooftops. In addition to satisfying essential functions in the work environment, each employee’s mental experience and pride in their workplace is the big win. Consid’s offices are activated around the clock all week. Here you want to hang out with friends and colleagues after work, invite the family for Sunday dinner or let the office host the after-party.”

Open voting

The competition is decided by an open vote, where anyone can vote for the nominated offices during a specific period. In this way, ten finalists are selected. Then the audience at Stora Kontorsdagen, on 18 November, votes for the final winner.

– I’m keeping my fingers crossed. We have done solid research before the renovation of both properties, and we have felt a great passion for every step in the renovation and interior design, says Elisabeth Lejon.