Meraki: Eldon Road

Made with Programa

London, UK2024-09-26

Explore how Meraki Design used Programa to modernize a Victorian townhouse on Eldon Road, blending Wabi-Sabi Japandi elements with traditional architecture.

Studio Meraki Design

“The specification management feature allows us to organise all FF&E in one place, making it easy for both our team and the client to review and approve items.”
Maria Kachramanoglou & Eris KoutsoudakisCofounders

What was the project? What was the brief?

The project on Eldon Road in Kensington involved modernising and reconfiguring a tired townhouse. The client, originally from Japan, inspired us to create a design that merged their heritage with the Victorian architecture of the house. Our vision was to fuse the traditional elegance of a Victorian townhouse with the calm, minimalist essence of a contemporary Wabi-Sabi Japandi interior. This approach allowed us to honour the client’s background while reimagining the space in a way that felt both modern and timeless.

What were the challenges? How did you overcome these?

One of the main challenges was working with a client based overseas, which could have complicated communication and decision-making. Additionally, ensuring a seamless blend of Victorian and contemporary Wabi-Sabi Japandi styles required a thoughtful approach to avoid any stylistic clashes.

To overcome these, we relied heavily on Programa. It enabled us to keep the client closely involved by providing real-time updates on furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), allowing them to sign off on individual items remotely, with full access to prices and timelines. This level of transparency and real-time communication helped us avoid delays and ensured that every element of the design remained aligned with the client’s vision.

“If any issues arise, we can easily refer back to the schedule and approval history, ensuring full transparency throughout the project.”
Maria Kachramanoglou & Eris KoutsoudakisCofounders

What features does the practice use? How have they aided your scheduling & specification?

We regularly use several features in Programa, including scheduling and specification management, to keep our projects on track. The specification management feature allows us to organise all FF&E in one place, making it easy for both our team and the client to review and approve items.

For the Eldon Road project, these features were essential in managing the long-distance communication with the client. The ability to provide real-time updates and gather feedback through a shared dashboard ensured that the project remained on time and within scope.

Any feedback on Programa from your team and clients?

While our team and suppliers have adapted well to Programa, it has taken some time to train clients on how to use the platform effectively. We often refer them back to the link and schedule calls to guide them through live approvals or rejections, helping them get comfortable with the process. This not only aids in streamlining communication but also helps with liability. Since clients must physically review and approve items before ordering, there are no surprises on installation day. If any issues arise, we can easily refer back to the schedule and approval history, ensuring full transparency throughout the project.

“By streamlining project management and facilitating real-time communication, it has allowed us to focus more on the creative aspects of design without being bogged down by administrative tasks.”
Maria Kachramanoglou & Eris KoutsoudakisCofounders

Reflect on the role of Programa in the project's success and its influence on your design process.

Programa has played a significant role in the success of the Eldon Road project and has had a broader influence on our design process. By streamlining project management and facilitating real-time communication, it has allowed us to focus more on the creative aspects of design without being bogged down by administrative tasks. In the case of Eldon Road, having all the FF&E selections, schedules, and client approvals in one place meant that we could manage the project with efficiency and transparency, despite the geographical distance from our client.

Beyond just project management, Programa has also improved our overall workflow. It provides a structured yet flexible platform that allows for collaboration while ensuring that timelines and budgets are strictly adhered to. This has had a positive impact on our design process, giving us more freedom to innovate while keeping all stakeholders aligned.

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Meraki Design x Programa: Blending Victorian Charm with Japandi Elegance on Eldon Road

In the second installment of our "Made with Programa" series, we delve into Meraki Design’s stunning transformation of a townhouse on Eldon Road, Kensington. This project perfectly encapsulates the studio’s ethos of blending historical authenticity with contemporary design, creating spaces that are both timeless and serene.

The Project: Merging Heritage with Modern Minimalism

The Eldon Road project involved modernizing and reconfiguring a tired Victorian townhouse. Inspired by the client’s Japanese heritage, Meraki Design sought to fuse the traditional elegance of Victorian architecture with the minimalist, calming essence of a contemporary Wabi-Sabi Japandi interior. The brief was clear: create a home that honors both the client’s cultural background and the historical character of the property, resulting in a design that feels both modern and timeless.

Challenges and Solutions: Seamless Integration with Programa

The project presented unique challenges, including managing communication with a client based overseas and balancing the stylistic blend of Victorian and Wabi-Sabi Japandi elements. The solution lay in leveraging Programa’s robust project management features, which facilitated real-time updates and approvals, ensuring a seamless design process despite the geographical distance.

Programa played a critical role in keeping the client closely involved, allowing them to approve furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) remotely, with full visibility into prices and timelines. This level of transparency not only kept the project on track but also helped maintain the harmonious balance between traditional and modern design elements.

Harnessing Programa’s Features for Efficient Scheduling and Specification

Meraki Design utilized several key features within Programa, including scheduling and specification management, to streamline the Eldon Road project. The ability to organize all FF&E in one centralized location allowed for easy review and approvals, enhancing the team’s workflow and keeping the client engaged at every stage.

For this project, Programa’s shared dashboard was invaluable in bridging the communication gap created by the client’s location. By providing real-time updates, Meraki Design ensured that every decision aligned with the overall vision, keeping the project within scope and on schedule.

Client and Team Feedback: Building Confidence through Transparency

While the adoption of Programa has been smooth for Meraki’s team and suppliers, training clients to use the platform effectively required a more hands-on approach. Regular calls and walkthroughs of the client dashboard helped build confidence, allowing clients to approve items in real-time and reducing the potential for surprises on installation day.

The clear approval history provided by Programa also offered a safeguard against misunderstandings, enabling Meraki to refer back to past decisions and maintain full transparency with clients and stakeholders.

The Impact of Programa on Design and Project Success

Programa has been a game-changer for Meraki Design, influencing not only the success of the Eldon Road project but also the studio’s broader approach to design. By streamlining project management, facilitating collaboration, and enhancing communication, Programa allowed Meraki to focus more on the creative aspects of their work.

For Eldon Road, the integration of all FF&E selections, schedules, and client approvals in one place ensured efficient project execution, despite the challenges of distance. Programa’s structured yet flexible platform enabled Meraki Design to maintain strict adherence to timelines and budgets, fostering a smoother and more innovative design process.

Explore More in Our Made with Programa Series

Discover how Meraki Design uses Programa to overcome challenges, streamline processes, and create stunning spaces that blend the best of historical and modern design. Read the full article and see how Programa can transform your projects.

Meraki: Eldon Road

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Meraki: Eldon Road