Faizah Zainal Lifestyle Design

When is a Wall, Not a Wall?

When it divides a room into two different zones.

At the FZLD office suite, what we have done here is to divide the room into two different sections: the office and the guest lounge.

On one side is the designer's office, equipped with all the tools of the trade -- with storage for drawings, plans, paper, samples and much more, neatly tucked away in the custom built desk and work station from our "zary collections", designed by our designer himself.

On the other side, is an area for meeting with clients: to sit back, browse through catalogs and magazines whilst discussing the concept which best suits the clients' personal lifestyle.

When is a wall, not a wall? When it is the back of a cupboard.

The cupboard is a built storage cabinet with a white board made from frosted glass.

The other side is cladded with square shaped mdf panels.

And therefore, there are no bounds or limits for creativity....

Small Scale Selling -- How About a Kiosk?

People love eating out... and the best way to get fast food, cheap, yet making a brisk business, to the customer is to set up a stall directly in their path, or I might say along the path of which most people would go by.

In Malaysia, we are famous for our stalls. The 'pasar malam' or night market is everywhere and sells a variety of products and food.

Many business organisations have taken this concept further and have used stalls or kiosks to set up shop at locations where traffic is at its most, rent is small and customers who already know the product, feel that it is a convenient way of getting that product quickly.

It has also become a successful franchise business, where small entrepreneurs without a large capital may begin a small business without the high overhead and renovation costs of setting up business in a shoplot. The brand is usually well known, and the product is popular; for example, burgers (being the most popular.)

Even large corporations are setting up shop using kiosks; in shopping complexes, where rental is cheaper than renting an actual shop lot. Again, the kiosk is usually set right in the middle of traffic where people can immediately stop, browse and buy quickly.

Here's Bijoux...

And the popular Starbucks...

We have gone a long way, moving from this...

To this...

Our recent project proposal for a kiosk business for a popular herbal product. The idea is to have a kiosk at every outlet for fast selling products. The kiosk not only serves to sell F&B products, it would also provide the necessary attraction to those who are not familiar with the product, enticing them to try and taste. It would not intimidate since the customer need not walk into the shop or have to spend for a whole packet of the product.

Here are the details of the kiosk front and back...

Other kiosks designed by FZLD as seen here...

So, if you are thinking of an alternative to setting up business in a shoplot, why not consider a kiosk? Let FZLD design one for you and your business today.

Design Proposal: Creating an Efficient Office Environment Within Limited Space

The client came to us with a problem. He had already consulted many designers and received their proposals and drawings. They all had not come up with something he liked or close to what he had envisioned. Another thing was that the area was not that large; a 20' X 70' ground floor intermediate shoplot to work with.

The owner wanted to fit 7 employees with the ability to service 20 clients or agents coming and going at one time. People had to be able to move comfortably; there had to be enough workstations for individual work and consultations between agents and clients. Most of all, the space had to look spacious, clean, corporate and modern to depict its current business trends and success. It was a brand name and the client was one of its most successful agents for this prestigious insurance brand.

We came up with a design proposal which fulfilled the client's requirements as well as managed to put into the space all the requirements and areas which the client desired. It would require custom built interior fit-out and furniture. The right colors and materials would provide the corporate finish that was desired, adding the necessary dimensions to the limited space.

Take a look...

The layout and designation of space we came out with:-

Side elevation:-

Front view:-

Facade...

Entrance...

Reception Counter...

Inside to the Life Service Counter...

From the Life Counter to the interior offices...

The boss's office...

Birdseye View:-

Front area - service and waiting...

Left view...

Right view...

Design Proposal Completed and Handed Over:-

Now it's up to the contractors appointed by the client to realise the vision put on paper. At FZLD, as part of our design services, we do on-site measurements and markings to ensure contractors follow the space requirements. As part of our Project Management services, we will advise on materials and technical aspects for the construction and built of structures, wall treatments and custom furniture to help make the design a reality for the client.

Herbal Product Outlet - Stockist & Retail

Our most recent project is a stockist and retail outlet for a well-known and trusted brand of herbal products. It is most uncommon for stockists to invest in a retail shop and we were more than happy to come up with a concept and business image for such an outlet -- rather the first of its kind.

We came up with this concept and design for the particular premise, including a corporate image that keeps to the branding of the products already so well known, but giving it a modern and up-to-date look for a stockist/retail store. It was important that its members would immediately recognise the brand, feel familiar about going in to get their products, but also attract those unfamiliar with the brand and products to enter the shop, browse around and purchase products.

The concept and design...

The completed store...

Interior Works:-

Where the counter would be...

By just cladding the wall with wood, all the way to the overhead canopy, we opened up the space... to get this result.

The drawing...

For real...

The counter would service customers who made purchases and the empty wall beside it served to provide a F&B area to sit down, chat and learn more about the products;

Again, an empty wall...

The drawing proposal...

Now, as part of the service counter, it does more than just let customers pay for their purchases, it becomes an area for a productive social environment -- ask about the products and even sample the products; coffee, cocoa, etc...

Now for the other side of the wall;

We decided on an info board; to provide information about the products, a place to put brochures and other materials to promote product knowledge.

Here's the drawing proposal...

We used a richer version of their corporate colour green, and after some on-site modifications of adding extra shelving for brochures, it turned out like this...

Another view of the info board at the shop...

And, this...

Now for shelf space to display products...

More shelf space in these custom made gondolas.

What we designed...

Became these...

And used like these...

What about space for the chillers; ice cream, frozen food products, and more display?

So, we designed these...

And they turned out like these...

And they became used like these...

The area at the back of the store became a discussion area, or private area for the owners.

The design of the private office area...

Behind the curved wall...

Even the restrooms got a makeover.

This...

Became this...

And this...

Became this...

A focal feature for the shop was its overhead artwork; hand drawn and painted. It provided the unconscious placement of the product brand in the mind. Not everyone familiar with the brand recognised it immediately, but after a while its association came to mind.

Here's how it was done...

Easy does it...

Last but not least, the facade, as the most important feature to attract customers to come in; must be inviting, depicts the products inside, and portrays the owners vision for the products and how it will benefit its customers.

Any ordinary, usual shopfront...