About This Project

The communal lounge at Beryl Apartments was, in the most literal sense, not a lounge at all. It was a hallway furnished with office desks and an awkward couch positioned against a blank wall — a passthrough space that no one lingered in and no one invited guests to visit.

We were tasked with transforming the entire zone into a thoughtfully designed, genuinely inviting destination — one that could serve multiple functions simultaneously without feeling crowded or compromised.

The Challenge

  • A hallway-style space with office desks and an awkward couch — not a true lounge by any measure
  • No visual interest, warmth, or invitation to gather, work, or stay
  • Multiple programmatic requirements — seating, workspace, fitness, and coffee — within a constrained footprint

For Beryl Apartments, we transformed a blank, concrete lobby into a warm, hospitality‑style lounge that welcomes residents and guests. Clean architectural lines, layered textures, and a restrained neutral palette with black, white, gold, and wood tones now create a cohesive story throughout the common areas and fitness room.

Lobby entrance featuring large Beryl stamped art wall, faux green inserts and white lounge chair.
Group seating arrangement with tufted sofas, white armchairs and round metallic tables on polished concrete floor.

Our Design Approach

We redesigned the space into distinct, purposeful zones while maintaining visual and spatial flow between them. The primary lounge seating is now semi-enclosed — intimate enough to feel curated, open enough to remain welcoming — anchored by a unique feature wall and distinctive light fixtures.

A coffee station was integrated as a genuine hospitality moment. At the rear, a gym was created behind a glass divider wall that draws natural light deep into the lounge. The entry was treated as a full design statement: graphic wallpaper that introduces color, texture, and interest the moment you arrive.

At the entry, we installed a dramatic custom aqua and gold abstract wall mural that immediately sets a boutique‑hotel tone. The long tufted bench, slim pedestal tables and potted greenery soften the concrete floor while providing practical waiting space for residents and visitors.

Across from the lounge, we designed a large-scale stamped “BERYL” art wall that disguises building services and anchors the check‑in and mail area. Vertical faux‑boxwood inserts and tall plants add biophilic texture, balancing the industrial finishes with fresh, vibrant green.

Design Details

  • Semi-enclosed primary lounge seating anchored by a curated feature wall
  • Statement light fixtures defining and activating the main gathering zone
  • High bar chairs for secondary seating and flexible co-working use
  • Integrated coffee station as a hospitality focal point for residents
  • Rear gym with glass divider wall borrowing natural light into the lounge
  • Graphic entry wallpaper introducing bold color, texture, and an arrival experience

The main lounge features high‑back, tufted charcoal sofas paired with crisp white club chairs to create intimate groupings. Round metallic drum tables and small accent tables offer flexible surfaces for laptops, drinks, or casual meetings without crowding the floor.

We layered multiple lighting styles—oversized black dome pendants, caged mini pendants, wall sconces, and a sculptural multi‑arm chandelier—to bring warmth and visual rhythm to the high ceilings. The vertical wood slat wall behind the seating adds depth, conceals structural columns, and ties the different lounge zones into one refined, modern environment.

Apartment lobby with blue abstract mural, tufted bench seating and greenery leading toward lounge area.
Lounge area showing white entry door, high-top tables, leather stools and green inset wall feature.
Detail of lounge corner with charcoal tufted sofa, potted plant and wood slat backdrop.
Wider view of apartment lounge with mixed seating, gold tables and vertical wood partitions.
Seating vignette with black dome pendants, tufted sofas and white chairs in front of wood slat wall.
Modern apartment lounge with tufted grey sofas, white chairs and gold drum tables against vertical wood slat wall.
Lounge refreshment station with Keurig, glass water dispensers and decorative BERYL letters beneath console.
Wood and metal sideboard with coffee setup, plants and black pendants in front of mirrored wall.
Close view of charcoal tufted high‑back lounge sofas with studded trim and nesting side tables.
Large-scale aqua and gold abstract wall art above tufted grey bench seating in lobby.
Large-scale aqua and gold abstract wall art above tufted grey bench seating in lobby.
Compact apartment gym with dumbbell rack, bench, treadmill and wall-mounted TV.
Gym corner showing glass wall with frosted abstract pattern and double-tier dumbbell rack.
Contemporary multi‑arm black and brass chandelier with round glass shades on exposed concrete ceiling.
Dual high‑back tufted sofas facing gold drum tables and white chairs in lobby lounge.

The Result

Beryl Apartments now offers a communal space residents actually use — a layered, multi-functional environment supporting work, wellness, socializing, and quiet moments in equal measure. The transformation from awkward hallway to genuine hub demonstrates what intentional design accomplishes within a fixed footprint when every decision is made with purpose.

Just off the lounge, we introduced a cafe‑inspired coffee bar with a warm wood-and-black metal console, backlit by glass walls wrapped in soft ink‑style film graphics. The high-top tables and leather stools create an informal work and social hub where residents can plug in, meet neighbors, or wait for guests.

The same abstract film graphics continue into the fitness room, providing privacy while keeping natural light and views. Inside, we kept the gym clean and minimal with a neutral envelope, a full TV wall, streamlined equipment layout, and durable flooring that supports both cardio and strength training.

Frequently Asked Questions

Careful spatial planning and the strategic use of a glass divider wall allowed us to define a lounge seating area, high-bar workspace, coffee station, and gym without physically closing them off from one another. The result feels purposeful and spacious despite its origins as a simple corridor.

The glass wall serves two functions: it maintains visual openness throughout the space and allows natural light from the gym area to penetrate into the lounge, which would otherwise receive limited daylight. It also creates an energetic visual connection between fitness and lounge zones that adds life to both.

Wallpaper is one of the highest-impact design moves available in a communal space. It immediately introduces texture, color, and a sense of curation that signals quality to residents and their guests. In this project, the entry wallpaper sets the tone for the entire lounge experience before someone even steps fully inside.

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If you’re ready to collaborate with a team that values craftsmanship, creativity, and care, we invite you to connect with us. Furthermore, you can explore more of what we offer through ARIID Build & ARIID Home—each dedicated to delivering a seamless, elevated experience for your home.

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