Inside Collaborate: The design process
Apr 2026
At Collaborate, we offer office spaces that enhance the way people work, connect and feel. From open-plan areas that encourage social interactions to meeting rooms with carefully chosen textures, colours and lighting, every element has been designed with purpose. We sat down with Nicola Fentum, the interior designer behind some of our office spaces, to explore how these design decisions transform everyday workspaces into environments that are welcoming and functional - proving that great design is about more than just aesthetics.
I’m an interior designer and I work on a mixture of design and commercial projects with Collaborate. I love creating spaces that are practical, but also appealing and lived-in. Lighting, texture, natural materials and subtle touches of colour are all really important to me, they help make a space feel dynamic and comfortable, rather than just functional.
I was invited to work with Collaborate at an exciting chapter in the company’s journey as they began to expand. My first project was helping to design a new space opening in Woking, . From there, the work grew organically.
My approach is highly collaborative. While there are practical constraints, such as fixed elements like the kitchen location, we focus on how people will experience and use the space. The goal is to create offices that feel professional, yet approachable and comfortable. We carefully consider natural materials, lighting and a restrained palette of colours to craft environments that are both functional and thoughtfully designed, supporting wellbeing, interaction and, of course, productivity.
I like spaces that feel vibrant and cared-for, like a hotel. I sometimes refer to this as ‘hotelification’. I think carefully about lighting, texture, colour and how people move through the office. The space should feel natural and effortless, so people can use it easily without feeling crowded. I want everyone to feel energised and connected to the environment, whether they’re working, meeting, or just passing through.
A successful office kitchen needs to feel open and easy to use, so that several people can move around and interact without feeling cramped. On the seventh floor, we created a layout with breakfast bars, café tables and a small reception area to encourage people to gather naturally. We also bring in natural materials such as wood, plants and soft textures to make the space feel restful and appealing, rather than purely functional.
Bringing nature into spaces can be done in many ways aside from just traditional greenery. This can be natural textures in fabrics, wallpapers, worktops, or stone surfaces. The idea is to soften the environment and make it feel less like a white box. Even if you can’t have a lot of plants, using natural tones and textures helps create that grounded, calm feeling.
Meeting rooms are a great opportunity to add a bit of colour and personality. We often use green, which is calming and connects you to the natural world. Lighting is important too, it needs to be soft and warm so the space feels inviting but still professional. Bright lighting can feel clinical and draining, so we try to avoid that.
Simple details like carpet patterns, wood panelling, or textured wallpapers make a space feel cared for. Even something like the toilets, an often overlooked space, can be designed to feel luxurious and thoughtfully finished. Every detail contributes to how people feel in the space they are using.
At Collaborate’s’ new Guildford site, we’re working on creating a much improved main entrance to the building, new toilets, kitchens of course, and large communal lobbies. Jeffrey’s Passage is a beautiful, historic location and its character is really inspiring. We’re thinking carefully about how people enter and move through the offices and we’re using panelling, natural textures and thoughtful lighting to make each area feel considered and engaging. It’s always exciting to find creative solutions that enhance both the function and the charm of a space.
Seeing how a space impacts people is fantastic. When offices feel carefully designed, when people connect naturally, that’s the reward. I love blending practicality with beauty and comfort - it makes people’s day-to-day experience so much better.
At Collaborate, we design workspaces that help people work better, connect naturally and feel at ease. From carefully planned kitchens and meeting rooms to thoughtfully considered communal areas, every detail is designed with productivity in mind. Collaborate is an independent business centre in central Woking and Guildford, offering Serviced Offices, Coworking Desks, Meeting Rooms and Virtual Office services. Discover how our spaces could support your team’s work and wellbeing - get in touch to find out more.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your work?
I’m an interior designer and I work on a mixture of design and commercial projects with Collaborate. I love creating spaces that are practical, but also appealing and lived-in. Lighting, texture, natural materials and subtle touches of colour are all really important to me, they help make a space feel dynamic and comfortable, rather than just functional.
How did you start working with Collaborate?
I was invited to work with Collaborate at an exciting chapter in the company’s journey as they began to expand. My first project was helping to design a new space opening in Woking, . From there, the work grew organically.
How would you describe your design approach at Collaborate?
My approach is highly collaborative. While there are practical constraints, such as fixed elements like the kitchen location, we focus on how people will experience and use the space. The goal is to create offices that feel professional, yet approachable and comfortable. We carefully consider natural materials, lighting and a restrained palette of colours to craft environments that are both functional and thoughtfully designed, supporting wellbeing, interaction and, of course, productivity.
What’s your philosophy when designing commercial spaces?
I like spaces that feel vibrant and cared-for, like a hotel. I sometimes refer to this as ‘hotelification’. I think carefully about lighting, texture, colour and how people move through the office. The space should feel natural and effortless, so people can use it easily without feeling crowded. I want everyone to feel energised and connected to the environment, whether they’re working, meeting, or just passing through.
Let’s talk about kitchen areas. What makes a kitchen work in an office?
A successful office kitchen needs to feel open and easy to use, so that several people can move around and interact without feeling cramped. On the seventh floor, we created a layout with breakfast bars, café tables and a small reception area to encourage people to gather naturally. We also bring in natural materials such as wood, plants and soft textures to make the space feel restful and appealing, rather than purely functional.
How do you bring nature into spaces besides plants?
Bringing nature into spaces can be done in many ways aside from just traditional greenery. This can be natural textures in fabrics, wallpapers, worktops, or stone surfaces. The idea is to soften the environment and make it feel less like a white box. Even if you can’t have a lot of plants, using natural tones and textures helps create that grounded, calm feeling.
How do you approach designing other shared spaces, like meeting rooms?
Meeting rooms are a great opportunity to add a bit of colour and personality. We often use green, which is calming and connects you to the natural world. Lighting is important too, it needs to be soft and warm so the space feels inviting but still professional. Bright lighting can feel clinical and draining, so we try to avoid that.
How do you balance professionalism with creating a welcoming, relaxed environment?
Simple details like carpet patterns, wood panelling, or textured wallpapers make a space feel cared for. Even something like the toilets, an often overlooked space, can be designed to feel luxurious and thoughtfully finished. Every detail contributes to how people feel in the space they are using.
Are there any overarching principles you follow across all projects?
I try to make every space feel well looked-after and carefully considered. People notice the small details such as lighting, textures and colour. A space should feel inviting, energising and thoughtfully designed, whether it’s a kitchen, meeting room, lobby, or even the toilets. I like to create a positive experience for the people using the space.
Any current projects you’re excited about?
At Collaborate’s’ new Guildford site, we’re working on creating a much improved main entrance to the building, new toilets, kitchens of course, and large communal lobbies. Jeffrey’s Passage is a beautiful, historic location and its character is really inspiring. We’re thinking carefully about how people enter and move through the offices and we’re using panelling, natural textures and thoughtful lighting to make each area feel considered and engaging. It’s always exciting to find creative solutions that enhance both the function and the charm of a space.
Finally, what’s your favourite part of what you do?
Seeing how a space impacts people is fantastic. When offices feel carefully designed, when people connect naturally, that’s the reward. I love blending practicality with beauty and comfort - it makes people’s day-to-day experience so much better.
At Collaborate, we design workspaces that help people work better, connect naturally and feel at ease. From carefully planned kitchens and meeting rooms to thoughtfully considered communal areas, every detail is designed with productivity in mind. Collaborate is an independent business centre in central Woking and Guildford, offering Serviced Offices, Coworking Desks, Meeting Rooms and Virtual Office services. Discover how our spaces could support your team’s work and wellbeing - get in touch to find out more.
