Each year since we moved into our current studio, Submaterial refreshes the lobby for our Fall Open House. We take the opportunity to feature some of our new products, play around with fun or experimental installation methods, and often use scraps, offcuts, and items we might generally recycle or throw away from the production process. While we schedule the lobby unveiling for the September event, it is equally as exciting to have something new in the space for a full year of visitors, and the staff enjoys the updated space as well.
Six months after moving into this space, the first lobby install in 2019 was an ambitious display! It included our most popular wall covering, Index Dimensional, covering the cube. Atop the cube sat an oversized sphere made of cardboard, and on the back wall was a prototype of felt lettering, which came in the form of a Diane Ackerman quote (a favorite writer of our founder and creative director, David).
The large laminated cardboard sphere delicately sits aloft the lobby’s half wall, intended to be reminiscent of scientific forms and playing off Diane’s quote regarding the periodic table. Each of the five rings is made using ten layers of cardboard. The sturdy sculpture acts as visual gravity, drawing immediate attention when entering the room.
We were incredibly proud of the first iteration of our front lobby! The beautiful lobby photographs were taken by talented photographer and friend Patrick Coulie.
Alas, an installation in 2020 was not to be (understandably). In 2021, we showed off our Imprint wall covering on the cube, some experimental perspective wall panels, the then-new Divvy Screen at right, and a full ceiling display using the cardboard rolls that come with our bolts of felt. We love a reuse/recycling project that uses our own production waste!
For the lobby installation in 2022, we decided to focus on displaying new and favorite designs, focusing mainly on our residential products.
First, we installed our new wood wall covering, Gradient, on the cube. This is white oak and smoked cork modular wall tile system. It is a bold and graphic look, reimagining what wood walls can be. The cube also features two fun little features that make us smile. The design team planned to sandblast the red paint from "Submaterial" letters in preparation for painting them white. After taking off the red paint, the result was this beautiful cloudy sort of crystalline letters that we loved and decided to keep. Additionally, a vent in the cube wall needs to be left open. Our design assistant Owen created a matching white oak vent cover with delicate cutouts. The look is simple but purposeful.
Next to the cube is a new felt wall panel called Horizon. Vertical bars of wool felt, organized to draw the eye to a specific point, create the striking surface of the Horizon Wall Panel.
Moving over from the wall panel is two of our beautiful new room dividers called Century Screens. Modern yet nostalgic; solid yet see-through these screens elevates any space. Fabricated in rich walnut or white oak veneer laminated with natural cork and hung in tiles of variable length, the elements of the Century Screen are positionable; one can twist and turn the tiles to create the transparency level of their choice.
The final feature of the lobby display was, once again, a ceiling installation. Inspired by the design of our Pods, we created a sort of exploded diagram of the pods in a dark, heathered gray felt hanging from the ceiling. It makes fun shadows on the lobby walls and a magical little moment as you walk under it and look up!
In 2023, we kept the lobby refresh simple as we prepared for our first trade show (High Point Fall 2023) the very next month. The main refresh was a new wall covering on the cube. We installed one of our new AK designs with Filzfelt called Ion. This design is inspired by the beautiful dark skies of northern New Mexico. The line work was influenced by the dazzling streaks of stars across the sky captured in nighttime photography.
Over the couch, we hung a new design wall art piece called Orion Flat. The tones of the felt layers play off of the wall color and the rug color, adding a bright pop to contrast the warm neutral of the Ion wall covering in FF color Almond.
Finally, one of our wonderful fabricators created new pillow covers using a dark orange velvet houndstooth fabric!
In 2024, we kept a few features from previous years, such as the Century Screen and the ceiling installation (it is well-loved among the staff and still awes newcomers to the building). We once again refreshed the cube with a wall covering, this time, one of the patterns of Figure No. 4 in a two-tone yellow that feels very mid-century. We also installed a very subtle wall covering on the lounge area back wall. This is the unreleased Figure No. 5 in color 100, Off-White.
Since we kept the wood Century Screen, we created a bit of wood and glass gallery in the seating area. Below, you can see our Queue Mirror in rich walnut hung over the long couch. Our Pivots Nos. 2-4 are hung above the shorter couch. These are fabricated with white oak frames and powder-coated lattices in various patterns.
We are excited about the 2025 lobby installation, which is already in the design stage! It will feature a *lot* of new designs. So keep an eye out for updates about our 2025 Fall Open House and your chance to see the installation in person.
Plus, one more photo from the creation of the 2024 lobby. Doesn't this image give off #AccidentalRenaissance vibes?
