At Elementa our portfolio is largely rooted in luxury interior design.

We create homes that are beautiful, functional and deeply personal. But we never shy away from a new challenge, so when leading Dubai real estate agency haus & haus invited us to design their new flagship sales office in Peninsula, Business Bay, we welcomed the opportunity to bring our residential sensibilities into a commercial interior design project.

How to design a high-performing commercial office

We started by walking through their existing Gold & Diamond Park offices and studying the space in action. The goal was not to replicate design elements but to capture the feeling behind what worked so well – the warmth, flow and energy that make a busy week feel short – and reinterpret it for a new setting. The result is a fresh elevated environment designed not just to look exceptional but to work beautifully every single day.

Here are five principles from this project that can inspire any interior design for commercial spaces, especially when aiming for both performance and aesthetic excellence.

Start with an assessment of how the team works

Every successful commercial interior design begins with understanding the people who will use it. Before we drew a single line, we spent time with the haus & haus team to see how their workday naturally unfolds.

We observed where collaboration happens easily, where private conversations tend to take place and the areas that bring energy into the office. We also studied their existing Gold & Diamond Park offices to identify the feelings and flow that worked well: the warmth in client-facing areas, the efficiency of certain desk layouts and noted the aspects that could be improved. That insight became the foundation of the new design, shaping a layout and atmosphere that feels intuitive for the people who spend their days there.

Let the brand lead the way

A commercial space should express the brand the moment someone steps inside. This is more than just using a logo… it’s about translating brand values, tone and personality into the materials, colours and finishes that define the space.

For haus & haus, that meant a grand entrance with integrated panelling and a prominent logo to set the tone from the outset. We chose a light, elevated material palette that reflects their approachable yet professional style and organic custom bespoke furniture to bring a sense of warmth and welcome. Every element was chosen to make the space unmistakably theirs, even without reading the name on the wall.

Map the customer journey before you design the layout

In a client-facing office design, the way people move through the space should feel seamless. Mapping the customer journey allows you to position key areas where they create the most impact, ensuring clients feel guided rather than directed.

For this project, the layout begins with a welcoming reception that flows naturally into private meeting rooms. These feature include frost-effect windows for privacy, built-in consoles for a tailored look and discreet lighting for a calm, focused environment. Beyond that, the open-plan workspace is subtly zoned using transitional flooring, a design technique that maintains openness while naturally guiding movement.

Balance privacy with openness

An effective office design encourages connection while allowing for moments of discretion. Achieving this balance helps maintain transparency in the workplace while protecting conversations that require confidentiality.

In the haus & haus office, we created meeting rooms that maintain acoustic and visual privacy without feeling cut off from the rest of the space. Frosted glass allows light to pass through while still shielding discussions and strategic positioning ensures these rooms feel integrated into the wider office rather than tucked away.

Design for daily life, not just the launch

A commercial office should look as good and function as well after years of use as it does on opening day. This requires a focus on durable materials, practical layouts and timeless details that will continue to serve the team over time.

In this workspace, we used bespoke furniture and desks crowned with elegant glass pendant lighting, generous storage integrated into the design and a warm veneer pantry set on terrazzo tiles. Each choice was made to stand up to daily use while keeping the environment refined and inspiring.

The new haus & haus sales office will open later this year, housing their Residential Sales, Leasing and haus & haus Holiday teams. For us, it’s been a rewarding departure from our usual residential projects and proof that with trust, attention to detail and a willingness to adapt, great office design can capture the same feeling in entirely new surroundings.

Let’s design your commercial space

Elementa is one of the top interior design companies in Dubai, offering creative and practical interior design services for both residential and commercial clients. Our team can create a commercial office design that is as functional as it is beautiful. Get in touch with us to discuss how we can shape your workspace into one that reflects your brand, inspires your team and leaves a lasting impression on every visitor.