There are very few times when a person seeks out a lawyer because something good is happening, especially when it comes to family law. For DeAnn Pladson, owner of Pladson Law Office, she understands that her clients are going through some of the most difficult, painful times of their lives–and she works to make that process as comfortable and as amicable as possible.
When Pladson Law Office had the opportunity to change locations, DeAnn saw an opportunity to reinvent the law office’s environment. She could take her practice from the tired, unwelcoming old space to a new office space that welcomed her clients, kept her employees comfortable and healthy, and still felt professional. With help from InterOffice, Pladson Law Office can now be a safe haven in the midst of some of the most turbulent of times.
Avoiding Too Many Choices
While DeAnn can see all the sides of a case with ease, that vital mediation skill becomes a hindrance when designing an office space.
“If I have too many choices to make, it’s a crazy waste of time for me,” DeAnn said, citing the overwhelm that many professionals feel when faced with the multitude of options that come with design.
So, DeAnn sought out help from InterOffice and began working with workspace expert Jolynn Kaldor to pick the right furniture and residential expert Sheila Hanson to curate the art and finishes.
Jolynn and Sheila helped DeAnn make Pladson Law Office’s new space into a welcoming, comfortable environment that still honored the gravity of DeAnn’s clients’ needs–all without overwhelming DeAnn with options.
“InterOffice understood that I needed just a couple of options instead of searching through thousands of pictures,” DeAnn said. And since she wanted a space that combined the professional with the comfortable, there would have been thousands of photos to skim and chairs to test if she’d done it on her own.
“I didn’t want the office to feel intimidating, I wanted it to feel inviting,” DeAnn explained, “It needed to appeal to a wide cross-section of individuals; I wanted to be comfortable and classy.”
When a client comes to DeAnn, they’re in a specific spot of need. Unlike the television soap dramas, these clients would not be seeing the opposing party “in court.” At Pladson Law Office, the goal is to never need to get to court at all.
“We take the litigation and the animosity out of the process and try to focus on helping the parties come to a resolution,” DeAnn said.
A Need for Comfort
If the client never goes to court, that means they’ll be spending a lot of time in Pladson’s space rather than on the wooden benches of a courtroom. And, when emotions are running high, any discomfort can exacerbate the tension. To help alleviate any proximal discomfort, Pladson Law Office features two conference rooms instead of one–meaning that clients in delicate situations do not have to be in the same room as the other party. However, two conference rooms means two spaces to furnish instead of one, and that’s not including the staff. DeAnn and her employees spend hours upon hours in the office, too.
“The work we do is very sedentary,” DeAnn said. When she reached out to InterOffice, she needed more than just a comfortable look–she needed the space to keep her clients and employees healthy.
DeAnn had a solution for her employees: sit-to-stand desks for every worker.
”Our furnishings are an investment into our people. They need to have the tools to do their job well.
DeAnn Pladson
“That was important to me,” DeAnn said. “Our furnishings are an investment into our people. They need to have the tools to do their job well.”
As for the conference rooms, Jolynn suggested both rooms feature Headway Conference Tables from Herman Miller to facilitate both staff and client meetings comfortably.
But when Jolynn first showed her the plans sketched out on paper, she found it hard to take the image sketched in front of her and envision it in the space and context of the office. After all, DeAnn is an attorney, not a designer.
Jolynn had the perfect solution. She and Sheila invited DeAnn to InterOffice’s showroom in Fargo. This way, DeAnn could see for herself the furniture Jolynn was suggesting in different environments, and she could see some of the ideas Sheila had for Pladson Law Office as well.
“I was able to visualize it more than just ‘looking at it on paper,’” DeAnn said.
The finished space has been in use for several months now and has received praise from employees and clients alike.
“We get comments all the time on how nice the office is and how welcoming it is,” DeAnn said.
From the Source Martini Chairs in DeAnn’s office to the curated artwork in the hallways, Pladson Law Office stands to welcome every client, professional, and employee into a friendly, professional space. DeAnn can continue to provide her clients with top-notch family law services while keeping them comfortable thanks to InterOffice.
“InterOffice helped us with everything from paint colors, light fixtures, furniture, artwork and accessories.”
