Space by Stansons

Guy Stanley

Welcome to Space by Stansons. Listen to raw, thought-provoking conversations with key players in the interiors industry, as we challenge conventional thinking towards aesthetics and sustainability. Most importantly our objective is to inspire designers to think holistically, creating spaces where people of today and the future, truly flourish.

  1. 6h ago

    Beyond the Desk, An Office People Want to Use with Liam Spencer

    ✨ Subscribe to Show Notes for more from Space by Stansons at https://www.stansons.co.uk/space ✨ This week on Space by Stansons, Guy continues his tour of Thirdway’s new home with Liam Spencer, exploring how the building has been designed around the way people actually work, meet and connect. Across the working floors, Liam explains how different teams use the office in different ways, from fixed desks and call pods to informal collaboration areas and quieter spaces away from the main floor. Even the central staircase was a deliberate cultural investment, encouraging people to cross paths, stop for a conversation and stay connected across the business. The office also doubles as a live showroom for Thirdway’s work. Liam shares how materials, finishes and furniture choices have been used to demonstrate what can be achieved at different price points, showing that thoughtful design is often about clever application rather than simply spending more. As the tour moves upstairs, the focus shifts towards clients and hospitality. Purpose-built presentation areas, catering spaces and the rooftop terrace allow Thirdway to host different types of meetings, events and conversations without relying on a traditional boardroom for everything. The result is a workplace designed to support both how people work and how relationships are built. Liam also reflects on the pressure of designing Thirdway’s own home, the difficulty of knowing when to stop chasing perfection and the pride that came with finally seeing people use the space. With flexibility built in for future growth, the office is designed to evolve alongside the business rather than remain fixed in time. Whether you’re thinking about workplace strategy, company culture or client experience, this episode is a reminder that the most effective offices are not just designed to look good — they are designed around how people actually want to use them. In this episode: Designing different working zones around how teams actually use space.Why circulation and a central staircase can help create culture and connection.Using the office as a live showroom for materials, finishes and cost-conscious creativity.Creating client-focused spaces for presentations, hospitality and relationship building.How the rooftop terrace supports work, wellbeing, events and flexible use.Why letting go of perfection and designing for evolution can create a workplace people want to use.

    Beyond the Desk, An Office People Want to Use with Liam Spencer
  2. 1d ago

    Inside Thirdway’s New Home, Designing Culture Into Every Detail with Liam Spencer

    ✨ Subscribe to Show Notes for more from Space by Stansons at https://www.stansons.co.uk/space ✨ This week on Space by Stansons, Guy visits Thirdway’s new home with Liam Spencer to explore how a workplace can reflect the culture, personality and evolution of the business behind it. Set inside a transformed 1950s warehouse on St John Street, Liam explains why Thirdway spent years searching for the right home and how the team approached the building as more than just an office. From replacing an unsympathetic facade with handmade brick to borrowing ideas from hotels, restaurants and galleries, every decision was designed to create a strong first impression without losing the character of the original building. As Guy and Liam tour the space, they discuss how Thirdway has matured from its younger, rebellious roots without losing the values that shaped the business. Playful details, internal artwork and recurring design elements sit alongside quieter hospitality-inspired spaces, helping the building feel as much like a members’ club or hotel as a traditional workplace. The conversation also explores the balance between creativity, cost and practicality. Liam shares why the best design is not necessarily about spending more, why time can be more valuable than budget, and how thoughtful materials, natural light and carefully planned spaces can create an office people genuinely want to use. Whether you’re designing a workplace, shaping company culture or simply interested in how a brand can be expressed through physical space, this episode offers a behind the scenes look at turning an office into a true home for a business. In this episode: Why Thirdway spent years searching for the right building for its new home.Using hospitality and gallery design to rethink the traditional office arrival experience.How Thirdway’s workplace reflects the evolution of its brand and culture.Balancing maturity and quality with personality, playfulness and original values.Why great design is about thoughtful choices, not simply bigger budgets.How natural light, materials and multifunctional spaces shape how people use an office

    Inside Thirdway’s New Home, Designing Culture Into Every Detail with Liam Spencer
  3. Sep 1

    Why Good Design Is About Concept, Not Cost with Marta Gordiychuk

    ✨ Subscribe to Show Notes for more from Space by Stansons at https://www.stansons.co.uk/space ✨ This week on Space by Stansons, Guy heads to Paris with designer Marta Gordiychuk to explore how taste, emotion and honest material choices can shape spaces that feel memorable rather than simply functional. Marta shares why Paris is a place she returns to for inspiration and recharge, from its food and fashion to the way interiors combine beauty, simplicity and everyday experience. She reflects on the connection between environment and emotion, and why good workplace design should offer people something beyond the basic purpose of getting work done. The conversation also explores breakout spaces, materials, budget and the importance of a strong concept. Marta explains why a breakout area should feel like a genuine getaway for staff, how colour and shape can communicate an idea at almost any budget, and why designers should be honest with materials rather than imitate high-end finishes cheaply. From natural surfaces and organic forms to the balance of old and new found across Paris, the episode looks at how thoughtful design decisions create spaces with identity. Marta also shares how she protects the “heart” of a project: once the core concept is clear and understood by the wider team and client, other elements can flex without losing the idea that holds the design together. Whether you’re designing workplaces, leading a team or simply interested in how physical environments influence emotion, this episode offers practical insight into creating spaces that are honest, purposeful and full of character. In this episode: Why workplace design should offer more than the basic purpose of work.Creating breakout spaces that help people recharge and connect.Using colour and shape to create impact across different budgets.Why materials should be honest rather than imitate what they are not.Balancing heritage, modern design and natural forms within a clear concept.How protecting the core concept keeps a project coherent when details change.

    Why Good Design Is About Concept, Not Cost with Marta Gordiychuk
  4. Aug 18

    Why every space needs a purpose with Daniel Martin

    ✨ Subscribe to Show Notes for more from Space by Stansons at https://www.stansons.co.uk/space ✨ This week on Space by Stansons, Guy sits down with Daniel Martin, Senior Designer at AIS, to explore why the best workplaces are designed with purpose rather than simply filled with features. Daniel shares how inspiration can come from anywhere, from Pinterest and Instagram to conversations with colleagues, and why a clear brief is essential to turning ideas into spaces that genuinely work. He reflects on the importance of giving every area a reason to exist, while still allowing a workplace enough room to breathe. The conversation also explores materials, changing design trends and the role of AI in the creative process. Daniel explains why technology can be a useful tool but still struggles to replace the human understanding, experience and decision-making behind great design. From Japanese wabi-sabi and timeless materials to dedicated video-call spaces and warmer colour palettes, the episode looks at how thoughtful choices can shape the way people feel and behave at work. Daniel also shares a memorable example of redesigning a waiting area around the needs of the people using it, reinforcing a simple principle that runs through the episode: good design should make things better. Whether you’re designing workplaces, leading a team or simply interested in how physical environments influence behaviour, this episode offers practical insight into creating spaces that are purposeful, considered and genuinely useful. In this episode: Designing spaces around purpose rather than filling every available area.Why a clear brief can save time, money and unnecessary design revisions.How materials, colour, lighting and sensory details influence how a space feels.Why AI can support designers without replacing human judgement and experience.The shift from overly flexible spaces towards areas designed for specific tasks.How good workplace design can improve comfort, behaviour and everyday experience.

    Why every space needs a purpose with Daniel Martin
  5. Aug 4

    Designing offices that feel more human with Lizzie Hand

    ✨ Subscribe to Show Notes for more from Space by Stansons at https://www.stansons.co.uk/space ✨ This week on Space by Stansons, Guy visits Victoria Park with designer Lizzie Hand to explore how nature, creativity and thoughtful workplace design can shape the way people feel and work. Joined by Lizzie Hand of Thirdway, the conversation explores how natural light, sound, texture and even scent can bring a stronger sense of the outdoors into the workplace. Lizzie challenges familiar nature led trends such as moss walls and explains why successful design is less about filling an office with plants and more about creating an experience that feels natural and personal. As they walk through the park, Guy and Lizzie discuss collaboration without hierarchy, the importance of zoning quiet and energetic areas, and why practical details such as power, location and layout determine whether shared spaces are genuinely used. Lizzie also reflects on creativity, explaining why ideas often arrive when the pressure is off and how different people need different ways to decompress. Whether you’re designing workplaces, leading a team or simply interested in how physical environments affect creativity and wellbeing, this episode offers practical ideas for building spaces around the people who use them. In this episode: • Creative ways to bring nature indoors beyond plants and moss walls. • How natural light, sound, texture and scent shape the workplace experience. • Creating collaborative spaces without hierarchy. • Why zoning quiet, focused and energetic areas matters. • Designing around different ways people work and decompress. • Why the best ideas often arrive when the pressure is off.

    Designing offices that feel more human with Lizzie Hand

About

Welcome to Space by Stansons. Listen to raw, thought-provoking conversations with key players in the interiors industry, as we challenge conventional thinking towards aesthetics and sustainability. Most importantly our objective is to inspire designers to think holistically, creating spaces where people of today and the future, truly flourish.