Tamar Fink
Tamar Fink
Small Scale, Grand Intention
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Client
Tamar Fink
Location
Minnetonka, Minnesota
Space Type
Corporate office — compact professional workspace
Scope
Full transformation of a compact office suite — adding private offices, integrating a personal art collection, and turning tight square footage and low ceilings into a space that feels open, intentional, and unmistakably theirs.
THE SPACE BEFORE
Small footprint. Low ceilings. A layout that didn’t have enough private offices and couldn’t decide whether it wanted to feel cozy or cramped. The client also had a meaningful art collection with no real plan for where it lived — pieces that deserved intention were competing with the walls for attention.
THE DESIGN DIRECTION
Tamar Fink wanted a workspace that felt bigger than its footprint — light-filled, functional, and personal. The art collection wasn’t decoration; it was identity. Every piece meant something, and the design needed to honor that without turning the office into a gallery that forgot it was still a place to work. The space had to balance privacy with openness, and character with calm.
WHAT WE WORKED WITH (AND AROUND)
Adding offices without losing air. Three private offices in a compact suite could’ve chopped the space into a series of dim boxes. Instead, we framed each one with glass walls and doors so daylight moves through the entire floor plate uninterrupted. Linear lighting fixtures draw the eye upward, pushing the perceived ceiling height beyond what the tape measure says.
An art collection that needed a curator, not just a nail. The client’s collection is eclectic and personal — the kind of pieces that tell a story if you give them room to breathe. We selected key works to anchor each area, turning them into focal points rather than background noise. Custom glass writing boards backed with brand-colored film pulled double duty: functional work surfaces that reinforced the clean aesthetic and kept the walls from getting cluttered.
A narrow entryway that wanted to apologize for itself. First impressions matter, and this one was utilitarian at best. We added dimensional branding, moody lighting, and textured details that turn the entry into a moment — a warm, deliberate welcome before you even reach the workspace.
A break room that felt like a closet. Limited size, limited light, limited appeal. Lighter finishes, accent lighting, and a carefully placed art piece opened it up into a bright, inviting spot where people actually want to pause and connect.
THE OUTCOME
The finished office feels like it belongs to a much larger floor plan — but it never pretends to be something it’s not. The glass-walled offices give the team privacy without sacrificing the sense of openness. The art collection finally has a home that does it justice, with each piece placed to create meaning rather than fill a gap.
What makes this project stand out is the restraint. Every decision — the lighting, the materials, the placement of each piece of art — was made with intention. Nothing competes. Nothing crowds. It’s a compact space with a grand point of view, and it works because the design respects the scale instead of fighting it.
RECOGNITION
Best in Show, Commercial Projects — ASID Minnesota
First Place, Commercial Office — ASID Minnesota