Our Projects

Knowles Logistics

Knowles Logistics is a leading third-party logistics partner, providing dedicated and shared user warehousing and distribution solutions across the UK. Operating a fleet of over 400 vehicles, Knowles needed to expand their logistics hub in March to accommodate their growing workforce, with a design that would wow their clients and boost their team’s impact.

Plan | Design | Furnish

11,500 Sq Ft

Cambridgeshire

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Elegant design to focus the mind

For Knowles, design was at the forefront of their brief, with the ultimate aim to bring their management team closer together. They wanted to infuse their Boardroom and Managing Director’s office with a stylish and timeless Italian aesthetic, which was workshopped with our design team, using mood boards to take the client through the array of textures and tones possible. As a result, these spaces feature elegant walnut cladding, balancing productivity with a calming atmosphere. Light tones complement the rich finishes, creating a focused environment for meetings and strategic discussions, while the overall design remains cohesive, detailed, and warmly inviting.

Modern interior with a staircase leading down to a lobby.

Cozy seating area with three beige armchairs around a black round table holding a potted plant. Soft lighting and a neutral-toned ambiance.

Modern office space with brown leather chairs around a conference table, large TV on a wood-paneled wall, and large windows allowing natural light.

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COEL, from the outset, showed a real willingness and passion to work on this project with us. They understood the brief and they navigated us through the complex transition process.

Alex Knowles
Managing Director at Knowles Logistics

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As we now have over 650 employees, we saw this as a good opportunity to get our management team under one roof and provide a world class office environment for our transport teams and central staff.

Alex Knowles
Managing Director at Knowles Logistics

Bringing teams together

In the planning stages we established that, their management team needed private offices but that their operational teams would benefit from more space to collaborate. Working closely with them to understand their working practices and how they wanted to use the space, we devised a general arrangement plan that would meet the brief of closer collaboration, whilst providing multiple spaces for private meetings or quieter, more focused work.

A welcoming reception

As part of the office redesign, the reception area underwent a complete transformation in order to warmly welcome their current clients and provide an initial impact on new staff and clients entering the building. A striking moss wall featuring an illuminated sign with the company motto, ‘Always Evolving’, greets visitors as they enter. The calming design is enhanced by two-story-high windows, while a curved feature wall subtly divides the space, leading to a cozy seating area for guests, clients, and future employees. A large TV screen showcases Knowles’ achievements, creating a welcoming and inspiring first impression.

Stylish and bespoke furniture

Following furniture tours in London, coordinated by the furniture team, Knowles chose to invest in premium office furniture, not only for comfort and style, but to reflect the level of investment they were making in the future of Knowles. This included leather chairs for the Boardroom and Managing Director’s office, and a bespoke boardroom table crafted by a skilled joinery team. High-end pieces from trusted suppliers such as Brenna, Boss Design, Quadra, Billio, Senator, and Panel Plan were carefully selected and this mix of styles allowed us to curate a distinctive blend of soft seating and meeting room furniture that perfectly matched the client’s vision of elegance and sophistication.

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Extending your current office space is often more cost-effective and less disruptive than relocating entirely. It allows you to maintain continuity, preserve company culture, and avoid the downtime associated with a move. Plus, you can tailor the expansion to meet your team’s evolving needs without starting from scratch. It also demonstrates a long-term investment in your current location and people, reinforcing stability and commitment.

Timeless Italian design

Inspired by the Italian interior design trend to incorporate natural materials (e.g. wood and stone), the workspace features earthy wood tones that bring warmth and a sense of calm to the space. These natural elements create a grounded atmosphere that enhances focus and productivity. Italian interiors often feature a blend of classic and contemporary elements and our design combines classic craftsmanship and joinery with and modern styling to create a timeliness, high-end aesthetic.