The end of 2020 and 2021 marked two of onestop’s many firsts – the team’s first venture with Alila, a brand that is part of the prestigious World of Hyatt, and the second, Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives. During the respective projects’ term, each project presented a set of unique challenges that involved both budgeting and timeframe.
THE ALILA IDENTITY
An overall muted yet pleasing and sleek style, Alila possesses a distinctive charm like no other. The project featured clean and subtle grid lines with soothing natural colours and textures, and just enough accent pieces.
PROJECT: ALILA KOTHAIFARU MALDIVES
Alila Kothaifaru Maldives is a 11.2-hectare private island retreat on the northern edge of Maldives in Raa Atoll, surrounded by a stunning house reef. onestop was tasked with a scope of work ranging from mock-ups to production, then shipment and subsequently overseeing the furniture in rooms and public areas. This project required no installations but needed the team to undergo productions concurrently.
CHALLENGE #1: THE UNPRECEDENTED DELAY
The 2-year project started with one of the biggest challenges of 2020 – the same year the COVID-19 pandemic started and threw the whole world into turmoil. With the pandemic hindering the overall process, onestop faced its first challenge: managing client expectations. Material supplies and exports resulted in multiple limitations and time delays, which meant that onestop had to not only be patient but also inform the clients about delays in a way that would allow them to understand and empathise with the situation.
CHALLENGE #2: WORKING WITHIN THE BUDGET
With the Interior Designer’s complex designs, onestop had to figure out how to deliver the designs while working within the budget. The key was to work with cost-effective options without compromising the overall quality, whilst maintaining the designer’s vision. For instance, one of the designs specified solid timber, a more costly material. In response, the team swapped it for veneer, a more inexpensive material replacement. All materials are sourced from onestop’s factory based in China, ensuring the best quality of materials.
THE SEASIDE COLLECTION IDENTITY
A prestigious assemblage of extraordinary resorts and city hotels, the Seaside Collection track of established properties spans across exquisite destinations such as Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and the Maldives. Each property boasts an enviable location, offering guests breathtaking views and access to captivating surroundings, and showcases a distinctive aesthetic, harmonising modernity with elements inspired by local traditions.
PROJECT FINOLHU BAA ATOLL MALDIVES
Moving on to the second project – Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives. Consisting of a similar scope of work to the Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, onestop oversaw the furniture in rooms and public areas, which required them to undergo production and installation concurrently. Fortunately, the guest rooms featured loose furniture, making the process relatively straightforward.
CHALLENGE #1: WORKING AROUND THE PANDEMIC
Like the Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, the Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives project ran during the COVID-19 turmoil, from June 2020 to December 2020. Despite the pandemic putting a halt on many projects, this was one of the few projects that kept running. onestop persevered and ultimately completed the project by the end of 2020. As this was the first big project occuring during the pandemic, the team had to adapt to new working methods to ensure that production continued smoothly. For instance, with the travel restrictions in place, onestop had to communicate through Zoom meetings and engage a Quality Checker from Indonesia to conduct the onsite inspection.
CHALLENGE #2: WORKING WITH NEW MATERIALS
As exciting as it was to work with new materials, these experiences brought different challenges too. Working with new materials meant that onestop had to get creative. An example of this would be the pool bar that required a unique finish – melted casted glass. To achieve this look, layers of glass were compressed and melted down together, finished off with a slight colour addition to create a marble effect. Another unique material is the use of oyster shells for pendant lights.
onestop also had to work with intricate specifications given by the designer, amongst other challenges. Design specifications were entrusted to onestop, and even though materials were supplied, onestop had to fabricate and install them onsite.
Despite the many challenges, the onestop team completed the projects successfully through great tenacity, delivering excellence in service and high quality standards while maintaining an efficient work ethic. Seeking professional opinions for your furnishing needs? Reach out to us here for a free consultation today!
