When J Public Relations founding partner Jamie Sigler O’Grady first laid eyes on the building that’s since transformed into JPR’s now one-and-a-half-year-old headquarters, “it was in terrible shape,” she recalls. The 1952 stand-alone structure in Banker Hill—formerly a marketing and insurance services company—needed a major overhaul. The publicist, who heads a team of more than 100 people spread throughout branches in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York and London, represents luxury travel and hospitality clients like Relais & Châteaux, a network of the world’s best hotels. She wanted JPR’s new offices to channel a similar elegant aesthetic: that of a luxurious hotel room. It took serious foresight to visualize the design-forward office space she had in mind, but with the help of her husband, developer Tim O’Grady, and Mission Hills-based color-loving interior designer Esteban Lopez of Esteban Interiors, the trio pulled off what could arguably be called San Diego’s prettiest office transformation.
The Juniper floor lamp ($2,510) from Arteriors and “Jeanne Reclining” statue ($200) from Bungalow 5 tie in gold elements.
Originally a labyrinth of small offices, the building needed significant reorganization to accommodate O’Grady’s vision. “It was all about opening up the space and bringing in more light,” says Lopez. Once he did that, its look became anything but office-y—just as O’Grady desired. JPR’s entryway opens up to a sprawling first-floor living space with a kitchen tucked into the far end, highlighted by a trio of gold Tom Dixon pendants. Vinyl plank flooring by San Diego-based flooring brand Duchateau, laid out in a herringbone pattern, underlines the residential feel. A trio of custom couches covered in softly napped velvets are as enticing as they are durable. Underfoot, a silky viscose carpet from Aja Rugs reinforces the space’s hotel-like luxury while Platner-style occasional chairs with pink seats heighten the glamour quotient. The walls are washed in a pale gray with rose gold uplight that has become the company’s signature shade. And tying it all together is the room’s showstopper: Phillip Jeffries’ Bloom, a digitally printed wall covering that dominates the ceiling.
From top: The kitchen showcases “Neon Space Girl” by Andrew Martin as well as Mirror Ball pendant lighting ($540) by Tom Dixon; the reception area’s pink West Elm furniture complements artwork by Jane Maxwell.
O’Grady also solicited her staff for ideas of what to include in their new space, greenlighting requests for a blow-dry station, showers and a pumping room. “Culture is very important to me,” she explains, “People need to feel that they have a voice in the company.” In addition to traditional desks, there are also standing desks, privacy pods for reading and several sofas, encouraging everyone to find their own work style.
“You spend as much time at your office as you do at home, so shouldn’t it be great?” O’Grady muses. This gorgeous office proves that the answer is a resounding yes.