Chawner & Trench are experienced interior contractors providing complete turnkey fit outs from start to finish, covering the full spectrum of design, fit out and refurbishment solutions. We discussed their unique, client-focused methodology – which invariably delivers transparency, efficiencies and cost savings – with founding partner and managing director Robert Trench.
Managing the entire fit out process with a unique approach that includes advice, design, installation and the supply of furniture, Chawner & Trench not only deliver exceptional, modern workspaces but also save clients’ money by simplifying the process and ensuring that their interests are protected throughout the journey.
Chawner & Trench’s client-orientated approach ensures that customers benefit from transparency of cost and design, giving peace of mind and control over the entire fit out process from conception to completion. They are unique in the market in that they are both a fit-out company and an office furniture company, which delivers efficiencies and cost savings compared to the traditional fit out route, not to mention certainty and total understanding of costs prior to engagement.
As advisers, designers, fit out contractors and furniture providers, Chawner & Trench can manage 100% of the fit out process, culminating invariably in the realisation of stunning workspaces and luxurious spaces to relax.
After meeting the client to discuss his / her project needs, an initial proposal is drawn up with a line-by-line estimate of cost & 3D design drawings. No formal engagement is required at this stage. Chawner & Trench can then provide a detailed proposal including confirmed costing, construction and 3D design drawings. Once satisfied, the client can then engage and proceed to develop the project.
Robert Trench, who established the company in 2019 alongside business partner Simon Chawner, points out that transparency, good ethics (towards clients and subcontractors alike) and professionalism are the cornerstones upon which Chawner & Trench is built: “We are an end user focused fit out company that offers our clients peace of mind, direct relationships and a good design service.
“We specialise in end user projects and get a high volume of repeat business and referrals, which ties into our unique approach to how we do business. We pride ourselves on being a transparent and ethical business. When we prepare our initial detailed costings and detailed designs, to give the client an idea of what kind of price he or she is going to be looking at, if it’s not to their liking they can simply walk away at that stage with no obligation.
“We are unique in that we do a lot of very detailed work up front for customers so that once they do start to work with us they will know where we are going. We’re not afraid to invest in the client prior to engagement.
“It gives the client peace of mind to understand the costs and to see if the design is going to be good enough. We make that investment up front with a line-by-line breakdown so that the client can have all the knowledge they need to make an informed decision as to the best direction in which to proceed with the job. Because there is trust there and customers have certainty and peace of mind, that’s one of the main reasons why we get so much repeat business and referrals.”
None of this would be worth the paper it’s written on if Chawner & Trench couldn’t back it up with quality workmanship…
“We use the same experienced, high-quality subcontractors on every job and we can stand over their work because we are not outsourcing,” Robert continues. “We simply don’t accept poor workmanship and all our lads know this. They are brilliant tradesmen. Our carpenter Paul Smith, for example, has been working with us for twelve years.
“Behind the scenes, with our trades and subcontractors, we have an ethical approach and treat them all with the utmost respect and courtesy. We pay them upon receipt of invoices and don’t string anybody along. We treat our subbies as part of the team and we treat them as professionals with families to look after and bills to pay … in return, we get the best out of our trades.
“We also take an ethical approach to our clients. We do every job properly and are committed to them. Both myself and Simon are directly involved in every project and the client deals with us all the way from pitch level to handover level. That way, they know their project matters to us and that they are not just a number. They get to deal with us right through the process and those conversations about cost and design are remembered by us and by them.
“Sustainability is also important to us. We are members of the Irish Green Building Council and are always looking at ways of making our products and services more sustainable.”
Robert is a vastly experienced office interior designer with extensive furniture and interior knowledge. Having started his career in retail furniture, he has been in the furniture and office design sector since 1996 and has held previous MD and management positions with leading Irish and international office furniture companies such as Minima and Bene International.
He ran his own office furniture company Design flow from 2003 until 2008 and is also an accomplished furniture designer, under the name Studio Trench, whose work has been featured in the Irish Times as well as many interior design magazines.
Robert boasts extensive experience in designing and managing turnkey office fit outs for businesses as well as an in-depth knowledge of the office furniture sector. He has designed and specified the fit outs of offices for prestigious clients such as Sony Music, FPG amentum, Aergo Capital, Leman Solicitors. Kane Tuohy Solicitors, Gilead Pharma, Client Solutions, DLR Properties and JLL.
“I’ve always worked on high-quality projects and understand the level of professionalism clients expect at that level,” he notes. “Our work predominantly consists of Cat A and Cat B office refurbs and fit outs offered on a design-and-build basis. We tend not to tender and our business is direct with the end user.”
Simon is an experienced project manager delivering projects in the commercial, hospitality and private sectors. He has been in the construction industry for over 20 years having worked for several companies with different portfolios and skillsets. He also set up and ran his own construction business for several years.
He has project managed a multitude of office fit outs including projects for top legal firms, a major aircraft leasing company and a leading Irish business technology company. All these projects were complete design and build turnkey office fit outs.
He also project managed the complete refurbishment of the Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast; the refurbishment of the Bailey Café and Bar; the complete refurbishment of Glovers Alley Restaurant; and the supply of bespoke items to the iconic Hard Rock Café Hotel on Parliament Street.
Whether a client is looking for a small office refurbishment, a relocation or a full office fit-out, Chawner & Trench will define the space requirements and deliver the best office design to suit that business. Utilising the latest CAD technology and visualisation techniques, they bring their workspace designs to life and give clients a true feel for what their new office will look like, subsequently creating a fully functioning workspace designed to help improve aesthetics, productivity and profitability.
In conjunction with sister company Future Office, workspaces can be fitted out with the latest office furniture, including ergonomic workstation chairs, height-adjustable desks as well as pods, breakout areas, glazed partitions and glass solutions. The new space can suit all business needs, including layouts for modern hybrid offices.
“Future Office is the office furniture company and we have our own office furniture showroom here on the Kylemore Road. We can offer that service within our fit out service or can provide it separately. We source high-quality furniture from multiple suppliers all over Europe and, as we are distributors, we can supply furniture at a competitive price without adding on an extra layer.
“Whether the client needs just three desks or furniture for a full office fit out, they can still come to us,” Robert concludes. “It’s very convenient for clients to come back and continue their relationship with us and get additional furniture to complement what they already have. Leman Solicitors is one example of a client that we did a full fit out for five or six years ago and they still talk to us today if they need a new desk or anything else.”
Chawner & Trench,
The Studio,
Glencullen House,
Kylemore Road,
Dublin 10.
Tel: 087 3952621
Email: [email protected]
Web: chawnerandtrench.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, December 2022, Vol 8 No 12
