Decca-Design Inc.

10/16/2026

Leaders R Readers 📚 This month’s book pick comes from our trusty leader, Jennifer: Exactly What to Say: The Magic Words for Influence and Impact by Phil M Jones.

It is a quick read, but one that makes you stop and think about how much weight a few words can carry.

In design, communication is everywhere. We are explaining ideas, asking questions, working through changes, managing expectations and helping clients make decisions that can affect an entire project.

That is why this one stood out to Jennifer.

The biggest takeaway? Good communication is not always about saying more. Often, it is about choosing the right words at the right moment.

A useful read for anyone who works with people, which around here is pretty much all of us.

What should we read next? We are always looking for the next book to add to the Leaders R Readers pile.

10/15/2026

Have you had the pleasure of meeting our Principal, Keith Anderson?

“Design unleashes the creativity within me. It is an opportunity to live out your dreams and ideas.”

Keith brings more than 50 years of experience in design, construction, and millwork to Decca Design. He began his career as a framer and cabinet maker before founding Deuce Interiors Inc., a general contracting and custom millwork company.

For 40 years, he worked alongside a team of European craftspeople, taking on projects across North America and developing an understanding of design that comes from knowing how things are actually built.

That hands-on experience still shapes his work at Decca today.

Keith looks at a project from both sides. How should it look and feel? How will it function? And, equally important, can it actually be built the way it has been designed?

He has also never been afraid of new technology. Decca Design was one of the first design firms in Calgary to move from traditional 2D AutoCAD into Revit, giving clients the ability to experience their projects in three dimensions and better understand a space before construction begins.

His curiosity carries well beyond the office. In his spare time, Keith blows glass, carves wood, and makes pottery.

“I love to explore the connection between art and all things design.”

After five decades in the industry, he is still learning, experimenting, and finding new ways to approach a problem. That curiosity is a big part of what Keith brings to every Decca project.

10/14/2026

In an eye clinic or optometry office, furniture placement can affect far more than how the room looks.

It influences how patients move through the space, how comfortably they wait, how staff access equipment, and how easily someone can browse frames without feeling crowded.

At Decca Design, furniture planning is part of the larger clinic layout, not something saved until the end.

A few things we consider in optometry and eye clinic design:

• Patient flow: Seating should support the way people move from reception to testing, exam rooms, fitting areas and checkout.

• Frame displays: Furniture and display placement should make eyewear easy to browse without blocking circulation.

• Accessibility: Clear pathways matter, especially in clinics serving older patients or people with mobility concerns.

• Sightlines: Staff need to be able to see key areas of the clinic without the space feeling overly exposed.

• Waiting comfort: The location and spacing of chairs can make a small waiting area feel much calmer and more organized.

• Flexibility: Good furniture placement makes it easier for a clinic to adapt as equipment, staffing or patient needs change.

In an optometry clinic, a chair moved a few feet can affect circulation, privacy and how the entire room functions.

That is why good eye clinic interior design starts with understanding how the space will be used, not simply filling it with furniture.

Decca Design Inc.
626 35th Avenue NE
Calgary, AB T2E 2L1
403-230-1014
[email protected]
www.decca-design.com

10/09/2026

Concrete, timber, exposed structure and a workspace designed around how the team actually works.

For NRG Concrete Specialists, the goal was to create a new commercial office with an industrial character that felt appropriate for the business, while still providing a collaborative environment for a variety of users.

One of the bigger design challenges? The building itself. High ceilings and a metal structure created acoustic considerations, while the open industrial feel was something worth keeping rather than covering up.

Decca Design worked with those existing elements, leaving mechanical and structural components exposed and incorporating them into the overall commercial interior design.

The office includes two private offices and a collaborative estimating area with plenty of storage and, importantly for this team, enough surface area to spread out drawings and plans. A freestanding timber structure takes advantage of the ceiling height and creates one of the private offices, while the boardroom and staff kitchen sit neatly behind the reception feature wall.

The Return on Design Investment (RODI) came down to three things: better workflow, materials and finishes that are easier to maintain, and an office that presents NRG’s work and brand well when clients walk through the door.

A good commercial office does not have to disguise what the building is. Sometimes the exposed structure is exactly where the design should start.

Decca Design Inc.

626 35th Avenue NE

Calgary, AB T2E 2L1

403-230-1014

[email protected]

www.decca-design.com

10/08/2026

Meet the newest member of the Decca Design team, Drexel.

Having grown up around design and construction, Drexel brings a builder’s mindset to his role as Project Coordinator.

“I love design because I’m a builder at heart. I love seeing an idea take shape, watching it come together, and experiencing the finished result.”

At Decca, Drexel helps coordinate the many moving pieces that take a project from planning through construction and, eventually, to the finished space.

He is continuing to build his experience in project management, scheduling and construction coordination, while learning first-hand how many details have to line up to make a project run well.

And apparently, that is part of the appeal.

There is always another problem to solve, another detail to work through and another stage of the project to see come together.

Outside of work, Drexel enjoys golfing, swimming, camping and a competitive game of co****le, so we have a feeling the competitive streak may show up around the office from time to time too.

We are very happy to have him as part of the Decca team.

09/30/2026

Today, we pause to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

It is a day to honour the survivors of residential schools, remember the children who never returned home, and acknowledge the lasting impact on their families and communities.

We listen. We learn. We remember. We honour.

🧡

09/28/2026

Sometimes a renovation is less about adding more and more about making better use of what you already have.

This ensuite had one of those classic corner jetted tubs from the ’80s/'90s. You know the one. 😅

The goal was simple: update the space, create a much better shower, and make the room feel more open.

By replacing the bulky corner tub with a freestanding soaker, we were able to open up the floor plan and create a spacious 38" x 60" shower with a doorless entry.

Using the same tile throughout the shower floor, walls and ceiling also helps the space feel larger and more cohesive, while the neutral palette and oil-rubbed bronze fixtures add a fresh, timeless finish.

And perhaps the best part? The renovation was completed while the homeowners were away on vacation, so they came home to a finished ensuite instead of a construction project.

That's a pretty good way to end a vacation. 😉

Design isn't just about making a space look better. It's about making it work better, too.

See the full project → https://decca-design.com/residential/featured-project-updated-ensuite/

09/25/2026

Your team sees things you don't.

When you're designing a healthcare space, it's easy to focus on the floor plan, finishes, furniture, and construction.

But what about the people who use the space every day?

The person answering phones.
The team member moving between treatment rooms.
The person managing schedules.

The staff who know exactly where the bottlenecks happen during a busy day. They often see things that aren't obvious on a floor plan.

That’s why involving your team early in the design process can make such a difference. Their input can uncover workflow challenges, shape better decisions, reduce surprises, and help create a space that actually works for the people using it.

Good design isn't just about how a space looks. It's about understanding how people work within it.

Have you ever experienced a small design or workflow problem that you didn't realize was there until you started using the space?

Read our latest blog to learn more about why bringing your team into the conversation early can lead to better healthcare design decisions and smoother projects.

https://decca-design.com/about-us/best-clinic-designs-arent-created-alone/

Discover why involving your team in healthcare clinic design leads to better decisions, smoother projects, and stronger long-term outcomes. Learn how collaboration improves healthcare interior design in Calgary.

09/23/2026

Fall is officially here, which means we're thinking about texture, warmth, and layers.

And no, that doesn't mean your home needs to look like a pumpkin patch. Unless you're into that sort of thing. 😉

Sometimes bringing a little fall into a space is as simple as adding a warmer textile, introducing a richer wood tone, or layering in a few textures that make a room feel a little more inviting.

You don't have to completely redecorate with every season. A few thoughtful changes can shift the feeling of a space without taking away what already makes it yours.

What's your favorite way to bring a little fall into your space?

09/21/2026

What makes a space feel peaceful?

It isn't always silence. It doesn't have to be minimalist. And it definitely doesn't require beige everything.

A peaceful space can be a home, a healthcare office, a workplace, or anywhere people spend time.

Sometimes it's the way natural light moves through a room. Sometimes it's a thoughtful layout that keeps things from feeling crowded. It might be soft textures, calming colours, better storage, or simply creating a little breathing room.

Good design can influence how a space feels and how we feel while we're in it.

Today, on the International Day of Peace, we're thinking about how the spaces around us can create a little more calm, comfort, and connection.

Because whether we're at home, at work, or somewhere in between, we could all use a little more peace in our spaces.