Does your home have an indoor slide?
Probably not. But the Living Room, a triple-threat creative meeting space on Norwood Ave., sure does.
It's perhaps a symbol of what the Living Room aims to do: blend unique design with resources for professionals to do their best work.
"If you come into our space, it’s homey, but has a mix of industrial chic design, with exposed brick," Marketing Manager Liz Haselmayer said. "But there are thousands of pillows, and you should feel comfortable enough to take a nap on any one of our couches."
Don't let its coziness fool you; the space is more than 10,000 square feet spread over two Victorian buildings, and with a full-service kitchen, it's conducive for all kinds of events. In fact, the space's aesthetic and resources have attracted clients for everything from weddings and rehearsal dinners to happy hours and classes.
"There are a lot of cool [coworking] places in Cincy," Haselmayer said. "[But] we're the largest creative space."
In said creative space, corporate clients and their employees come in for strategic meetings, team building activities and other outings that necessitate a place to get work done that isn't in a buttoned-up office. The Living Room supplies projectors, TVs, an endless supply of LaCroix and catering from its in-house chef.
Then, there's the consumer research arm of the Living Room. Instead of utilzing a typical one-way mirror facility when conducting focus groups, clients can bring these groups to the Living Room's research suite. Those participating in the study can do so without the pressure of the mirror, and the team can watch the discussion via a HD live stream in a private room upstairs.
As of last year, the Living Room's newest offering is coworking.
"We had a bunch of extra space," Haselmayer said. "[Clients kept saying], 'The space is so awesome I wish I could work here every day.'"
So the seven-person team made it so interested parties could. Currently, the Living Room has around five steady coworkers, with other larger teams coming in occasionally to use the spot.
The Living Room, which was created in 2012 after branching off of another company, wants its ethos to match its homey, friendly space.
"Everyone on the team loves being on the team," Haselmayer said. "They're on fire for the mission of the Living Room, and would bend over backwards from everyone; we are so passionate about our service."
It's not just talk. Haselmayer explained the company's "Benny Rule" — as in, the Founding Father on a $100 bill — which allows employees to use up to $100 to rectify any problems with clients, treat members with a surprise or otherwise enhance user experience, no questions asked.
The Benny Rule is just a small way that the Living Room can assist the members who call the place home.
"We exist to help businesses when they're trying to further themselves, so that you can get out of your head and tap into that innovative spirit," Haselmayer said. "That’s why we exist, so that we can provide the space for people to do that."
The Living Room team has a host of ideas for other ways to continue this work. Haselmayer expressed interest in a company mission trip, after it grows to a place of greater financial stability; completing an additional 2,000 square-foot renovation project; and there's talk about one day opening a restaurant and even expanding to other cities.
Ultimately, "we want to expand outside the city, expand within our building and expand as a team," Haselmayer said.
That doesn't mean that she and the Living Room team aren't pleased with the company's current state of affairs; both the size of the staff and building just nearly doubled.
"We love to see people come in, we love to grow," Haselmayer said. "We’re making it work and we’re cranking out crazy-awesome success, and that’s really exciting."
