Inside the Your Office Transformation in Downtown Milwaukee
The Vision: A Space with Character
The team at Your Office wasn’t starting with a blank slate. They were remodeling an older establishment in downtown Milwaukee and wanted to create something entirely new while honoring the character of the existing space. Their vision was a vintage-inspired, high-end cocktail bar with a touch of retro office personality woven throughout. Rich velvet fabrics, statement booths with beautiful tufting, warm finishes, and thoughtfully curated details all played a role in creating the atmosphere they imagined. One of their biggest priorities was a custom wall behind the bar that would showcase books, collectibles, and bottles in a way that felt curated over decades.
That’s where CJ & Associates came in.
More Than Furniture
Working alongside independent interior designer Amanda Pirlot of ANEA Design Co., the CJ team became an extension of the project team, helping source furniture and finishes that captured the look everyone envisioned while staying within budget. Amanda provided creative direction and overall aesthetic, while CJ & Associates leaned on decades of experience in commercial interiors to identify products that delivered the right style, quality, and value.
The owners shared images they had collected over time that captured exactly how they wanted the space to feel. Some featured dramatic booths and rich velvet textures, while others showcased moody lighting, vintage details, or interesting architectural elements. This thought starter became the starting point for conversations about what the finished space could become.
The team at CJ & Associates took those ideas and curated a custom lookbook filled with furniture and finish options that aligned with the overall aesthetic. As the team reviewed the pieces together, the design direction became more defined. They discovered what they loved, what didn’t quite fit, and where there were opportunities to make thoughtful adjustments without losing sight of the original vision.
A look inside the custom inspiration book created for the Your Office project.
Because this was a self-funded project, every selection came with a conversation. The owners wanted to create a space that felt special, but they also wanted to be smart about how they spent their money. The CJ team helped them navigate those decisions, identifying opportunities to save in some areas so they could invest in other, more important details.
That ability to balance creativity with practicality is one of the reasons businesses throughout Wisconsin continue to partner with CJ & Associates. For more than 40 years, the company has helped clients create commercial interiors that reflect their brand, support the way they work, and adapt as their needs change. From corporate offices and healthcare environments to educational facilities, restaurants, and retail spaces, every project begins with listening first and designing a solution that feels uniquely their own.
A Flexible Approach to Business Interior Design
This project also highlights something clients may not realize about CJ & Associates. While the company is known for taking projects from “inspiration to installation,” they are equally comfortable joining an established team of architects, designers, and contractors. They understand that every project is different, and they take great pride in being flexible and easy to work with.
That flexibility proved especially valuable throughout the Your Office renovation. Construction schedules shifted, timelines changed, and one of the booth fabrics selected early in the process suddenly became unavailable. Rather than compromising the design or delaying the project, the CJ team quickly sourced an alternative that was in stock, fit within budget, and maintained the same look and feel the owners had envisioned from the start.
Today, Your Office feels exactly the way the owners imagined it would. Guests settle into the booths, conversations linger a little longer, and the custom bar wall catches your eye the moment you walk in. Every finish, fabric, and detail works together to create an atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and new.
And like many CJ & Associates projects, the story didn’t end when the doors opened. The partnership continued with The Parklet, a thoughtfully furnished outdoor space completed just in time for summer. It’s one more example of how the best spaces evolve over time and how we’re proud to grow alongside our clients.
The partnership between The relationship has grown in other ways, too. On the first Monday of every month, you’ll find Kim Hastings, President of CJ & Associates, alongside Lisa Proeber, part of the Your Office ownership team and a CJ business partner at The Middle Six, tending bar during happy hour, with all tips benefiting a local nonprofit organization.
We’re proud to be the team our clients call, not just for what’s next, but for every chapter that follows.
Harle Photography provided professional photography, and the photograph of “The Parklet” was taken from Your Office’s Facebook page.
