LESS Co. Studio
Name: Grant Spanier and Veronica McCracken of LESS Co.
Location: The Everest Building, St. Paul
Size: 1,400 Square Feet
Years occupied: 1
LESS Co. is the kind of place that really lives by its name. The crisp white walls are offset by smart and efficient black furniture. Every detail, plant and tchotchke is lovingly thought out and has a meaning to its owner.
That’s why it comes as no surprise to me or others that the LESS Co. space is just as much about the people in it as the stuff. It’s a warm and welcoming place where ideas have a lot of room to breathe, and you get the sense that there’s a lot of laughing going on.
Of course, the boutique agency is known for their creative execution. Their motto is to simplify everything, and well, when you strip away the fluff, what you’ve got left is a lot of heart. Just like the workspace.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Minimalist meets quirky.
Inspiration: Other startups, design/advertising agencies, minimalism, youth, and Buckminster Fuller.
Favorite Element: The “Simplify” lightbox on the wall.
Biggest Challenge: Moving into an unfinished space and making it our own — on a budget, within time constraints. When we originally moved in the walls were brown and red. The space was empty. The floors were unsealed and there was no trim. It was a mess, but we turned it into a space that we’re proud of and excited to work in.
What Friends Say: They love coming to the space to take in the creative energy. We have lots of collaborators that come through to co-work, as well as clients that like hanging out in the studio. High ceilings make it feel really open. No walls make it feel collaborative. It’s fun and inspiring.
Biggest Embarrassment: Unloading our conference table and chairs as a client walked into one of our first meetings. So it goes at a boutique firm.
Proudest DIY: Painting this massive space took a couple weeks. Absolutely exhausting, but totally rewarding — we felt like fixing things up was part of a process we had to undergo if we wanted to do it “right.” We installed everything
Biggest Indulgence: A drink at the bar and a game of Mortal Kombat. A working/electric fireplace.
Best Advice: Don’t get too caught up in trying to make it perfect — we’re focused on a minimalist aesthetic in our work, but we realized that we needed a space with a bit of quirkiness and fun to stay inspired, even if it doesn’t 100% match our creative/design attitude.
Dream Sources: Blu Dot, Askov Finlayson, Best Made Co.
Resources of Note:
Tech Hardware: Mortal Kombat II Cabinet, Apple computers (retina display, macbook pros), N64 and Electric fireplace.
Furniture: Repurposed hotel bar (painted + sealed)
Lighting: Repurposed lightboxes (photography + in-store promotional)
Flooring: Raw concrete, sealed with a clear overcoat
Art: Prints by Veronica Mae and Allan Peters
Vintage: Typewriter, cameras and lots of books
Thanks, LESS CO!
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