With office space scarce in the city, advertising company Brand Solutions has found a superb alternative. "It's a very unique place," creative director Buddy Escubil said of his company's workspace. "We'd rather be in a very unique house and call it an office. I mean, in how many countries do you have a French colonial building and say that's my office?"

The goal behind the renovation of the Brand Solutions office was to keep the exterior as original as possible while creating a workable office space within. Great pains were taken to restore the outside of this French provincial house to its previous beauty. A wing added onto the eastern side of the house matches the architectural lines and textures of the original building.

The inside was completely gutted and redone, with the staircase and support pillars the only remnants from the old interior. Having a team of professional electricians and electrical engineers is key when taking on a project like this, Escubil said. "Any office would need a fax machine and an internet connection, and all those wires are hard to manage."

Escubil has some simple advice for any company that wants to do what Brand Solutions has done. "Have a great relationship with the landlord, that's the key," he said. "And be prepared to spend a lot of money to make it look good."

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