Being in the commercial interior design industry for over 20 years, we’ve been able to carefully curate our suppliers. When it comes to furniture, we look beyond just what will look good in a space, carefully considering its function, purpose and finish to ensure it’s the right product for the project.
For many years now, we have worked with suppliers such as The Senator Group, Ocee, Herman Miller, Elite Office Furniture, Orangebox and many more. We’re always exploring the industry scouting out new suppliers to keep us at the top of our game. But how do we decide which suppliers, products and finishes we’re going to put forward? Sadly, there’s no singular formula to help us here, but our inhouse furniture experts have a good eye for quality. Here’s a few things they will look out for.
What is the Purpose?
It’s important to ask the right questions. Why have we put this piece of furniture here? Who is going to use it and how? For instance, task chairs that will be used for long periods of time need to be durable but also comfortable. If your workspace is open plan, you might want to introduce meeting pods or dividers for privacy. Before sourcing any furniture, we get to know the client and their team so we can provide the right product. There is no one size fits all.
A workspace can take on a very different meaning depending on the business and certain areas may need to be multipurpose. For instance, a breakout space is not only an area for employees to relax and unwind but also eat their lunch. Table height and seating will need to be considered here, to make sure all the furniture is fit for purpose. And believe it or not, bar height stools and high stools are very different products.
Finishes
Deciding on the finishes goes beyond just thinking about what colours will look good. Once again, we will consider the purpose. Taking the example of breakout areas again; this is a space that undergoes a lot of use and fabrics need to be easy to maintain. In this instance, we will often suggest darker colours for task chairs, kitchen worktops and teapoints making them easier to clean.
If you want something more unique, we can also create bespoke finishes so you can get hands-on with how your office is going to look and feel. From your desktops to flooring, desk chairs and lounge seating, we make sure your interior seamlessly integrates with your brand and works for your space.
Sustainability
With all our furniture and finishes, we like to factor in sustainability in the workspace. Where possible, we like to work with suppliers that are doing all they can to help the environment and use finishes made from environmentally friendly fibres. One of the suppliers we are proud to work with is Elite furniture who have pledged to achieve net zero by 2030. Through various activities and processes, they are on a journey to dramatically reduce their carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. Orangebox have also introduced their ‘do better’ chair which is made from recycled materials and uses 40% less CO2 to manufacture.
Budget
Cost is always at the forefront of everyone’s mind and new office furniture can seem like a huge investment. However, buying high quality products from trusted suppliers does not have to break the bank and is definitely worth the expense in the long run. As the saying goes, buy cheap buy twice.
Throughout your project, we always work with your budget in mind, selecting cost effective furniture that is excellent value for money. Our experience means we know how to determine the essentials and the luxuries, meaning we can make the most of the money that’s available for your project.
Every business is unique and each project will have different requirements. We, of course, have our favourite products and our old faithfuls that we frequently recommend, but these have all earned their place in our arsenal and are proven to be timeless, reliable and resilient.
If you’re interested in redesigning your workspace get in touch with workplace advisors to start discussing your space and what you’re looking to achieve. Call 01603722123 or complete our contact form below.