This week, it’s time to take a look at what NeoCon East participants found underfoot. There were a number of new commercial floor coverings on display – including a collection from Atlas Carpet Mills. The Archeologique line features modular carpet tiles with a velvet-cut pile surface. The pile is carved with what Atlas describes as a selection of 5 different “organic and linear loop textures” in 24 colors. These ancient glyphs bring a sophisticated touch to walkways while letting the eye wander over patterns that evoke ancient cities and unearthed ruins.
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NeoCon East - New Commercial Furniture Part 4
Friday, November 25th, 2011Companies War over Windfall from Foreign Furniture Duties
Thursday, November 24th, 2011Sometimes, the furniture business is as full of foreign intrigue as a good spy movie. There are backroom deals, squabbling over loot, and all sorts of shenanigans. For example, the Byrd Amendment (the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act) was put in place in 2000 to deter countries like China from dumping cheap goods onto the American market. Furniture was among the products affected by this anti-dumping Act. Although this legislation has now been repealed, there is still a tidy sum in collected duties waiting to be distributed.
Who gets the money? According to U.S. Court of International Trade, the funds are to be distributed to American furniture companies that were affected by dumping. The catch is that only companies that supported the anti-dumping petition in the first place are eligible to benefit. Now, furniture companies that did not support the Byrd Amendment are clamoring for a share of the spoils anyway. They claim that it is unfair to penalize them for not marching in lock-step with the government in instituting the CDSOA when it was first proposed.
You can read more about the decision at Furniture Today. What do you think would be fair in this situation? Let us know in the comments.
NeoCon East - New Commercial Furniture Part 3
Saturday, November 19th, 2011Next up on our tour of new items for the office is Peter Pepper Products, Inc. This firm introduced two lines of recycling receptacles for use in the workplace. The HexBin (as its name suggests) is intended for use in groups of 2 or more that fit together like pieces of a honeycomb. The bins can be used for paper, aluminum, glass, plastic, or trash depending on the lid and labeling you choose. There’s even a rain hood you can attach for outdoor locations. These bins come in sizes up to 37 gallons for use in large facilities.
The REMIX collection is a sleeker version of single and dual waste stream recycling bins. These oval bins are finished with a dent resistant aluminum composite in your choice of silver, bronze, white, or stainless. The semi-rigid bin liners are made of recycled billboards – a very hip and ironic way for Peter Pepper to advertise the sustainability of its products.
Vintage Office Etiquette
Friday, November 4th, 2011This office etiquette video from the Encyclopaedia Britannica Films archive offers a delightful peek at what was expected from white collar workers in the 1950s. Some of the advice is still very relevant for today. After all, the Golden Rule doesn’t change. Going to work is much more pleasant when everyone treats others they way they want to be treated. Being considerate never goes out of style.
Of course, today’s employers tend to be a little more lax about some behaviors. For example, making an occasional personal phone call or spending a few minutes surfing the web is not considered problematic in many offices – as long as you get your work done. We’ve also got a very different attitude about work/life balance. For example, few of us would spend hours every night learning skills that should be acquired via company paid training during regular business hours. Plus, not that many people actually learn shorthand anymore!
Which ‘rules’ shown in this film do you still find relevant in today’s work environment? Let us know in the comments.
Are You Monitoring Monitor Use for Proper Ergonomics?
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011In Allsteel’s resource library, you’ll find a very interesting OSHA white paper on the “Ergonomics of Video Terminal Displays”. That’s an old fashioned term for computer monitors. In fact, the paper dates back to 1997 – the days of big boxy cathode ray tube displays that are thankfully becoming a thing of the past. What hasn’t changed is the fact that many employees simply don’t have their screen set up properly for optimal viewing. Complaints from back in the day such as eye strain, headaches, neck pain, and blurred vision are still common in today’s workplace.
Many of the solutions recommended by OSHA are still timely. For example, appropriate lighting plays a big role in reducing glare. Adjustability of everything from the chair to the keyboard tray and the monitor are also still sensible precautions to reduce musculoskeletal strain. Fortunately, modern articulated monitor arms make changing the height and distance of a flat screen easier than ever - and they don’t take up too much desk space!
Commercial Furniture Designers Do Residential – Part 4
Friday, September 2nd, 2011For the final post in our series on furniture that can be used in office or home settings, let’s explore what Knoll has to offer. The company has quite an extensive collection – including pint sized furnishings designed for kids.
Maya Lin Stones
These colorful indoor/outdoor “stones” are made of molded polyethylene. Every surface is fully finished and enclosed for weather resistance. They come in adult and child sized seating versions with a cupped surface and table models with a slightly concave top to prevent moisture accumulation. You can add weight to the bottom of the stone to prevent tipping or anchor it to the ground with an optional kit. These stones would look cozy on a patio or add spice to an outdoor break area at a business.
Barstools
The Jamaica barstool would fit in with the trend for having lightning fast “standup” meetings at the office. They are lightweight enough for easy relocation throughout the facility as needed. They would also work great in a black and white themed kitchen or by a wet bar. The sculpted aluminum seat is easy to clean and comfortable enough to use without a cushion.
Side Table
This occasional table is one of Frank Gehry’s signature pieces – literally. The designer’s signature and the production date are embossed on the underside of each unit. The wooden slat structure is supposed to remind you of apple crates. This rustic table would work in a casual meeting area at an eco-friendly company or in a home conservatory as a place to set pots of African violets.
Teknion Builds a Better Mouse…Tray
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011Teknion’s ergonomic accessories in the Complements collection include quite a range of keyboard trays. There are models with plastic or aluminum surfaces as well as sit-to-stand arm versions for enhanced flexibility. But it’s the mouse trays that add that little something extra. The 3D mousing surface attachment has almost as many adjustable features as a high-end office chair. You can change the height or tilt of the pad and swivel it into just the right position. This tray-on-a-tray design can work for left or right handed mouse operation.
Other Complements tools include articulated arms for today’s flat screen computer monitors and laptop stands for mobile workers. Your upper body isn’t the only area receiving special attention. You can also add a footrest to your work area to take pressure off your thighs. The footrest sits on the floor instead of attaching to the chair, so it can be used with any model or brand of office chair.
Commercial Furniture Designers Do Residential – Part 3
Friday, August 26th, 2011Teknion is yet another manufacturer well known for its office furniture that also crafts items that can shine in a home setting. Here are a few of the designs you might see in the commercial or residential arena:
Occasional Tables
Dakar is just one of several models created for use as corner tables or coffee tables. This walnut, cherry, or maple veneered built up top with self-edge detail works in a lobby or an entryway. The darker finishes would look particularly nice in an executive office. Choose from diameters from a slim 18” to a generous 36” to fit your available space.
Side Chairs
The Abington armchair is from Teknion’s classic Philly series. The model shown here has a diamond tufted upholstery that makes it suitable for a corner office guest chair or an old-fashioned parlor. If that style strikes you as too “stuffy”, you can also pick a plain seat and back to retain the cushioning effect without being quite so showy. This is definitely a chair that looks like it would encourage good posture (at least over the short term)!
Lighting
No compendium of Teknion’s products would be complete without a mention of the innovative Conflux design. This LED lamp comes in many sizes, but the freestanding floor lamp is the most imposing. This sculpture like piece would be fantastic for a living room or a collaborative workspace. Its low-glare optic prism will gives you a bright, smooth glow for reading or for working on your laptop.
Commercial Furniture Designers Do Residential – Part 2
Friday, August 19th, 2011Last week, we explored some of the crossover furniture from Haworth that could work in either a business or residential space. Today, let’s take a look at what Herman Miller has to offer. Of course, HM is well known in design circles for famous pieces like the Eames chairs. You’ll see this home furniture in modern art and design museums all across the country. Here are some other items you might find of interest in the online store:
Capelli Stool
This occasional stool would be a lovely addition to a collaborative workspace or a sunroom with a reading nook. The design is both intricate and elegantly simple with interlaced wooden fingers that resemble an open book. The pale wood can figure into a very broad range of design motifs.
Cognita Storage Bench
This piece doubles as a storage unit with seating. Tuck this away in a conference meeting area for supplemental seating and a place to keep audio visual accessories, extra pens, and more. It would also fit in a living room near the entertainment center or in a home office.
Folding Screen
This Eames plywood folding screen can be incorporated into a freestanding panel system to build a temporary brainstorming space or to increase privacy for high-concentration work. It’s also a great option for dividing living areas. Give the kids a place to play out of the way or create additional conversational mingling areas during a family event.
Good NeoCon Results For Knoll – On the Surface!
Friday, August 12th, 2011Plenty of the “big boys” at NeoCon walked away with top prizes for office furniture. But Knoll has things “covered” from a different angle. This company really shone in the textile category, earning gold and silver awards for 2 new fabric collections.
KnollTextiles’ Vista (designed by Dorothy Cosonas) received gold recognition. This line is made up of 5 fabrics designed for healthcare settings. It includes privacy curtains and high-performance upholstery textiles. The Bloom design comes in a variety of pastel colors from peach to periwinkle with a dense cluster of print at the border that opens out into a serene pattern of falling petals. Upholstery fabrics like Grandview blend high and low sheen yarns in rich colors for a deeply textured effect.
The Ink collection received the Silver award for wall coverings. These graphically printed textiles look like a blend between modern art and a biology experiment. The Drip series has a certain Pollock-esque quality while the Drop pattern looks like hugely magnified pollen or bacteria. Designer Abbott Miller says the inspiration for these patterns came from playing around with the movement of ink on paper.
