If I had a penny for everytime I had been asked “What do Urban Office Interiors sit in” then I would……… you get the rest.

Well, we do get asked and we do tell.  It was only yesterday that a client told me the girls on reception loved the chairs and thanked us for our suggestion.  The original question was indeed, “what do you sit in”..  After the client tested the chair which we sent to them, they were 100% that it was the correct chair for them.  The client even wanted to keep the demo chair until the new chairs arrived..  So, you may ask – what do we sit on..

 Yes, the Open Mind mesh back task chair from Sedus Stoll.  After just over a year of owning this chair, I can report that they are still going strong (as all chairs do from our selection) and are in great condition.  Sedus Stoll (from Germany – so you know its well built) are one of Europes top manufacturers.  Componently, the chairs are great and move with ease and sturdyness.

Open Mind from Sedus Stoll:

Perfect form. Perfect ergonomics. open mind does not compromise. The high-quality backrest frame, formed as a single unit, lends this chair its distinctive design. Relaxed working and total freedom of movement are guaranteed by the “Similar” mechanism with its extra-large opening angle. The patented Sedo-Lift mechanism provides soft cushioning for all sizes of user, even in the lowest sitting position.

Open mind - side profile

Options / Information:

Backrest One-piece backrest frame, membrane covering, also available with a flat cushion.
Lumbar support Optional height-adjustable lumbar support – for optimal lower back support.
Headrest Individually adjustable to the user’s body size.
Armrests Basic armrests with plastic or leather finish, 3D adjustable armrests with plastic, Soft touch, gel or leather finish.

“Similar” mechanism Particularly large opening angle of over 32°. Individually adjustable backrest pressure. 4° seat tilt adjustment.
Sliding seat Sliding seat adjustable by up to 60 mm without changing the position of the seat.
Seat height adjustment Sedo-Lift or gas lift mechanism.
Visual features 10 shades of leather, more than 200 fabrics, 3 five-star base designs, castors with 65 mm diameter.

So thats it – we sit in Sedus Stolls Open Mind task chairs and are still loving them today.

PDF Brochure 

Hello, John again. Back for my monthly (yeah right!) appraisal of all things furniture. This week… Road Trip!

Q. What do you get if you cross 2 beer loving men, a handful of London furniture showrooms and St. Patrick’s Day?

A. Home at 10:30 in the evening…

Showroom tour 09

That is the short hand of the story of what happened but the longer version is now going to be related to you. We set off on the morning of Tuesday 17th with upbeat vigour at the thought of getting out of the office for a day but also the thought of St Paddies at the back of our minds, it would also be a good opportunity for me to get a proper look at the furniture in the flesh and have a valid reason to quaff copious amounts of Guinness without fear of public scorn!

Brue sofa

We mounted the train at Tiverton Parkway and found our reserved seats then settled into the 2 hour 25 min journey taking in The Independent newspaper, the whirring of laptops  and that most traditional of institutions – the hideous British Rail tea.  After drinking my lukewarm tasteless water and defeating the urge to use my MP3 player I took the opportunity to stare at the inside of my eyelids till pretty much journey’s end!

John at Vitra

We arrived in Paddington at around 11:25 so right off from the start; time was going to be a factor, that and the ongoing battle that we seem to continually have with Google Maps and it’s random destination generator!

We got on the tubes each of us with one thought in mind. FOOD quickly followed by the thought GUINNESS…  We began our search to find a suitable location in which to eat.

Track Lounge

We found a lovely pub on the corner of Turnmill St and tucked into a fantastic lunch of sausage and bubble and squeak plus 2 pints of the black stuff in glorious sunshine. Marvellous!

X&Y Table

After lunch came the more serious business of the showroom visiting, so off to Clarkenwell we trudged wondering where Google maps would put us. The showrooms we visited were Boss, where we were both allowed toilet facilities, the brand new Allermuir studio as it had only opened earlier that week and Vitra were I posed on some fairly artistic and stylish chairs while Peter did his David Bailey stuff and snapped away. I was pleasantly surprised walking around the showrooms by just how much variation there is in the world of office furniture and why Pete remains as enthusiastic and passionate as he’s always been.  After much more walking and a few showrooms later we made our way, via the tube stations to find our way back home.

Dune table

As I mentioned earlier, time had always been a factor and now, at 16:34 it had become our enemy causing us to miss our train and only allowing us to catch a later train due to our ticket type. This unfortunate turn of events resulted in us having to spend another hour and a half in a pub? A cruel twist of fate that was almost too much to bear!

Eventually we boarded our designated train and sat down to a further 2 + hour journey listening to the phone calls of the great British public, the slamming of carriage doors and thankfully my MP3 player before arriving back safe and content in Devon after a very full but rewarding showroom pilgrimage. Bring on the next one!

design by Lepper Schmidt Sommerlade

Cantilever sidechair and armchair. Satin chrome-plated steel frame. Laminated solid wood back, available in beechwood or oakwood. Upholstery available in fabric/microfiber comfort/leather.

My Style

Design: Emilio Nanni

The Yoko range, a contemporary and distinct seating range designed by Emilio Nanni.  Yoko is available in a two seat bench, low stool and two high stools.  The Yoko is made from oak or beech with a chrome contemporary frame.

Yoko seating

Yoko stool

Yoko bench seating

Available from Urban Office

If you’re looking for innovative design with practicality but that is also as beautiful as it is useful then surely you can look no further than ‘Zero’ or  ’Uno‘ by Karim Rashid.  The futuristic design from the New York based designer has already attracted worldwide attention and praise as well as many prestigious awards for it’s revolutionary take on modern office furniture. Apart from designing cutting edge furniture and working with many illustrious clients some of his work is on permanent display in the Philadelphia museum of art. Karim also displays his artistic flair in a different way by DJ’ing under the moniker of DJ Kreemy at numerous events worldwide so in a lot of ways, much like his own designs and products I think it would be fair to say that the man is Versatile?

Uno

Uno desk

Zero

Zero

Sense – intelligent design made simple

No tools required – Simply plug and play office Furniture from Herman Miller – Sense.

Sense tables

Sense provides a unique office furniture solution. It offers a simple solution for today’s complex office environments. Highly intelligent components make the design simple to understand and simple to use. It is the ideal solution for companies requiring a single solution using pre-defined configurations but with a fresh aesthetic. Sense is a modern, fun range that is enjoyable to work with.

Connect

The power of the idea. All good design starts with an idea. Harnessing the power of the idea turns design into reality. Sense makes things simple, allowing you to create a solution that fits with the way you want to work.

Plug and play

All in the detail. Great design is all in the detail. An intelligent mono-beam and simple components connect to make it easy to configure the layouts you want.

Create an environment. Discover a world that connects and inspires. Sense gives you the freedom to work the way you want. Create an environment for you and your team to thrive. 

Build

No Tools. It has never been easier to put a table together. With no tools, the unique plug+play system allows you to build in seconds.

Simplicity. With plug+play it’s quick and easy to build. All components simply lock, click or snap into place. With no tools to build, Sense reduces downtime and increases productivity. Simple design means your workspace reflects your business values and adapts with you.

Inspire. Open yourself to the simple things in life. Build an environment that inspires. Use Sense to create a modern, fresh landscape that feels good to be part of.

Play

Play. Sense is meant to be played with. Dress your workspace to reflect your identity. Personalise and change – it’s designed to be easy.

Create the look. Vibrant colours and cool finishes let you create the look you want. Bring individuality to team environments. Make it as simple or detailed as you like. 

Change is easy. Choose the look you want for a modern, relaxed workplace. Motivate people. Play.

Grow

For different applications. Start with a single table and work up. Sense is designed for different applications. Update and adapt as your business changes. Take Sense with you as you grow.

Grow

Considered range. Sense is designed for the long term. As you grow, so does Sense. A considered range allows you to add new tables, change layouts, take down and rebuild. Intelligent design is built to last.

Create great places to work. Sense is built for today and can be changed for tomorrow.Herman Miller’s heritage and sustainable design principles add up to a product that’s built for the future.

Sense is design for life

Take sense with you. As your furniture needs change, use sense for different configurations. Roll-out sense across different departments, floors or offices using a simple to understand range.

Features and benefits

No tools to build. Sense simplifies the installation process and speeds up assembly.

Screen fabric is unique to Herman Miller and provides a cool, modern aesthetic with tactile and acoustic benefits

Application information

Single table

Sense can be used as a single table for individual working requirements. Power, wire management and privacy panels/screens provide a complete, independent office solution.

Back-to-back

Back to Back

Frames utilise a shared-beam concept reducing the number of legs required. Height adjustable legs and options for a toolbar with and without privacy panels ensure that whatever the communication requirement, collaboration activities can be managed

Clusters

Linear configurations are made easy with Sense. Standard length frames connect using patented connection devices to form the structure you require. Add to this returns or satellite tables to provide for further workspace, meeting or breakout options.

120 degree

Customer service, Call centre or other team based environments will benefit from the collaborative space achievable using sense in a 120-degree formation. Form small, working clusters or larger, group environments to offer the right collaboration requirements.

Meeting
An extended vocabulary means Sense can be applied to all areas of the office, including meeting and breakout areas. The fun, modern finishes and simple frame structure of Sense allows facility-wide application and offers a perfect solution for community spaces.

See the website for more details on the Sense tables

Well, what can I say..  The Relations range from Sedus Stoll really has caught my attention lately.  Actually, not just mine, but that of several visitors to my site www.urban-office.com The range seems to be causing somewhat of a stir!  Not only with great modern looks that we always try and post, or the great quality you would come to expect from our selected ranges, but Relations has a more completeness about it.  How, you ask?  Well, let me explain a little more..

Furniture ranges tend to have one or two great ergonomic add-onssuch as CPU holders or wire management etc  Don’t get me wrong, there are some really great ranges out there with more accessories and solutions, yet they seem to lack what I am about to hark on about. 

The Relations range has what I like to think, everything that one needs for the current climate in the modern office environment.  With high quality German engineering, clean lines and some great modern finishes, the Relations range is a pleasure to see and sit at.  But there’s more, much more…  Sedus Stoll have added some normal attributes often found in the workspace which are usually purchased separately from other manufacturer’s and bolted on.  What I mean here, is the norm – CPU holders, cable management, media boxes, sliding tops for cable access, height adjustable desktops, screens, toolbar rails, modesty panels and storage to match. But it doesn’t stop there!  They have also added printer shelves, CD storage, castor’s, mobile drawing boards, drink and catering caddies, quirky clip on “Grasshopper” picture and post it notes holders, flexible high and low mobile storage so you can wheel your work around the office and use the top as reference or a laptop perch for quick presentations. More, OK; folding mobile conference / training tables, rounded edges on the desktops, height adjustable meeting tables, team tables and some beautiful sliding door storage.  What more could you want?  Oh yeah, an extremely versatile range to challenge any task thrown at you in the workspace.

Ladies and gentlemen:  Relations..

I thought it looked good on a football pitch too – just think of it in your office.  I suppose you could add some fake grass to recreate the effect!!

 Height adjustable desk with caddie, CPU holder and funny green Grasshopper thingy (Chair is Open Mind)

 Storage, mobile storage, printer shelf and the Grasshopper.

Well, there is more to show like the team table and the folding mobile conference tables, so you best hop over to our website to see more.  The Relations range is available to see in the Sedus London showroom – so let me know if you wish to pay them a visit young Grasshopper!

First off – Happy New Year.  Mine was a quiet one, but most enjoyable.  I didn’t make any New Years resolutions as I knew I would just break them within the first week of January.  But a strange thing has happened! I seem to be going to the Gym, eating better and drinking less – without really any planning.  Maybe this is the way forward, no resolutions = subconscious reaction without the knowing you are breaking any of your new rules…  Lets see how long this lasts then  

Any way – back to the matter in hand..  Task seating and the environment.. they will work.

The business world and environment generally do not go hand in hand.  I thought I would post a little information this month (as everyone is on a New Year high) with some information about task seating with strong environmental credentials.  Its a good start in the direction of helping the environment without loosing any benefits or features that you would expect from your office chair or the users comfort.

 Lets see the eco•start™ chair from Connection seating.

eco•start™ is 98% recyclable by weight, making it one of the most recyclable task chairs available.

eco•start™ is designed to last longer, it is easy to reconfigure and upgrade using the unique interchangeable upholstery units.

The chair itself doesn’t lose any of the normal operations you would expect from a task chair, in fact, it comes with a synchro mechanism, forward tilt and (yes, and) seat slide as standard.  Connection Seating have really come out trumps with this chair with a solid modern design (changeable by fabric options), ergonomic operations as standard, comfort and all at a really good price point. 

Conclusion:  If you want to start changing your office with the environment in mind, keeping a modern feel, great ergonomic features  and without going over your budget threshold, then eco•start™ is the ideal solution.  These are available to see, sit in and touch up in the London showroom.  Contact Urban Office Interiors for more information.

So, bench desks – what are they and what is all the hype about?

Many offices and studios opt for bench desking these days not only for what they offer, but because they are nice to look at.  What’s nice to look at, is nice to be around, which is a bonus in today’s office environment.  A large portion of our lives are spent in the workplace, so why not enjoy work with furniture designed to make work easier and feel right. 

BEnch range

Bench desks are clusters of desks that use shared components as support. They are usually setup back to back, from two desks up to, well, however long your office is. Sounds boring doesn’t it? Well, many are – but not ours.  But add a touch of flair, cleverly designed aspects and you end up with an office masterpiece.  What if you could have all the wires for your I.T. hidden, yet easily accessible.  What if you could have your monitor raised off of the desktop allowing you to use the additional desk space for paperwork, or a design layout.  What if you didn’t have to have your opposite co-workers paperwork or pens rolling on to your desk area.  No more what ifs, what bench desk!

Juice bench system

Different:

Bench desk ranges offer different solutions for different work environments.  The main design idea around the bench desk system is the flexibility and ergonomic setup of the desks.  Architects and designers like to use large flat spaces for plans, designs and 3D models.  This can be achieved by using un-congested desktop space, mobile return desks, end of desk extension tops and hovering flat screen monitors.  Sliding desktops or flip panel cable management will enable the user to quickly remove their phone charger and laptop / computer wires from the surface to create an increased surface area for their project. Call centres, touch down areas and hot desking companies like the flexibility to create private work zones for their staff or hot desk user to work proficiently and un-hounded by other sounds.  Screens and return screens help reduce travelling noise and can be setup in various configurations.  Third level storage (cupboards or shelves above the screens) can be used for additional close to hand filing or reference library and reduce sound even more.  These are just a few of the ideas that bench desks offer.  The possibilities are now becoming endless.

Vital bench desk

Bench desking is a great way forward in today’s work environments.  Designs, finishes and colours vary, so the sky is the limit.