Meet the Furniture Team: Our furniture favourites for 2022
Insight
Meet the Furniture Team: Our furniture favourites for 2022
In celebration of International Women’s Day, this month we’re introducing you to some of the talented female workplace designers and furniture experts that have been busy redefining what the office can be in recent years.
Our top furniture picks for 2022
Whether you’re looking for a flexible solution to suit your new hybrid working culture or to make a statement with a bespoke piece, our Head of Furniture, Briony Everett, and Furniture Co-ordinatior, Grace Smith, are on hand to help you make the right choices for your style and budget. To give you some inspiration, we asked them to round up their favourite furniture pieces from some of the industry’s top designers and manufacturers.
Best for privacy
Why we love it
“Even though office design is so geared towards collaboration and social interaction these days, it’s still so important for staff wellbeing to provide opportunities for quiet working. That can sometimes be challenging in open plan workplaces but there are plenty of furniture products that allow staff to work on tasks that require deep concentration while keeping that feeling of openness throughout the space. Our favourite has to be the beautifully designed Nest Easy Chair which has a lovely high, cushioned back that shields staff from the hustle and bustle of the office while they are trying to work solo. As well as being super comfortable and great for supporting physical wellbeing it also comes in some really uplifting colours that are just what the mind needs when you’re tackling trickier or more time-consuming tasks.”
Best for focus
Why we love it
“HushHybrid is ready for the future. It’s a phone booth, video conferencing facility and quiet working station all rolled into one, has great acoustics and can easily be moved around the office whenever you need to change the location. Not only is it ideal for shutting out the commotion of the open plan and focusing on the task at hand it also has an anti-viral coating that helps prevent the spread of germs and infections. Genius.”
Best for collaboration
Why we love it
“These days workplaces are extremely focused on providing opportunities for staff to interact and collaborate. So many businesses are choosing to replace traditional desks with high benches that are great for casual meet-ups and agile working. The stylish Nest High System Table is not only great for this, but it’s also ultra-flexible thanks to its modular design, which can be customised to suit just about any space.”
Best for comfort
Why we love it
“Not only does the Big Big Chair scream comfort thanks to its voluminous shapes and seriously soft sheepskin fabric, it also makes a serious design statement. We especially love the curved back that wraps itself around the user like a warm hug.”
Best for flexibility
Why we love it
“Since the pandemic, we’ve all had to figure out how to get more comfortable living with a degree of uncertainty. That’s been especially true when it comes to the workplace. The way we work has completely changed over the past couple of years but who’s to say if new-found working cultures will remain the same in a year or two. What is clear is that our workplaces need to be flexible and resilient enough to continue to cope with change in future. For that, we think the Palisades range by Spacestor is the ideal solution. Combining shelving, storage and an elegant, minimalist design, Palisades makes it easy for businesses to create specific zones in their open plan office while still letting that all important natural light pass through the space. They’re highly customisable and are easy and affordable to relocate and repurpose when you’re in need of a change. An added bonus is that they also provide the perfect spot for adding some finishing touches to a space like planting, books or artwork.”
Best for iconic design
Why we love it
“Sometimes you just can’t beat Scandinavian design. This beautiful credenza was designed in 1959 by Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner and it has stood the test of time thanks to its clean lines and excellent functionality. It comes fitted with a combination of shelves and pull out trays that can be adjusted to provide the perfect storage solution. We love the idea of investing in classic pieces like this. Just like style staples like the little black dress or a great pair of jeans they outlive design trends but can be kept fresh and up to date with a few carefully chosen accessories.”
Best for sustainability
Bowl Tables & Ocean Oc2 Chair by Mater
Why we love it
“Mater is nailing it when it comes to sustainable and socially responsible furniture design. Their Bowl Tables for example might look very Scandi in their design but they have been created using traditional Indian wood turning techniques. So, as well as being made from sustainably sourced mango wood, the manufacturing process is also helping to support Indian communities and showcase their craftsmanship. Meanwhile, they have given a sustainable update to a design classic. Originally designed in 1955, the slatted Ocean OC2 chair is now made from plastic waste from Carlsberg’s discarded beer kegs. They’ve even designed the piece so that once dismantled every component can be upcycled and repurposed.”
Best for wellbeing
Why we love it
“We’re all for furniture products that bring a bit of joy to the workplace and the Boa Pouf does just that. We love that the chunky, donut-shaped design doesn’t take itself too seriously and that it also comes in three beautiful colours that almost remind us of ice cream. It’s perfect for perching or lounging on and also makes a pretty big style statement.”
Meet the furniture team
Grace Smith
Furniture Co-ordinator
Grace studied Photography at Leeds Arts University where she specialised in curation, creating gallery spaces and designing photography sets. She began working in the workplace fit out industry in an administrative role but quickly discovered an interest in the world of furniture. She moved into a Furniture Sales Support position at her previous company and joined TDA as our Furniture Co-ordinator in 2022.
In this varied role, Grace works closely with our Head of Furniture to manage large scale projects, liaise with suppliers and guide clients as they choose products and finishes. She is also currently working to develop her furniture consultancy skills.
Grace is a firm believer in maintaining open lines of communications with clients and feels this has been key to successfully navigating the challenges we have faced in recent years due to the pandemic and material shortages.
As well as being a keen photographer, outside of work Grace has also been creating an exhibition for the summer where she will be showcasing a chair that she and a friend have designed and manufactured.
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