Design / Global
Hot desking
Furniture isn’t just about how your office looks – it’s also about how it feels. Choosing warm materials, striking pieces and plush upholstery will show the world that you mean business.
Both classic and contemporary design pieces should define the office of a sharp entrepreneur. Furniture selection reflects your brand values and we advise you to keep it tasteful, well organised and generous when it comes to kitting out your space. This will be appreciated by staff and clients alike and have a positive impact on your bottom line. Invest in pieces that are hard-wearing and think about systems that can adapt to your company as it scales up. Finally, you’re going to be spending much of your working day with these wares so keep things warm and cosy to soften those hard hours. Here are our office-furniture essentials.
Slatted bench
Twentytwentyone
A classic bench brings people together and placing one in your public space – whether that’s on the street in front of your shop or in the waiting room – shows a generosity that works wonders for your brand image. This walnut classic, from UK designer Robin Day, will never go out of fashion.
twentytwentyone.com
Stool
Benchmark
Foster + Partners’ Ovo timber-furniture collection for Benchmark focuses on pared-back pieces that blend in seamlessly to varied environments. A growing office will therefore welcome this stool, which will age gracefully alongside your firm.
benchmarkfurniture.com
Steel pipe drinks trolley
Cappellini
Come Friday afternoon, a well-stocked drinks trolley rewards you and your staff’s hard work. This steel version, reissued by Italy’s Cappellini, was designed by Shiro Kuramata in 1968 – a glorious year for office drinking.
cappellini.com
Table/system
USM
Swiss furniture brand usm remains synonymous with good office furniture and the modular nature of its pieces, supported by a hardy chrome-plated steel-and-brass system, means your collection can grow alongside your company.
usm.com
Co chair
Menu
One of the biggest constraints for a young company is space (or lack of it). Stackable chairs are essential in the early days and these, designed for London’s The Office Group (and now available commercially) by Norm Architects, are practical and smart.
menu.as
Kevi chair
Engelbrechts
The Kevi chair by Danish architect Jørgen Rasmussen has been serving entrepreneurs’ behinds since 1958. With its curved backrest, corduroy seat cover and discreet height adjustor, it’s a smart long-stay in a world of chairs that tend to be over-designed.
engelbrechts.com
Magazine holder
Fritz Hansen
A well-organised waiting room reflects a well-organised company. Fritz Hansen’s magazine holder keeps things neat while providing clients with a welcome distraction. Just make sure the latest Monocle has pride of place in this meshed-steel piece.
fritzhansen.com
Billy TL (Ilse Crawford edition)
Kalmar
A desk lamp will be your companion well into the wee hours so you want yours to be both warmly designed and reliable. Ilse Crawford’s rosewood-and-brass Billy TL will brighten up your desk, while its Austrian mechanics won’t let you down. kalmarlighting.com
Erei daybed
De Padova
We’re of the firm belief that a good power nap can improve productivity. Comfier than a couch and more discreet than an actual bed, De Padova’s plush Italian daybed will sit snugly in your corner office. A truly peaceful piece.
depadova.com
