Sitting or Standing: the Great Debate

Gresham Crank Handle

It's become widely accepted in recent years that an office should be laid out a certain way. The basic structure generally consists of a desk, with a computer and phone of course, a little bit of personal storage and an operators chair. A new trend is developing however. Question marks are being raised about the long term future of the conventional office chair, and the standard heights of the desks that we use too. Whilst it'll never be suggested that seating should be entirely eradicated from our modern offices, the emphasis and the nature of this seating is shifting ever so slightly towards a healthier and more malleable office space.

iBench Height Adjustable

Various health studies have found that cardiovascular and circulatory problems, and a vulnerability to diabetes, can develop over time if people are sat at their desk for too long. Whilst the quality and affordability of available seating has improved no end, this can never alleviate the risks entirely. Mobility around the office has been found to be very important for maintaining a good circulation, which in turn encourages a better attention span, creating an energetic, productive and healthy workplace. It's widely accepted however that standing desks aren't a practical permanent solution - which is the main drive behind the development of height adjustable desks.

E-Lite Crank Handle

Height adjustable desks are being continually developed to be easier to use and cheaper to manufacture, which is making the concept of the standing height office a far more realistic one. There have been some fantastically designed height adjustable desks in recent years, but these are rarely cost effective enough to be practical for large scale offices. Likewise, there have been some very cheap ranges developed - but these are considered too impractical or time consuming to adjust, and are therefore not right for the wider office either. Once an effective compromise has been reached, we can see height adjustable desks being a mainstay in the majority of offices. After all, not all people are the same height - so why should all desks be at the same height?

E-Lite Electric Adjustments

With the continuing development of the height adjustable desk, we're sure that the office of the (not too distant) future will be more flexible, healthier and more productive than ever before.

Office Storage: Getting it Right.

Creating a neat, tidy and organised office is essential for the smooth running of any business - and there are lots of factors which can determine how your office is run. Whilst the personnel running the office, and the systems that are in place are of course essential, it's also very important to consider the storage and filing that's available to them. An office needs to have the right amount of the right style of storage in order to run at maximum efficiency. Whatever you need, we'll have something available to suit!

Pure Desks with Mobile Pedestals

Pedestal Drawers

Personal storage for each desk is important for encouraging every employee to keep their own desk neat and organised. Pedestal drawers, whether they're under the workstation or integral to the desk, help each worker to feel more at home whilst at work. They create a personal space, and somewhere to organise their paperwork and avoid cluttering the desk. Under desk pedestals can be mobile to allow greater flexibility in a malleable office, which are perfect for businesses which have a high staff turnover, large numbers of seasonal workers or hot desks. 

Two Door Cupboards

Standard cupboards are available in a variety of styles and sizes. They're particularly popular at desk height to create continuity throughout the office and a consistently practical worktop, but they're also available at full height, and plenty of sizes in between. A range of available internals and a wide choices of finishes make this basic style flexible to suit your space and your needs. 

Tambour Cupboards

Tall Tambour Cupboard

If you're looking to introduce secure storage into a tight space, then tambour cupboards could be the perfect solution. The very nature of tambour doors means that they don't need a lot of space to open out. The full depth of the unit is used for storage, which allows you to maximise the use of a narrow area. Some people find that cupboard doors can get in the way if they're not closed properly, whereas tambour doors don't have any risk of that problem. 

Filers

Side Filers and filing cabinets are perfect for creating an organised and practical office space. Papers and brochures can be stored effectively and accessibly, with no risk of being lost or buried among piles of other things. Filers are where the users become just as important as the storage itself: we can provide you with the best filing storage imaginable, but unless everybody adheres to the system in place then they won't go very far!

Floor to Ceiling Fitted Storage

Fitted Cupboards

With office space at a premium, made to measure and fitted storage is becoming ever more popular. You can make the most of every nook and cranny within your office by tailoring the storage to fit, and it's often far more cost effective than people expect. You can cherry pick the types of storage you need in your office too: whether you need pigeon holes, roll out filing, suspension frames, fixed shelves or anything else - we can design you a cupboard to suit. 

This is only a 'whistle stop guide' to the office storage that's on offer. Beyond the standard ranges, dedicated teams of specials designers are also on hand to put together fresh ideas to suit any unique needs that you might have. Ultimately, whilst we're always on hand to advise about what storage is most effective, you're the person that knows your business best, so please let us know about any specific requirements that you have.

A Selection of Available Storage

Choosing the right desk

As with all of our ranges, we have a huge selection of desk options available for your office, so making sure you're looking for the right ones can be a bit of a minefield. Every office in every business will have different requirements, so it's essential that you're aware of the different types of desk available to be able to make an informed decision about what's best for you and your company.

Standalone Desk:

Brevis 120 Degree Desks

The 'basic' desk. This has been the focal point of offices for decades, and is sure to be around for decades to come. The frames and top shapes have evolved as trends and fashions change to create a really flexible style, but the basic desk remains much the same. These have the great advantage of allowing you to create a consistent style throughout your office, whilst deploying a range of different shapes to suit different employees. A configuration of rectangular shapes might be ideal for some, whilst others may need the additional space created by a corner or 120 degree desk - the possibilities are endless!

Pure Combination Wave Desks

Combination Desk

Some ranges give you the chance to add an integral pedestal to the design. This has some great benefits as both a space and money saver, although it does reduce the flexibility of the desks slightly. Built in storage reduces the number of components, which helps to keep costs down. Combination desks also ensure that each workstation is compact, without limiting the amount of desktop space that's available to the user.  

Bench Desk

Ambus Bench Desks

Incredibly popular in large and small offices alike, bench desks are perfect for creating a consistent run of workstations. Shared legs mean that every bench that's added reduces the cost per user, and double sided benches (with optional divider screens) can bring the individual user costs down even further. Bench desks are also great for managing cables: sliding tops and cable trays are simple to add, and make a huge difference to the overall practicality of the style.

Executive Desk

Traditionally Stunning: Fulcrum Executive Desks

Executive ranges are designed with a bit more style and panache in mind. Whilst the workstation still has to be practical, it needs to bring a certain level of style and authority to the office. Large returns, plentiful storage and meeting sections are commonplace with executive setups, because they often have very different requirements to standard desks. Executive desks are perfect for making a statement of intent about your business, so it's always important to get right!  

Fulcrum CE Executive Glass Desks

Glass Desk

Perfect for home offices or an executive suite, glass desks are modern and bright. The nature of a glass top puts a lot of emphasis onto the style and quality of the frame - and there are some truly stunning designs available. A quality glass desk can last for years and, whilst they're not the most cost effective option, the beautiful and quality designs will really tempt you to go with your heart rather than your head...

So there you have it: a huge range of desks to consider. Not forgetting that within these different styles we have a range of designs, finishes and price points that can give you even more options to choose from. We've always got our dedicated sales team on hand to offer product advice and help narrow down your options, so all you have to do is give us a call and let us know what you need - we'd love to help!

Furniture Showrooms

With all the wonders that the internet brings, it's easy to forget that it can have some drawbacks too! Buying your office furniture on the internet can save a lot of time and hassle, but it does mean that it's not always easy to see/try things before you buy them. Whilst we find that a lot of people quite like this approach, it can cause a bit of a stumbling block for others who want to get a proper feel for the furniture before buying.

We have a selection of showrooms that give you the opportunity to get 'hands on' with your options, to get a feel for the style and quality of the available ranges. Whilst we'll always give you honest and genuine feedback about the quality of the options that we have available (because it does fluctuate between various ranges), and the guarantees are also a useful indication, it always helps to see them for yourself to make your own judgement.

In our experience, the most
important furniture to sample before you buy is a chair. Whilst we can always advise you about what we think are the best options (and be right more often than not!), seating is a very personal thing for each user. In our sales office in Northampton we all have different operator chairs - and none of us agree about which is most comfortable! Generally, it's quite a safe bet to go for a chair with a range of adjustable options which will give you the flexibility to mould the chair to your needs - although if you do get the opportunity to have a sit on a few options then we would always recommend taking advantage of that.

We have a selection of manufacturer showrooms available across the country, or for a more broad experience you can visit our head office in Duston Village, Northampton. We have a selection of our most popular ranges of desks, seating, screens, modular tables, storage and receptions, which can give you a more broad overview of some of your options. All you have to do is g nive us a call to let us know when you're dropping in, and we can make sure that someone's available to help you, and that our desks are tidy too!

Whilst we appreciate that it's not always possible, we do recommend having a look around some sort of showroom if you get the chance. This way you'll have a better understanding of your options beyond the product pictures, and you'll be able to make the best judgement for your office.

How to Choose the Right Reception Furniture

Circular 'Receptiv' Reception

Everybody knows how important a the right reception can be for a business, but knowing how to achieve it is something entirely different and more complex. We've put together this handy guide, which should help you to narrow down your choices and make sure you're looking for the right sort of reception for you and your office. Of course we're always on hand to help and advise you, but these useful tips should help you to stay ahead of the game!

• First of all, you need to establish how the reception is going to be used. For instance is it an operational workstation that needs lots of desk space and storage, or will it serve exclusively as a greeting point? This will also make a difference to the height that's required: a working reception will need to allow users to be seated, whereas a more basic greeting point would probably be better suited to a standing height reception. 

• You also need to consider the size of reception that you can use. It's very important to make sure that your reception is large enough to be the central focal point of your space, but likewise you also need to be sure that it's not over powering your reception space. We have a free space planning and design service that can help you make the most of your reception area. 

The Foro Reception

• The finishes of the reception are also essential for sending the right message. We have a huge variety of finishes available, from MFC wood finishes, to a modern and very popular white and a selection of bright and vibrant colours. These allow you to customise your reception to complement your space and ethos of your business. We also have some fantastic real wood veneers available if you want to show more than just a finish. These exude quality, and make a real statement of intent about your business. 

• The customer/guest facing nature of receptions mean that you need to factor in things such as top boxes and shelves to make sure your reception desk is as welcoming as possible. We often recommend using top boxes to allow the user some privacy when working (and to potentially hide away any messy paperwork!), with glass shelves positioned to guide guests to the best part of the reception to be served from. 

The MDD Reception



• The shape of the reception is also integral to the style you want to create. Traditionally designed receptions generally have two basic options - curves or straight lines. Large sweeping curves can look very effective in a bigger reception area, whilst compact and tight corners can make the best use of a smaller area. More modern designs are also available if you want to create something really special. Our most popular range for this style are the EMDD receptions, which has some really exciting designs available to catch everybody's eye. 

• Bear in mind that an effective reception area doesn't just require an eye catching reception desk - complementary seating is essential for making customers feel welcome and at home. We have a huge range of reception and breakout seating available, most of which can be upholstered in your choice of fabric to match the exact style you need. Complete your perfect reception area with matching seating, coffee tables and even plants to welcome all guests to your office in style!

Squared 'Receptiv' Reception

First impressions are crucial, and you only get one chance to make them, so be sure that your reception is sending out the right messages! We'd love to help you create the perfect reception space, so whether you've seen some ideas that you like, or you'd like us to create a package for you, then just let us know and we'll show you what's out there to help you 'wow' your guests. 

How to Choose a Chair: Top Tips

We all know how important it is to have the right office chair, and it's such a unique and personal purchase for each user that it can become a bit of a minefield. Everybody is different, and as such will have a very different criteria for what they need from their chair. We know it's not possible for everyone to try every chair on offer, so we've put together some 'top tips' that you can follow to make sure you're getting the best chair for you and your office!

1. Know the sort of style you want. Whilst we're always happy to advise you on your options, there's such a huge variety of styles available that we do need some guidance on where best to start looking for you - whether you want a mesh chair, a high back chair, an executive chair, a leather chair or anything else, just let us know.
2. Take advantage of made to order ranges. Many of our ranges are made to order, so if you're looking at any of these options then make sure you make the most of the chance to personalise the chairs. You can choose from a range of different fabrics, often at no extra cost, to bring vibrant or corporate colours into your office.
3. If you need lots of chairs for lots of different users then you'll probably need some adjustable options to maximise everybody's comfort. Optional extras such as adjustable arms, lumbar pumps, seat slides etc. allow each user to customise the chair for their own body shape, which is essential for keeping everybody comfortable. 
4. Consider any special requirements you may have. For example, does anybody in your office have back troubles, or are there any unique body shapes that need to be catered for? Whilst it can sometimes be a sensitive subject, we can accommodate people of any shapes and sizes. 
5. Consider matching ranges for meeting or canteen areas. Many of our office seating ranges have matching cantilever or four leg options for meeting rooms, offering you continuity throughout your office. 

Whilst it's important to consider all of these factors, we're also on hand to help guide you through any queries or issues that you might have concerning which chair might be best for you. We have such a huge variety of options available that we know there'll always be something to suit your needs, it's just a matter of narrowing your choices down to what's appropriate for you and your office.

Client Stories - MK Community Foundation

The Client
We were recently approached by the MK Community Foundation, a charitable organisation who provide meeting facilities and resources for the voluntary sector, to see if we could help them to renovate their offices in the heart of Milton Keynes. They have thirteen meeting rooms, two conference suites and an exhibition space, all of which needed to be refurbished.


The Brief
The client wanted to create a fresh, bright and flexible environment for their meeting spaces. It was really important that the furniture and interiors matched their vibrant corporate colours without being too overpowering. The meeting spaces had to be inspiring and innovative, as well as flexible to cater for the variety of different organisations that would be operating out of them.


The Process
We put together come CAD designs to show the client how various elements of their space could look, with various configurations and finish options available. Having assessed the ideas, it was unanimously decided that the furniture should be finished with a white MFC to maintain the light and open feel in the offices. Most of the tables also had flip-tops and castors to make them flexible and mobile. These were then complimented with a range of made to order seating - which was upholstered in a variety of pinks, purples, greens and blues to match in with MK Community Foundation's corporate colours.

We created a modular reception which continued the light and open theme: lots of storage meant that the area could be kept tidy and inviting, whilst the glass shelves made it feel welcoming and approachable.

The large conference rooms were filled with over 200 upholstered black chairs. These were contemporary chairs with a stylish sled base, as well as being lightweight and stackable to maintain the flexibility. Trolleys were manufactured to make them all easily transportable around the building, to create a truly malleable office space.

The Reaction
"Verve were a great choice for our organisation. They were very knowledgeable in helping us to select the right furniture for our needs, discussing options that suited our venue and our budget to provide exactly what we needed for a very competitive price The fitting service is also excellent and tailored to accommodate us and our working hours.
Everybody that has seen the new space, from clients to staff, have made comments on how fresh and light the facilities are, with many people saying it's a pleasure to hold meetings in rooms that are furnished to such high standards.
Since our initial order we have used Verve again and will continue to do so. We are very impressed with the whole service from start to finish." - Vanessa Bradley, MK Community Foundation