Cheerful, open offices make you work better

There has been a sea change in the way we work. So,why should our work place look the same as several decades before? According to a British study, good-looking offices actually drive a lot of positive energy among employees.

Different work calls for a different environment. And employers today are actually thriving to make it easy for their employees. This, according to studies, brings out the best out of their talent pool.

Going by this theory, smart furnishing and lots of wide and open spaces are the emerging trends in office decor. Young and energetic professionals emphasize a lot on networking, collaboration and sharing. So gone are the days when small cubicles used to fill up offices.

Advanced technology and easy access to work tools are things one needs to keep in mind while designing office furniture these days. For example, chairs with armrest for laptops and tablets are selling well as office furniture.

Keeping this in mind, most offices are opting for scientifically designed ergonomic furniture. Ergonomically designed furniture is a blessing for all those who have to work at their workstations for long hours. It is also helpful for those who have postural defects and back problems.

In addition to workstations, little corners for recreation are part of this trend. Little relaxing corners with cushioned sofas, bean bags and coffee tables, make your office a place your employees want to spend more and more time at. Some offices also have game rooms with fooseball, TT and snooker tables.

Cheerful and pleasant office-indoors are here to stay. Boardrooms with heavy tables and closed cubicles are by gone. Offices today are less formal and more of a fun place to work at.

Petra Blaisse – Internationally Renowned Interior Designer

Petra Blaisse is a Dutch designer who investigates in new and ambitious ways for interior design. She is one of the world’s most popular and talented interior designers and is renowned for her crisp functionalist approach and attention to detail.

Petra Blaisse started her career at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam in the Department of Applied Arts. From 1987, she worked as freelance designer and won distinction for her installations of architectural work. Gradually her focus shifted to the use of textiles, light, and finishes in interior space while at the same time, to the design of gardens and landscapes. Throughout this freelance time as she became more interested in garden and landscape designs, Petra gathered a high class range of designers with different specialties from different nationalities to create a world class design team.

In 1991 she founded her company Inside Outside with the help of her very talented team. Inside Outside specializes in spatial, light filtering or acoustic objects such as curtains. She is known for her creativity in combining different elements. She is not only good at interior design, but also in architecture, exhibits, landscapes and textiles. She mixes various styles using colours, flexibility, lights and movement to bring fresh graphic effects. Her style reflects a blend of the inside and outside, the landscape and the structure, and culture and nature. The result is a design that is sophisticated, yet functional. All these are reflected in her works, which include the golden curtain at the NederlandsDans Theater, the curtains and flooring of the Lille Grand Palais in France, the spiral sound curtain in Kunsthal in Rotterdam and the Museum park, also in Rotterdam.

Ms. Blaisse has lectured and taught extensively in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Her work has been included in numerous international design and architecture exhibits. Her company Inside Outside works globally on projects and has collaborated with various architects and designers making it one of the most sought after and popular companies in its field.

5 Ways to Spruce up your Living Room

Does your living room look tired?  After many years, things may start to look old and worn.  Fortunately, even small measures can go a long way in making such a room look better. You can make a difference with just one bold change such as painting the walls or you can change the colour of one wall. Changing the floor covering is also a possible option. But, if painting and replacing floors involves more expense than your budget allows, there are still many other ways to give a tired looking living room a facelift.

Here are 5 quick and easy steps you can follow to spruce up your living space in no time!

1.      Cut your clutter.

You can spruce up a room simply by clearing away the clutter in the room and giving everything a thorough cleaning. Dust your furniture, fluff your pillows, put away unused books, etc. Spend a few minutes each day to cut the clutter. Remove all of your current decorative items and put out a minimal amount of new items.

2.      Add pops of colour.

Adding pops of colour to your space brightens your mood and your room. Change or add small items such as paintings. throw pillows, cushions and other acessories. This is a great way to add splashes of colour to a room. You can also add a variety of textures in the room to spruce it up.

3.     Bring in plants and flowers

Plants and flowers can make any room come alive.  There are many different plants that do very well inside, and adding nature to a room can make it seem much brighter.  Place flowers with a flourish for an instant breath of fresh air in any room. Or, if you prefer, potted ferns, wreaths, and potpourri can also make a statement.

4.     Bring in new lighting

A lot of times rooms look tired or worn because they are very dark.  You might be able to make the room look a lot nicer by adding in new lighting.  You could install new lighting into the ceiling if you want to spend the money or you can purchase some pretty lamps to go with the lights already in place. Also consider redirecting your existing lighting to highlight particular features of your room.

5.     Get some new colourful area rugs

If you don’t have the money to have the entire flooring replaced, you could make a big difference by putting in some very colourful area rugs. A simple area rug can dramatically change the feel of a room. Dress up with an Oriental rug, or lighten up a dark room with a white or cream-colored rug.

Home Furniture Trends of the Season

Now that we are all settled into the new year of 2013 let us have a look at some of the trends  that are likely to dominate the furniture and décor scene of our homes in the first few months of this year.

Stylish seating will be in focus. There’s never been a better time to incorporate chic, eye-catching sofas into your home. Whether you want to replace the furniture in your living room or den, keep yourself in a fashion frame of mind as you design. This means opting for furniture that has a sense of style and makes a statement when you walk into the room. Curvy furniture coupled with funky accessories can instantly boost the appeal of a space in your home. Remember that the sofa is not a piece of furniture that you can’t change with every passing trend. It must be classic in form and always make sure to invest in quality furniture from a trusted brand such as Featherlite.

Glamorous colours will be in demand. With the cold dreary winters surrounding us we need bursts of colour and sunshine in our surroundings. Furniture in glamorous and bright colours is expected to be all the rage this season. In short, it translates into jewel-toned hues that provide colour to the room and yet have a sense of elegance and luxury that is typical of this season in them. Featherlite’s range of furniture offers you the necessary pop of colour without compromising its aesthetics and elegance.

At the end of the day, you have control over what your interiors look like, and no one says they have to fall in line with the year’s hottest trends. However, these can be great starting points as you look to revamp the look and feel of your living spaces. Do not follow these trends blindly and instead incorporate them into your space by giving it your very own personal touch to it. Always remember quality is of utmost importance and invest only in well-known brands to be assured of it.

Care for your Leather Furniture

Leather furniture is one of the most elegant types of furniture that you can own. Leather is pleasant to have in any style of home, and will bring a new light to any room it is placed in. Leather is also a type of material that is easily maintained and like wine will get better as it ages. There are some commonly accepted ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ when it comes to leather.

Some of the ‘Dos’ of leather care are

Clean and condition your leather furniture once a year with a soft leather cleaner and conditioner. Pay special attention to the areas that your skin and/or hair touch. Our natural oils can damage leather. 

Dust the furniture with a dry, soft cloth once a week. If you have a vacuum attachment that is soft enough, you could use that too. Just be sure that it won’t scratch the leather.

Keep the furniture away from humidity, if at all possible. If needed, put a dehumidifier in the room that the furniture is in. Too much humidity can actually be an invitation for mould and mildew.

Here are the ‘Don’ts’ of its maintaince

Never put leather in a location that gets direct sunlight. Sunlight is one of leather’s biggest enemies. It can cause drastic fading and sometimes even cracking.

Try to avoid placing your leather furniture near a heat source. Excessive heat can cause drying, which in turn can cause cracking.

Do not use any cleaning product on your furniture that is not explicitly made for leather. Certain cleaning chemicals can cause severe damage.

Don’t be discouraged from leather because of the dos and don’ts of its maintenance. It is actually easier to keep your leather in good shape than it is fabric. Just make sure that you buy your furniture from a trusted company like Featherlite to ensure the quality of the leather.