Archive for the ‘Office Furniture’ Category

Positioned in a state long considered to be a green business hub, Fresno is curiously lacking companies with green business plan initiatives. In fact, only 25 companies in or near Fresno are plotted on a California green business map compiled by the Environmental Defense Fund for having green buildings and utilizing energy efficiency. No Fresno companies are plotted on the map as having green practices.

This lack of green business practices leaves the door wide open for Fresno business owners to set their companies apart from the pack by developing green initiatives. Check out these top green business alliances and programs in California, as well as tips on how to get started.

Fresno business owners have a green open door to surpass local competitors.

Making the Green Switch

No hard-and-fast guidebook exists for businesses to make the green switch. Rather, the changes adopted by business owners are often based on the industries they serve. For example, some business owners can hire more teleworkers while others must rely on in-office workers and, instead, develop green office handbooks.

Check out these top ways that other businesses in California are going green:

• Making building changes – Several businesses in Fresno have either updated their buildings for increased energy efficiency or specialize in making those updates for other companies. ACCO Engineered Systems and AECOM are just a few of the area’s firms that help business owners improve the efficiency of their structures.
• Buying used furniture - Small, in-office changes often add up to big results. Buying used furniture offers business owners several benefits, including lower costs and decreased consumption.
• Reusing and Recycling – Plastic cups and disposable eating utensils are often off-limits in green businesses. By developing policies of reusing and recycling products, business owners decrease their in-office waste and, thus, cultivate greener business practices.
• Offering employee incentives – Green employee incentives reign supreme at Clif Bar headquarters in Emeryville. At Clif Bar, workers who carpool, ride bikes, use public transportation or walk to work earn points toward a max of $960 in annual rewards. Of course, green incentives needn’t be large to be effective.

California Green Business Programs

From green business alliances to green business conferences, several support outlets exist for Fresno business owners thinking of adopting environmentally-friendly practices.

Here are just a few of the region’s top programs:

• California Green Business Program – The California Green Business Program is government-run and assists/recognizes businesses that operate in environmentally-friendly manners. No Fresno businesses are currently listed as part of the California Green Business Program, making it an attractive option for business owners in the city wanting to set their companies apart from competitors.
• Green California Summit and Exposition – Termed as an outlet for business owners to discover innovations in green policies, practices and technologies, the Green California Summit and Exposition is an annual conference offered each spring. Keynote speakers, educational programs and exhibits are just a few of the summit’s highlights.
• California Green Business Alliance – The California Green Business Alliance is an outlet for business owners who support a clean energy future in Fresno and throughout California. After joining the alliance, business owners can display the alliance’s logo on their company website.

Recycle that scrap paper to become a greener business owner.

While California’s overall green economy is strong, Fresno businesses have some catching up to do. Whether you’re joining green alliances, adopting green business practices or making other changes, the benefits that come with developing environmental initiatives are strong, says Tim O’Connor, an attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund and an expert on the state’s green economy.

“These are the companies that can lead the world in innovative solutions that create jobs and increase our global competitiveness,” explains O’Connor.

Here at Arnolds, our mission is to buy used office furniture from businesses that no longer need it and restore it so that it’s just as perfect as furniture fresh from the flat-packed box.  In the process, our customers save thousands and help the environment while doing it.

Still, even after all that, some want to put their own personal stamp on their workspace.  To give you an idea of what’s possible, we’ve dug up a few examples of do-it-yourself refurbishing that shows the difference between bland furniture and office furniture with personality.

The Redone Cubicle

The cubicle is often the subject of a lot of abuse in modern pop culture.  Whether it’s Peter trapped next to Nina from accounts payable, or Dilbert dealing with his pointy-haired supervisor’s incompetence, cubicles are often held up as a symbol of conformity and blandness.  But they don’t have to be.

Believe it or not, adding some personality to your cubicle is fairly simple.  Changing out the cloth is fairly simple if you have a few basic tools and some pins, and it’s also fairly easy to remove if you get promoted to the office you’re looking for.  You can also use little craft items like appliques on the glass to add even more personality.

File Cabinets

The humble filing cabinet may not be in for the kind of abuse the cubicle gets, but that might only be because it’s hard to notice.  Many of them are nothing more than bland steel boxes, usually in a khaki or gray color, and that’s where it stops.

Fortunately, their simplicity also makes it easy for you to give them a little style.  This example that we’ve found uses spray paint to get the yellow color, and glue and damask fabric to give the faces a bit more color.

But you don’t need to invest quite that much, if you don’t feel like it.  You can easily use scrapbook paper to put front-facings on your file cabinets, or simply repaint them to get a bit more character into them.  After all, the file cabinet is something you’ll see a lot… shouldn’t it be something you enjoy seeing?

Desk Chairs

And finally, here’s a good example of an office chair getting an overhaul.  Generally, when office chairs are discussed, they’re usually talked about in terms of comfort, not style.

Office chairs are often the most colorful of office furniture, but the color tends to be fairly sedate and limited to shades that will mix well with other furniture.  Most office chairs we sell are fairly simple to disassemble, and thus, fairly simple to reupholster.  We will, however, recommend that you use a cloth that resists stains and is very durable.  After all, this is the furniture you’ll be sitting on week in and week out; you want it to look good and feel good.

These are just three of dozens of options available for giving your office furniture a whole new look.  Crafty folks on the Internet have plenty of ideas for you to try.  So, after you get your furniture in, take a look around, and see what you can do to put your own spin on it.

Image sources: http://www.instructables.com/id/Reupholstering-Cube-Walls/, http://www.youngandcrafty.com/2010/11/new-filing-cabinet.html, http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-reupholster-an-office-c-83201

Pennsylvania is a bustling state with a rich industrial history. It’s also, increasingly, an environmentally aware one.  Across the state, there are a strong number of green initiatives and businesses at the forefront of a new green boom in the Keystone State.

The commitment comes from state government and business leaders alike.  For example, many Pennsylvania businesses voluntarily perform a “green audit” to determine where they could improve.  Voters have consistently voted for green initiatives, such as funding PennVest, which will help install better and more efficient water systems.

Still, the most basic demonstration of where environmental awareness and industry meet is the fact that as of 2012, Pennsylvania is the nation’s leader in green jobs, with over 100,000 employees working in various green capacities.  There are a wide variety of green companies generating these jobs, ranging from statewide to local.

Examples of such businesses include…

• Quench: Located in King of Prussia, Quench takes a new approach to the office water cooler. Instead of having water bottled, packaged, and shipped across the country — or even the world — it installs advanced filtration and sanitization systems into office buildings that can provide water and ice at a much lower cost… and more importantly, at a substantial savings to the environment as it helps reduce carbon emissions from bottling and trucking.  Quench systems are in office buildings across the country.
• Arnolds Office Furniture: Based in Bridgeport and specializing in recycling and refurbishing office furniture, Arnolds ships restored furniture to offices around the country, reducing the amount of waste in landfills and saving substantially on manufacturing emissions as well as natural resources, as less ore needs to be mined or trees cut down for new furniture.  Not to mention, of course, the money saved by not having to buy something entirely new.
• Gettysburg Solar: Based, of course, out of Gettysburg, this company has been offering solar solutions for homes and businesses for half a decade.
• The Environmental Home Store: A building supply company in Doylestown, this company focuses on provided the best in green building materials — from bamboo flooring to recycled glass countertops.

On a statewide level, Pennsylvania is also a leader in greener utilities.  A good example of this kind of business is:

• Choose PA Wind: This Pittsburgh-based energy firm sells wind energy produced in-state to companies and homes.  Choose PA Wind has been so successful offering “homegrown” energy that it can undercut conventional utilities in terms of price, and substantially cut down on an emissions footprint.

Even companies that aren’t necessarily in the “green” business still find ways to improve their environmental record.  For example…

• High Concrete works to educate its customers in more efficient ways to precast and build the parking structures that are its bread and butter, and better meet industry and government sustainability standards.

It’s rapidly becoming clear that Pennsylvania is, in many ways, the nation’s leader in green ideas and technology.  Whether it’s recycling office furniture, or just giving homebuilders greener options, there’s a lot for the Keystone State to be proud of.

Image credits: Flickr

Herman Miller is recognized as the inventor of the office cubicle in 1968. His Zeeland, Mich.-based company focuses on a modernist design aesthetic and is well-known as one of the most well-known office furniture manufacturers in the world. It has produced several popular pieces including the Aeron chair, Marshmallow sofa and the Eames Lounge Chair.

Today, the Herman Miller company is working to become more sustainable, using environmentally-friendly methods including saving materials, energy-efficient manufacturing and using recycled and recyclable content. It has even developed a way to create top soil by combining sawdust with chicken manure.

The company offers a wide variety of office furniture options — including both modular and non-modular workspaces — to accommodate changing demands in office layout.

Current available lines include:

Canvas Office Landscape “is a comprehensive, but simple, set of elements that lets you create lively places in which talented people can perform better,” according to the website. With this line, you can create everything from private offices to public spaces using simple components that reflect company culture and accommodate increased connectivity through extensive cabling and power. The line offers private offices, wall-based workstations (similar to cubicles), beam-based workstations (similar to benching styles) and group-based collaborative workspaces. Pricing: Workstations $3,000-$12,000.

Ethospace System was created in 1984 to offer a solution to the changing technological needs of a modern office. The line features a first-of-a-kind frame and tiling system that provides a “flexible foundation for thoughtful change.” There are nearly unlimited design options for creating individual workstations, enclosed offices, and group spaces that reflect company culture and character. Pricing: Workstations up to $18,000.

Action Office System is the original open-plan office system that has continued to evolve to meet the needs of modern companies. The line offers space-saving benefits, durability, a variety of design options and interchangeable components. “No panel system is easier or quicker to install and reconfigure as you work to balance individual work with collaboration in your workspace,” according to the website. It’s affordable and built-to-last, which makes it a worthwhile investment for any growing business. Pricing $2,000-$19,000

My Studio Environments marry the features of an open cubicle and a private office, giving individuals a quiet workspace that also invites collaboration. The line was also designed to maximize smaller workspaces — hopefully keeping employees happy without sacrificing valuable real estate. Pricing: $3,400-$17,700

Resolve System tries to mimic the natural world to create a soothing work environment that’s also space efficient. The non-panel-based system uses poles with attached screens and canopies which allow for a greater diversity of workstation patterns and a more cost-effective use of space. “Resolve helps people feel comfortable, valued, and effective; they stay connected to their work and to each other. They stay, period,” according to the website. Pricing: $3,000-$20,000

Passage Desking System uses modular desks as the building blocks for the freestanding workspace structure. The desks support both technology (with built-in power and cabling), as well as people (with ergonomic design). There is plenty of storage, and a variety of space-division options and the pre-assembled units are easy to specify, order and install. Pricing: starting at $2,000

Sense Desking System offers simple and spacious workspaces that are a cinch to change as needed without a single tool. “You can configure a work area at the end of the day for a fresh start in the morning,” according to the website. The line includes adjustable desks, tables, returns, and plenty of accessories including privacy panels, cable baskets, trays and shelves. Pricing: Tables alone start at $1,000

Abak Environments are elegant and contemporary and look at home anywhere on the globe. Create all kinds of workspaces – from open concept to private offices to meeting rooms – using an array of non modular components. Performance walls are able to divide workspaces, hold components, and house data and power. Pricing: $3,000-$10,000

5000 Series Furniture is durable, budget friendly and easy to reconfigure as needed. The line includes freestanding and attached desks, credenzas, desk-mounted flipper door units and takable screens, and attaching returns, bridges and peninsulas. The modular components are shipped fully assembled making specification, ordering and installation a snap. Pricing: Desks alone start at $1,200

If retail prices for Herman Miller furniture don’t fit into your company’s budget, Arnold’s has a variety of used Herman Miller pieces in stock at affordable prices, including:

Most of us slog away at our keyboards, hidden away in generic burlap office cubicles, with no idea of any other work environment. The folks at Pixar are here to ruin that for you, by showing you what their employees think is normal office life. How cool is their daily grind? Picture rooms full of cereal, with cartoon characters at every turn, and ping-pong tables fighting foosball tables for the most-fun office furniture award.

That’s reality at the company that brought you the Toy Story movies, Up, and Monsters Inc. And this is what your life would be like, if you worked at Pixar.

10. Superheroes Guard Your Office

Forget security systems. Pixar is guarded by the Incredibles. Which is good, because your coworkers would be actual monsters. Fortunately they don’t appear unless you’ve been animating for twelve hours.

9. Your Coworkers Are Actually Creative

And not just while making up excuses to stay home from work. (Seriously. We have worked with people who would call in sick with diseases that were cured 100 years ago.)

8. Buzz + Woody + Legos = Heaven for Toddlers

If all those movies about genius three-year-olds were true, this would be where they worked. We hope they’d wear tiny suits and ties while they worked, because that would be awesome.

7. The Lunchroom Has Connecting Flights to Anywhere You’d Want to Go

Could be a cafeteria, or it could be the coolest airport ever. Also, it’s totally possible that the roof turns into wings.

6. The Best Wall Art Ever

Eat your heart out, Successories. Animators make the only truly inspirational office art we’ve seen.

5. Pixar Will See Your Foosball…

…and raise you a ping-pong table. Seriously, if you add some beer, this office becomes the coolest bar we’ve seen.

4. Oh, Wait. There Is Beer.

This is not an official Pixar beer mug. We assume that they pass those out at the Friday Beer Bash, which is a real thing. (Seriously. It’s mentioned as a perk in the ad for interns on their website.)

3. If Your Coworkers Are Bad…

…you can feed them to the shark. How often would that come in handy in your office? And hey, there’s caution tape up. They can’t say they weren’t warned.

2. All the Cereal You Can Eat

Lots of offices offer, say, free bagels once a week, or a monthly pizza day. Pixar, on the other hand, has a giant room full of cereal, which is maybe the best thing ever.

1. Cube, Sweet Cube

Animators at Pixar work in cute little huts instead of cubicles. So in addition to working at one of the coolest companies ever, they work in cottages that are literally bigger and more luxurious than most of the apartments we’ve lived in.

Photo credits: 10. http://www.awn.com, 9. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/1803870848_b2f2b045d0.jpg, 8. http://pixarblog.blogspot.com, 7. http://firingsynapses.com/, 6. http://www.dailygame.net, 5. http://oscartour.animationblogspot.com, 4. http://www.cafepress.co.uk, 3. http://www.joblo.com, 2. . http://pixarblog.blogspot.com, 1. http://www.boingboing.net

Generally, when we look for office furniture, we look for form as well as function. After all, if you’re going to spend 80% of your waking hours staring at a piece of furniture, it might as well be attractive.

Occasionally, however, we throw the principles of design out the window and go looking for the ugliest office chairs the internet has to offer. Bask in the hideousness, and be thankful your office manager hasn’t replaced your Aeron with one of these.

10. “The Seen-Better-Days Chair”

This chair might have been perfectly decent once upon a time, but is now frankly falling apart. Not so much a design issue. More of a time-lapse photography project.

9. “The Human Headphone Chair”

Regular noise-cancelling headphones not doing it for you anymore? Try this chair on for size. At the very least, it’ll communicate to your coworkers that you’re in your own private nightclub and aren’t to be disturbed.

8. “The ‘My Other Car Is a Desk Chair’ Chair”

If you must get one of these chairs, we implore you to push yourself around the office in it, going “Vroom, vroom!” under your breath.

7. “The Hobo Chair”

Perfect for collapsing into one flat piece, or dissembling entirely and stowing in a bindle.

6. “It Was Colonel Mustard, in the Library, With This Hideous Chair”

All furniture design makes a statement. This chair says, “I would like you to believe that I am very important. And I’m prepared to upholster my entire office, if necessary, to convince you.”

5. “The Summertime Rolls All Over Your Office Chair”

Do you think this chair would leave stripes all over the backs of your legs, just like the lawn chairs of your youth? Because we sort of do.

4. “Grandma’s Chair Away From Chair”

The economy being what it is, folks can’t afford to retire when they used to. Which might be why your Grandma’s chair found its way into this office. Cats not included!

3. “Dr. Claw’s Black Leather Chair of Death”

Actually, with this chair? The cat might be included. Warning: May turn occupants into evil cartoons.

2. “This Meeting Is Over Chair”

B-52 Stratofortress Ejector Seat Chairs from Moto Art are real ejector seats from real airplanes, and are marketed toward aviation buffs. No word on what the boss will think when you scoot into the meeting in a chair that says, “I long to be propelled out of this room, possibly at upwards of 85 miles an hour.”

1. “The Elephant Man Chair”

Kill it! Kill it before it breeds an army of rumple-hided chair monsters and takes over the whole building!

Photo credits: 1. Oops Design Awards, 2. Nexus404.com, 3. Luxist.com, 4. Instructables.com, 5. Naturalartificial.blogspot.com, 6. Yourfurniturelink.com, 7. Erked.com, 8. East Coast Corvettes, 9. Accessorizeyourspace.blogspot.com, 10. Nickycakes.com

The receptionist is the face and voice of the company. He or she is the first person guests (and clients!) see when they walk into the office, and the last person they see when they leave. No surprise, then, that companies tend to choose their receptionists for their social skills and presentation, as well as their work ethic.

But what about the reception furniture? Do companies spend as much time planning the equipment behind the receptionist as they do hiring for the job? If it’s a smart company we’re talking about, they do. Picking reception furniture is one of the most important aspects of office design. Here’s what you need to figure out before you buy.

1. What’s your style?

When figuring out which kind of reception furniture is right for you, you want to determine what sort of vibe your company intends to put out to clients. Are you a classic firm with solid, old school values? Maybe subdued wood is the material for you. Are you a cutting-edge design firm, up on all the current trends and forging the style of tomorrow? Something sleek and contemporary is probably more your speed.

Whichever style you choose, you’ll want to make sure that the reception furniture you select is functional as well as attractive. And in order to do that, you need to ask yourself our next question.

2. What does your receptionist do every day?

Let’s face it, the days of the single-function receptionist are largely behind us. Most companies can’t afford to hire a cheery and ornamental person whose sole function is to greet guests.

In addition to being the first person visitors see when they enter your office, your receptionist might be the chief admin for the company. Or he might be the office party planner, in charge of organizing refreshments for guests and workers alike. Whatever your receptionist’s job description, you’ll want to make sure they’re able to access the tools they need.

What does this mean? Smart planning. If your receptionist needs to access files, make sure she’s near the filing cabinet. If he needs to prepare refreshments, make sure he can get to the kitchen.

Whatever your receptionist’s other duties, make sure he or she can get out from behind the desk with relative ease. Nothing says awkward like guests waiting five minutes for the receptionist to climb down off their perch.

3. What’s your budget?

Last, but definitely not least, you need to ask yourself how much money you want to spend. Anyone who’s ever participated in an office redesign knows how quickly costs can mount up. Reception should set a tone for the rest of the company, but obviously you don’t want your budget for reception furniture to be bigger than that of the CEO’s office. (He gets so cranky when the receptionist has nicer things.)

One thing to consider is used office furniture. That’s where Arnolds Office Furniture comes in handy. When you’re ready to look for deals, drop us a line – or just browse our furniture online.

Photo: Learnthat.com

So you’re in the market for office cubicles. Before you run out and buy just any old set, do a little research. Office furniture says a lot about a company.

No, we’re not talking about research on which fabric for the conference room chairs best complements the CEO’s favorite tie or what what type of decorative fern can survive the longest without being watered.

We’re talking about your basic workstation. And when it comes to purchasing cubicles, size does matter.

Wall size, that is.

Here’s the low-down (or the high-up) on the three types of cube heights and what they say about your organization.

Low (42″-high walls)

Cubicles with low walls allow employees to see and talk to each other while seated. While this doesn’t afford much privacy, it does allow for a lot of collaboration and free flow of ideas. A company that goes the low-walled route likely fosters team work and creativity. The benefits include spontaneous brainstorming sessions and informal meetings about upcoming projects. Of course, not all employees sing Kumbaya to these wide open spaces. No walls means more noise  – from Ken mindlessly humming “Desperado” to Shirley’s 3 o’clock Doritos break — complete with loud crunching and finger-licking. And while the low walls allow for more conversation, that conversation isn’t always work-related. On the one hand, this may allow employees some much-needed respite from long hours staring at spreadsheets; on the other, you might be subjected to endless debates about whether Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were worthy replacements to Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul on “American Idol.”

Medium (53″-high walls)

Picking medium height cubicle walls is the Great Compromise of office layout. Employees have more privacy — and by extension will have an easier time blocking out the office din to focus on work. On the flipside, all they have to do is stand to share a victory high five for landing a big client, or chat with their neighbor about that upcoming presentation or how annoying Steven Tyler is when he sings along with the people auditioning for the show (I mean really, it’s not called “Aerosmith Idol”!) And (bonus!) medium-high walls have the added benefit of forcing employees to get up and stretch their legs periodically — which your ergonomically obsessed HR lady will love. Companies furnished with medium-height cubicles might come across as being more formal and productivity oriented, compared with their free-wheeling, low-walled brethren.

High (66″-high)

High-walled cubicles are the Rolls Royce of office privacy. Even standing, employees cannot peer into each other’s office space, which allows for quiet, focused work without outside distractions. This layout is ideal for counselors or others who might need to have sensitive conversations on a regular basis and for people who have difficulty focusing in noisier office environments. The drawback to high-walled cubicles is that they could make an employee feel isolated and out of touch with their co-workers, managers and the organization as a whole. And while an employee has the cocoon of silence necessary to finish an assignment, they also might try to sneak in a little extra Farmville between memos. The most formal of the three options, high-walled cubicles seem suited to a more serious or conservative company that values productivity and discretion more than collaboration.

Now that you’ve done the really important work of building an office space, you’re free to riffle through carpet samples and pick a company refrigerator large enough to hold months worth of frozen dinners and yogurt.

Office design is something every company has to address, and the style you choose can ultimately say a lot about your business. Take a look to see what your design style choice says about you:

Modern

Clean lines. Sleek finishes. Contemporary furnishings. Your office is a high-style showplace and you love it. Your employees feel proud of their workplace and each cubicle, conference room and waiting area is dressed to the nines in beautiful office furniture, artwork and paintings.

Having a modernistic style to your office shows that your business is bold, forward thinking, open to reinvention, and fine with taking risks. You care about your employees and want their surroundings to be comfortable and stylish. You strive to impress your customers or potential business partners and know that a stylish space is a great way to do this.

Classic

Rich wood desks with matching credenzas, leather chairs and minimal décor is your approach. A tailored look suits you well, with a place for everything. Storage is key to your minimalist approach, so hutches, bookshelves and filing pedestals are carefully arranged around the centerpiece of a fine wood desk.

Your classic style exudes sophistication, attention to detail and a business steeped in tradition. You have a solid plan for your business’ future, are confident in reaching those goals and are interested in forming lasting relationships with customers and clients.

Low-Budget

You’re a bare bones kind of operation…and you make no bones about it! Building a profitable business is more important to you than a fancy desk and a waiting room full of fine art. Instead, your office boasts basic workstations, no-frills filing and a conference room that doubles as a break area.

Low-budget businesses value the ideal of getting their people in place to start making money right away, rather than dealing with the logistics of pricey desks and chairs. If it were up to you, a card table and chairs would suffice, but this doesn’t always mean you’re cheap…you’d just rather sink your resources into digging up more customer contacts, sending your leaders on client-wooing trips and providing top quality print and web materials. This type of business philosophy will enable you to go far. That is, until your employees demand a more comfortable chair!

High-Tech

The more technology the better, in your eyes. Every desk and cubicle must be outfitted for power and data, and your conference room resembles the media department of the local Target. Video screens, laptops and smart phones can be found in every nook and cranny of your office space, and your people all know how to use them well.

A technology-focused business is social media savvy, and does a lot of communicating online and over video conferencing. Your group has a young, can-do vibe and the growth possibilities are limitless. You know how to reach current and potential customers and how to keep each office member in contact with the right people at the right time. As long as you remember to form personal relationships with your customers and clients, you’re poised to be a business superstar!

Green

Taking care of Mother Earth is a top priority in your company. Using sustainable materials, natural flooring and recycled or re-used office furniture are just some of the ways you green up your office. There is a recycling bin at every turn and your conference room has a lights-off rule unless there is a meeting in progress.

Plants, bamboo and other natural décor reminds employees to be environmentally conscious and your customers take note of this and appreciate your efforts. You may even inspire them to become more responsible, and they’ll remember you for that. Your caring vibe transcends into the way you do business and each customer and employee feels valued and part of something bigger than them.

So, which design style does your business employ? Are you a mix of these themes? We’d love to hear from you!

Conference tables are made for conducting business, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring and stuffy. On the contrary! There are some amazing conference tables out there loaded with awesome features from unique inlays to high-tech bells and whistles. Here is a sampling of customized tables that are sure to spice up your workspace.

Tech Respect

This gorgeous table by Franz is a racetrack-style table with black border and maple veneer inlay. It features a power and data runway complete with video conferencing capabilities and inset microphones.

See a similar style for a fraction of the cost at Arnolds Office Furniture.

Glorious Granite

Nothing says “Cool Sophistication” quite like a gleaming slab of rich granite, complete with data cutouts (this table is from Hardrox). Some may scoff at the cold hardness of granite, but there is no denying a beautiful piece like this commands respect.

Heavy Metal

Adding inlays to an otherwise predictable wood top raises the cool factor of any table considerably. This beauty by Unique Concepts uses both black absolute granite and brushed aluminum against the maple top to make a huge impact. Stunning!

See a similar style for a fraction of the cost at Arnolds Office Furniture.

Loco for Logos

It doesn’t get much more personalized than having your company’s logo inlaid into your table top, like this style by Unique Concepts. Logos in the center – or on opposing ends – of the table show the pride and conviction you have in your business – a very strong statement to make to potential clients or business partners.

Peek-a-boo, I See You!

This super sweet Boomerang Conference Table by SMARTdesks is a video conferencing dream come true. With a quick rotation of the FlipIt laptop safes, the table either becomes clear of clutter or displays the laptop screens without blocking the faces of the participants. The included cameras and video screens allow all participants to be clearly seen, and the modesty panel prevents any accidental peeks down under.

This is just a sampling of the cool office furniture out there. Stay tuned for more round-ups and furniture features!