Category: Tips & Tricks

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Coart Healthcare Tips & Tricks

How to Specify: Acoustics for Every Industry

Having trouble finding the perfect acoustical fit for your industry’s environment? Acoustics are a major architectural function and can make or break a space if not properly addressed. We have laid out a guide to specifying acoustical solutions for your space. Each configuration is made to be fully customizable to your space with various size and art options!

FLOATING SUSPENSION PANELS

SPECIFYING ACOUSTICS

The Floating Suspension Panels are ideal for office spaces as they are great for dividing up open workspaces or acting as a privacy buffer between workstations. With its double-sided art feature, you can chose from different graphics making any space more dynamic. The floating suspension panel can be placed in many other environments as well.

WE RECOMMEND:

  • Open office space
  • Waiting rooms
  • Conference rooms
  • Between desks
  • Private Offices
  • Computer rooms
  • Libraries

THE DIVIDER PANEL

SPECIFYING ACOUSTICS

The Divider Panel can be utilized nearly anywhere thanks to its freestanding, mobile nature. This option is great for anyone not wanting to commit their acoustical panel to any specific area. It is also a great option to create a divide within spaces, such as waiting areas, workstations, or any open floor plan.

WE RECOMMEND:

  • Office desk
  • Hallways
  • Waiting room
  • Retail signage
  • Private offices
  • Open workspace

WALL MOUNT (HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL)

SPECIFYING ACOUSTICS

As the most standard configuration, this system easily mounts anywhere within corporate, healthcare, commercial, and educational spaces. We are proud to recommend this system to any client needing sound improvements when addressing the overall quality of their space. It is our most effective acoustic solution and can be printed up to 100 ft. long.

WE RECOMMEND:

  • Private offices
  • Conference rooms
  • Lecture halls
  • Lobbies and open spaces
  • Reception areas
  • Cafes
  • Communal areas

MULTI-FLOATING PANELS

SPECIFYING ACOUSTICS

Similar to the floating panel, the multi-floating panel is a great addition to any place where you would like to create a privacy buffer, while also leaving the space open to the option of collaboration. Multi-floating panels are great for waiting rooms that you wish to keep private for clients, in between workstations, or even in a private office! Acoustics are a major architectural function and can make or break a space if not properly addressed.

WE RECOMMEND:

  • Open office space
  • Waiting rooms
  • Conference rooms
  • Between desks
  • Private Offices
  • Computer rooms
  • Libraries

CLOUD CEILING PANELS

SPECIFYING ACOUSTICS

For environments with less space but still requiring acoustical absorption, we recommend the Ceiling Cloud Panel. This system is great for educational environments and healthcare environments. Many clients have come to us from the healthcare industry needing art that inspires its patients and allows staff to focus by creating a sound space. For this reason, we recommend cloud panels for healthcare and educational environments or anyone looking for a more spatially accommodating acoustic system.

WE RECOMMEND:

  • Lecture halls
  • Libraries
  • Open workspaces
  • Healthcare clinics
  • Hallways
  • Classrooms

CEILING SUSPENSION PANEL

SPECIFYING ACOUSTICS

The Ceiling Suspension Baffle is a great way to create a welcoming space for those in the hospitality industry. Often times, customers complain about noise levels especially in communal work areas, like lobbies or computer cafes as well as restaurants. The ceiling baffle is a double-sided art system with a high-end aluminum frame for a sleek appearance. Line hallways or cafe’s with acoustic graphics that change dependent on where you are standing for a dynamic and functional space.

WE RECOMMEND:

  • Restaurants
  • Lecture halls
  • Libraries
  • Cafes
  • Communal Seating
  • Open office space

LED WALL MOUNT

SPECIFYING ACOUSTICS

With function, form, and a little extra, the LED Wall Mount is a great statement piece for open workspaces, lobbies, and private offices. A great way to impress clients while keeping your space functional and fit for business. Because of its lighting qualities, we suggest this piece be one of the first your clients see. It can also be very beneficial for lighting an otherwise dim room and creating a more vibrant workspace for employees.

WE RECOMMEND:

  • Lobbies
  • Reception areas
  • Private Offices
  • Restaurants
  • Hallways
  • Hotels
  • Open workspaces
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Tips & Tricks Trends

Eating Healthier While Working from Home

The year 2020 is almost over yet COVID-19 remains at large in every community. With the upcoming flu season approaching this winter and the increase in COVID-19 cases once again spiking in countries across the globe; keeping our bodies healthy as possible has never played a more vital role in our lives than now. While the search for a viable vaccine looms, it is important to minimize your trips out in public in order to lessen the chances of catching the virus, in the mean-time, our body’s immune system will need to be strong enough to fight back with the support of a healthy diet.

For those of us who continue to work from home, it is easy to give into the habit of stress eating and binging our favorite comfort foods. For instance, maybe you’re on a conference call, and you’ve started snacking on a bag of chips, and soon after realize the bag is half empty; or you’re stressed from working all day, and forget to eat so you’ve ordered takeout for the 3rd time in a week. One thing’s for certain, adapting to this new working situation has thrown our eating habits out of whack.

While it is safe to say that the previous examples mentioned won’t immediately hurt you, keep in mind that decreasing your intake of junk food in favor of more nutritious foods will prove to be more beneficial to your health during this pandemic.

Below are some tips on how to eat healthier while working from home and a few additional suggestions on what to buy on your next trip to the grocery.

  1. Prepare your meals in advance – The fact that you’re at home, makes you more prone to visiting your fridge, even when you’re not hungry. The freedom to eat whatever you want, whenever you want is very tempting, though it may hinder your concentration with work and overall productivity. Prepping your meals in advance can help prevent unnecessary trips to the kitchen. According to WHO (World health organization), “adequate nutrition can raise your productivity levels by 20 percent on average.” So, dice up those vegetables and marinate your meats ahead of time if you plan on making salads, chicken entrées etc. for the next day, as this is a great time saver. Also, knowing when you’re going to eat everyday should condition the body to decrease your hunger, according to Health.Harvard, eating three to four times a day has some health benefits, such as a “decrease in hunger and fullness.”
  2. Avoid Processed Foods – Eating anything that contains preservatives is usually unhealthy for the most part, whether it’s fast food or frozen dinners at the grocery. While it may be tempting, there is no doubt most processed foods are easy to prepare and consume, which is why so many prefer them over cooking after a long day at work. However, there is a way to incorporate these foods into a healthier diet. If you do continue to buy processed foods etc., look out for the nutrition labels that are color-coded in green and yellow.
  3. Healthier Alternatives to Comfort Foods – Eating healthy while working at home doesn’t have to be boring; it certainly has its benefits too. In fact, you can curve your cravings by making healthier versions of your favorite comfort foods, therefore consuming less high fats, sugars and sodium that are found in most store-prepped items. For instance, rather than dipping your tortilla chips in bean dip or American cheese, why not try prepping a fresh spinach artichoke dip, a tasty alternate with more nutrients and fewer preservatives.
  4. Drink More Water – Keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day is just as important as eating healthy. Dehydration can lead to more headaches and feeling tired, which can affect how you work. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends: 11.5 cups a day for women and 15.5 cups a day for men.
  5. Take A Proper Lunch Break – When you get caught up in your work, it’s easy lose track of time. Making it a point to leave your desk and take a proper lunch break helps prevent you from starving the entire day and could lead to a more productive workflow.

As many know by now, there are several ways to avoid getting the virus e.g., wearing a mask, social distance etc. But maintaining a better diet and strengthening your immune system is just as important and does have a significant effect on how your body will handle battling COVID-19. For those who continue to remain working from home, finding the right kinds of foods will ultimately help improve your productivity.

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Healthcare Tips & Tricks

How to Improve Your Home Office Space

As the global pandemic continues to hinder our way of life, many people remain at home, teleworking from the confines of their makeshift workspaces. Let’s face it, the work from home situation has become quite a drag for many of us. Finding the ideal spot to place your laptop and paperwork can be frustrating, and your coffee table is not exactly the ideal furniture piece to use as a makeshift workstation.

Now that we are reaching the end of 2020 and many people are still working from home. There are several ways to improve your work situation, which could lead to an overall better workflow and mindset. Below are a few useful tips on how to create an ideal ergonomic home office space.

A BETTER WORKSTATION FOR THOSE LONG HOURS

Your desk is the primary workspace and it’s something you should give some thought and investment into. This area is your space for creativity and inspiration for the remainder of your time working from home and therefore it’s important to make some adjustments to your workplace. For example, alternating where you sit and stand throughout the day to boost your productivity and maintain energy levels can lead to positive results.

While the sit-stand desk would be the ideal furniture piece to use when working long hours of the day, most people unfortunately do have access to one during these hard times. However, you can improvise and use an alternate product to maintain a healthy workflow; and the best alternate option to the sit-stand desk is a standing desk converter. So, what makes this a reliable option to the sit-stand? These products are very easy to install and cost effective. Standing desk converters are essentially monitor stands that are mounted on your table and can be highly adjustable, so that you have the flexibility to move your monitor with ease.

GOOD POSTURE IS THE OTHER HALF TO THE SOLUTION

Using the standing desk converter is just half the solution to maintaining a better workflow and creating a more productive workplace; the other half is practicing good posture. Some things to remember as you sit and stand throughout the day are:

  1. Keep an arm’s length between you and the computer screen
  2. Before you sit, make sure to adjust the level of your seat so that your feet are touching the floor and your knees are kept at 90 degrees
  3. Make sure your computer screen is positioned at or below eye level.
  4. Change your posture often and stretch

Practicing good posture may take some time getting used to, but the end results are worth it. Not only does it reduce back pain but also increases energy levels, it also helps your balance. According to Harvard Health, working on balance can strengthen your abilities in all outdoor sports activities; like golf, tennis, running and skiing.

BENEFITS TO NATURAL LIGHT IN YOUR ROOM

While practicing good posture and improving your work area are important factors to creating an ideal home office, having a well-lit home can alter your workflow for the better.

According to Elemental Green, most working individuals spend about 90 percent of their time working indoors. That means less exposure to fresh air and sunlight. More data from research collected over the past decade have shown that a lack of sunlight has been proven to show an increase in negative health effects. In fact, less sunlight means less vitamin D intake, which therefore can lead to muscle pain, tiredness and fatigue. Other negative health effects from lack of sunlight like cognitive issues, depression and an increase in weight have also been prominent in more recent health studies.

However, working from home can have its benefits, as you’re more in control of your workspace than inside an office building. Opening your shutters and blinds during the day can certainly prevent the aforementioned health effects and therefore improve your overall well-being. Some benefits to natural light include:

  1. Using natural light is a money saver and can reduce your electrical costs every month.
  2. Your concentration levels are increased, especially in the morning when the sunlight is at its most brightest. Letting your home soak in the sun every morning can also help increase productivity
  3. Your stress and anxiety levels will be reduced: taking the time to stand out in the sunlight for about 30 minutes in the morning can help keep you calm.
  4. Natural light can also help your immune system: Research has shown vitamin D plays a critical role in T cells functionality (a white blood cell that’s important to the body’s immune system).
  5. Natural light can also help fend off depression: staying indoors for prolonged periods of time, especially during the coming months ahead where we experience less daylight can lead to SAD (season affective disorder.) a form of depression that relates to the changes in season, especially during the fall and winter.

Exposure to natural light is just as important to home ergonomics as a standing desk converter because of the many health benefits it provides.

Teleworking during this unprecedented time has been quite a challenge, especially for those with family at home. However, the idea of changing your work situation based on these steps can drastically improve your mindset and lead to more positive results.

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Tips & Tricks

Preparing a Video Call While at Home

There is no doubt given the current conditions we are all under, that working from home (WFH) has become the primary work-model these past few months. Whether it be for professional or personal use, online communication has become our new reality.

For those of us who aren’t working out in the field, many have been ordered by their employers to remain in their homes until further notice. It only seems like yesterday offices held team meetings in conference rooms or that creative work areas fostered teamwork and collaboration on the spot. Now that businesses have shuttered their office doors, the primary means of communicating has shifted indefinitely to online apps.

Communication is key and companies are striving to maintain and establish that sense of efficiency into their teams’ workflow. Applications like Google Hangout, Slack, Zoom and Clockify are just some of the many tools utilized in today’s working environment.

Having that said, telecommuting has evidently provided positive results for businesses. In fact, working from home can benefit employees by increasing productivity. According to a summary provided from Clockify, workers are proven to remain productive and work “1.4 days per month more and procrastinate 10 minutes per day less than” those working in a normal office environment.

Online communication can take time getting used to for those in favor of working in a traditional office setting. Which is why we have provided a list of five simple steps on how to prepare for video calls while working from home.

  1. Shutdown All Other Applications:

Your computer may operate much slower if there are plenty of programs running in the background. Video calls require a large number of resources in order to properly function, so be sure to turn off any applications, windows and other browsers you may not need during your video call.

2. Prep Before Sharing Your Screen:

Let the other people in your household know that you are going into a call, that way they do not disturb you. Also, if you are planning on sharing your screen with a number of people, put away any objects in your desktop background that are personal; which you might find potentially embarrassing during the screen share.

3. Presentation Is Key:

Looking presentable to your boss and coworkers is not only necessary, but also considered a professional courtesy. Despite working from home, it is important you look the way you would at the office. Keep your camera at a straight face position for your optimal angle, anything otherwise may be considered unflattering.

4. Choose a Decent Background:

The background you choose is just as important as the way you present yourself onscreen. Find a suitable area in your home with ample natural light. If your home does not have much sunlight, you can use a lamp. Avoid standing behind busy backgrounds and instead, choose a place in your home that is neutral; a wall with a frame or two would be an ideal example.

5. Come Organized and Prepared:

It is important to keep in mind that even though you’re at home, sitting behind a screen, you are still attending a professional meeting. That means, getting acquainted with the material and having it readily available beforehand is pivotal. Especially if you’re in a position that requires you to share files/documents with other members of your team. The awkward silence of others waiting as you rummage through files is a situation best avoided.

Categories
Design Tips & Tricks

Improving Your Work-From-Home Space With Biophilic Design

With everything going on in the world today, normal office life has come to an abrupt halt indefinitely. The very thought of returning to our offices remains uncertain as most companies continue instructing employees to telecommute. It goes without saying that our current situation has brought a new meaning to “work from home.”

Working from home may seem ideal to the average office employee with a nine to five job, think about it: you have a flexible work schedule, there is no need to commute and you are saving on gas money; these points seem more like pros than cons right? But given our current situation, what happens when it becomes our only way of working?

We now live in a world where for most of us, our homes have become makeshift classrooms, gyms and offices. The reality of being confined in the same space for prolonged periods of time, day in and day out, can take a toll on our well-being, and therefore effect our ability to productively work. With that said, one trending design method in particular has been known to improve the quality of work; and that is biophilic design.

So, what exactly is biophilic design? It is the innovative concept of transferring the outdoors into an indoor environment, whether it be for work, school or home. This form of design improves creativity and productivity by reconnecting people with elements of the natural world, ideally through fauna, flora and other elements of nature like wood and fungi (biota).

SIMPLE DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN BIOPHILIC DESIGN FOR YOUR HOME

While all the complex natural elements (as mentioned above) are best suited for an office working environment; biophilic design does not actually require a full interior renovation. In fact, the concept is fairly simple enough that it’s principles can be applied to make your long-term work from home experience a more pleasant one.

Listed below are principles utilized in biophilic design that can improve your workflow and overall well-being.

  • ACCESS NATURAL LIGHT AND AN OPEN VIEW: Opening those shutters and curtains surprisingly have positive benefits to your health. Not only will your living room look brighter and larger, natural light provides you with vitamin D and reduces possible mood swings throughout the day. The more time you spend in natural light, the more likely you are to get a better nights sleep. You can bounce more light into your home by using mirrors and reflecting them on metal objects to catch sun rays. If you do not have a portable mirror, leaving windows open will naturally let light into your home.
  • TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BACKYARD OR PATIO: Working outside exposes you to more natural light, fresh air and helps connect you to the outside world. At the moment, more people are at home, which means less cars and traffic noise make for a quieter and peaceful outdoor working experience.
  • ADD MORE COLOR INTO YOUR HOME: Whether it’s a full repaint on your walls or simply adding a bowl of colorful fruit on the dinner table. Fending off dull colors in your space with uplifting and vibrant objects can positively alter the appearance of your home and workspace. Reports from K2 Space have shown studies that the color blue can have a profoundly positive impact on your mental health. Other colors like orange have also been known to be beneficial. According to a member of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, the color orange provides comfort in times of stress and “combines the energy of red and happiness of yellow.”
  • INCLUDE PLANT LIFE: The most obvious design principle in biophilic design is including more plant life into your home. Plants not only look aesthetically pleasing in most interior spaces, but they provide an increase in oxygen levels and can eventually lead to better concentration.

The inclusion of biophilic design in any interior space has been proven to be beneficial to your state of mind and overall health. Reports from K2 Space suggest, “interiors that utilize more natural elements have shown a decrease in mental fatigue and an overall increase in a workers well-being.” It is evident that those who spend the majority of their busy days working indoors lack that connection with nature, therefore the more time people spend working in an artificial environment, the more likely they are to become less creative, productive and even prone to losing that positive mindset.

In today’s world, many of us are faced with the feeling of uncertainty and unease. Working and staying at home for many months on end can be difficult for those who aren’t used to it. Which is why incorporating the simple principles of biophilic design into your home can help provide you with a better working mindset, and alleviate the everyday stress and anxiety you may face on day-to-day basis; in the coming months ahead.

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Design Materials Tips & Tricks Trends

Hot v. Cold Rolled Steel: Do You Know the Difference?

HOT V COLD ROLLED STEEL

Hot Rolled Steel (LEFT) and Cold Rolled Steel (RIGHT)

There is often a misconception regarding hot versus cold rolled steel and when it comes to designing with steel, form must meet function. To create quality, high-end furniture we make sure the proper materials are applied to every piece and hope to educate you through our experience in the fabrication process.

HOT ROLLED STEEL

Hot rolling is a mill process which involves heating the metal to above 1700 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing it to be easily shaped and formed. After, the steel is cooled causing it to shrink or change in size or shape giving you less control over the final product. This is partly why hot rolled steel is typically cheaper than cold rolled. Hot rolled steel is often used when precise shapes are not required. Our Swag Room shelving units for Legendary Entertainment used hot rolled steel which you can see from the matte finish and textured appearance.

HOT V COLD ROLLED STEEL

Legendary Entertainment ‘Swag Room’ Custom Hot Rolled Steel Shelving Units

3 WAYS TO IDENTIFY HOT ROLLED STEEL:

  1. Scaly finish
  2. Rounded edges on barstock
  3. A non-oily surface

TYPICAL FURNITURE APPLICATIONS:

Wall panels, shelving units, table tops, table legs, and much more.

View hot rolled steel projects here.

COLD ROLLED STEEL

Cold rolled steel process begins the same as hot rolled but instead, it is cooled at room temperature, then followed by an annealing or tempers rolling. The additional processing allows for a range in finishes, and closer precision in finished sizes.Process. Temperatures are close to room temperature during the cold rolled process and increase the strength of the finished product by as much as 20 percent. Often times, the term cold rolled is used to describe all forms of steel, but this is incorrect. For Ground Zero’s workstations, we required specific sizes and pieces for the station to have the highest quality and durability. You can see we used cold rolled steel by the shiny finish and the consistency in texture.

HOT V COLD ROLLED STEEL

Custom Cold Rolled Steel Workstations by dTank

3 WAYS TO IDENTIFY COLD ROLLED STEEL:

  1. Oily or greasy finish
  2. Very smooth surface
  3. Very sharp edges on bar stock.

TYPICAL FURNITURE APPLICATIONS:

Storage units, table tops, legs, shelves, chairs, and more.

View cold rolled steel projects here.

Looking for custom steel furniture? Contact us here.

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Client Story Tips & Tricks Trends

dTank: A Furniture Dealer’s Best Friend

dTank recently sat down with Westfall Commercial Furniture to discuss some of the trends in commercial interior design that have driven furniture dealers to work with custom furniture manufacturers. Clients who really benefit from using a dealer are going to be your smaller to medium sized companies who don’t necessarily have in-house designers and can utilize a dealers services in full. Westfall field verifies, executes space planning, specifies furniture, and installs for their clients. However, to truly optimize working with a dealer, it is important to specify custom furniture especially for pieces like conference tables or reception desks.

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With the influx of standardized, off the shelf furniture products and rapid-fire trends, it is no wonder companies are turning to bespoke furniture for quality and individuality. The demand for custom furniture in the commercial interiors market specifically, continues to rise. Therefore, vendors are expected to source top brands but also offer a means to specifying custom, one-of-a-kind furniture that no one else has. For Westfall, this was one of the major pain points before using dTank, not being able to achieve what the client was looking for. By utilizing custom furniture manufacturing you are able to tell the client that you have the resources to create custom pieces – securing a larger scope of the project for your firm.

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Not only are custom furniture design firms pushing for their product to be seen as a equal or greater option to standardized products, but dealers and architect firms too are beginning to educate their clients on the advantages of incorporating custom furniture. Often times the word “custom” is associated with longer lead times, and higher costs, but that is not always the case. In fact, custom products are often competitive in pricing and lead times making them a better alternative to basic products on the market. An evolving office landscape of open floor plans and resimercial furniture brings a need for customization that can’t be achieved through standard workstations, reception desks and even ancillary pieces. A great example of this in the modern day office would be huddle rooms.

Not to say that standardized products aren’t the best solution for certain aspects of a project, because 80% of the time they are! But to be able to provide your client with competitively priced, customized options, will only better your reputation as a resourceful vendor and ultimately get your client into the branded, unique space they are looking for.

DTANK PACKAGE INCLUDES:

METHOD

At dTank we are constantly looking for ways to improve our relationships with dealers by finding ways for them to foster their relationships with their clients. We do this by providing packages with 3D visualizations, material call-outs, technology integration, and budget conscious designs. We see dealers as the most instrumental piece in the transaction, so we provide them with the tools they need to assure their clients they are in the best hands possible.

Contact us today to get the creative process started!

Until then, here are some of our most successful projects that involved working alongside dealers to create an amazing space for the end client:

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Categories
Client Story Tips & Tricks

How To Guide for Dealing with 15 Different Types of Clients

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Categories
Design Tips & Tricks Trends

8 Architecture Design Tricks That Affect Your Behavior

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1. BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

Blue is known for bringing tranquility to a space through its calming qualities. You can consider mauve, purple, navy and violets when designing spas or wellness centers to promote relaxation and serenity. Designers will often chose these colors for bedrooms as it helps induce sleep and maintain healthy sleeping habits. If you have a hard time committing to blue, consider the striking affect of blue and white on porcelain.

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2. STRATEGICALLY PLACED MIRRORS

It is a known trick that mirrors can make a small space seem much larger by giving depth and perspective. A rule of thumb is the smaller the room, the bigger the mirror! They are best used in living areas, thin hallways or staircases, or even integrated into furniture. For instance, furniture already takes up a large amount of space, but a mirror finish will open up the room by creating an illusion that the floor extends beyond the wall and creates the perception of extra floor space. Mirrored furniture can be tricky with excess accents in a room so be sure to carefully place mirrors within a space.

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3. BLACK AND WHITE FLOORS

Studies have shown that the juxtaposition of black and white across a large space subconsciously invokes your mind to think the floor is uneven and to move quickly through the area. This tactic is most commonly seen in areas with a lot of foot traffic, such as a lobby, cafeteria, or bathroom.

– Architectural Digest

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4. WALLPAPER USED AS A DISGUISE

It is a classic movie cliche to reveal the hidden door that appears once a certain book is tugged. But this design is actually used by many residential and commercial designers. These tricks allow employees to conceal their bustling backrooms and bring character to a home by tricking guests. Using a false wall and very strategically placed wallpaper, designers are able to create the illusion of a solid wall.

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5. GREEN DINING ROOMS

Green is known to be one of the easiest colors for the human eye to focus on for an extended period of time. When used as a wall color, green is soothing and can evoke the feeling of hunger. It is the perfect color for restaurants or dining rooms where there may be an extended time spent at the table. People often associate red with hunger but this is most commonly used in faster paced environments like diners, fast-food restaurants, and kitchens where a fast turn-over is preferred.

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6. GOOSEBUMPS

The power temperature has on productivity is no mystery to those who have tried to accomplish work in a warm workplace, classroom or environment. It is more likely to be lulled to sleep during a long meeting in a warm room than a chilly one. In Eastern cultures, colder temperatures in office buildings and establishments also are a way to show status and rank of a company.

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7. DIM THE LIGHTS

Lighting in a restaurant can drastically change from lunch to dinner. You may have thought it was just a natural lighting based on time of day, but in actuality the owner is likely to have purposefully dimmed the lights. The trick behind the lighting revolves around turnover. Bright lighting invokes an energetic mindset to create a turnover during busier times of day. This is effective for fast food restaurants that have high turnover and require quick visits both night and day. Dim lighting is comfortable for guests looking to relax and spend longer periods of time in one setting. This also benefits the restaurant because these guests are likely to stay longer- for multiple courses and rounds of drinks.

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8. WINDOWLESS ROOMS

Windowless rooms are commonly used when you want guests to focus and even lose track of time. Think of a casino or a movie theatre. Windowless rooms deprive people of stimulus which allows them to focus without any distraction. In the case of a casino, the more focused without distraction, the more money spent.

Huber, Hannah. “10 Surprising Design Tricks That Affect Your Behavior.” Architectural Digest, Architectural Digest, 24 Aug. 2018, www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/design-tricks-that-affect-behavior.

Categories
Design Materials Tips & Tricks Trends

Laminate: The Stone Alternative

The design process is something dTank is all too familiar with. We want to make your material selection process as easy and informed as possible. We have teamed up with Panolam to show you some great options for laminate – stone alternative – finishes. Certainly when it comes to a kitchen, we suggest leaving the granite, marble, quartz, or travertine to its job. But for more commercial spaces, we think its a great way to cut down costs and achieve a modern, contemporary style for a creative workspace, retail stores, medical clinics, and even cafes. These environments ultimately achieve the stylistic benefits of stone with all the practicality of laminate.

laminate

Laminate is a unique material that is durable, affordable and incredibly customizable. It is constructed by pressing together layers of heavy duty paper with a compound known as melamine, which hardens into a resin. This creates a solid veneer, which can then be covered in a thin decorative layer.

Here are some example spaces using Panolam’s visualizer app.

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Above, we alternated subtle stone patterns with wood grain laminates for a tasteful design. Designers tend to think that laminate sheets can be restrictive to design because of their kraft paper. Kraft paper is the core layer of a high pressure laminate that controls the product’s thickness, its texture and look is similar to cardboard. Luckily, Pionite® ThruColor™ high pressure laminate may be used in any high-end furniture and casework application where a solid color edge is desired. This creates a seamless finish to your design and contributes greatly to the aesthetics of the final product. Pionite’s manufacturing process provides a second generation color-through laminate that is more flexible and much less likely to chip than other color-through laminates.

Here is an example of the difference between what a ThruColor™ laminate would look like compared to a standard laminate.

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Panolam also offers a variety of finishes. If you are trying to achieve the sheen of real granite or marble, Panolam has a high gloss finish that will give you the reflective quality often seen on natural polished stone. The finishes range from velvet and soft leather to crystal and aged bark. For this application, high gloss would likely be your best option. Below you can see the difference between the gloss finish (left) and textured suede finish (right). The pattern is ‘Man on the Moon’, a powerful granite featuring an opalescent pearl with a slight patina. As you can see below, the high gloss intensifies the color and creates a smooth reflective surface. The suede finish adds texture but dulls the overall color of the pattern. Some may prefer this for a more subtle design.

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By the end of this process you can have a high-end fabricated furniture piece that resembles stone for nearly half the price but with all the practicality. Here are some examples of designs we have produced for our clients. These designs are able to be fabricated using stone or laminate.

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