Add some panache to your office
Working from home is easier if you create the right atmosphere, says Emma J. Page
Summer’s packed up and it’s back to school for children and back to work for grown-ups. so, whether you toil full-time from home or just want to get your house in order, now is the time to embrace stylish office furniture.
DESK JOB
FINDING the right desk at which to work will make you wonder why you ever settled for the kitchen table. glass and metal designs are ideal for a sleek, lightweight look and suit sitting rooms as well as studies.
Likewise, sturdy trestle tables make a bold statement in an open-plan sitting room. Try the deyanira Brass Frame desk in brown, £675, Out There interiors, outthereinteriors.com.
LIGHT FANTASTIC
LIGHTING that incorporates bone china, aluminium, copper, brass and iron are the hallmarks of Original BTC, whose pieces have a timeless quality.
At the helm, Peter Bowles and his son Charlie design lamps inspired by Britain’s rich post-industrialisation era.
its hector dome Table Light, from £159, made from translucent bone china, will suit every desk, originalbtc.com; johnlewis.com.
SHELF LIFE
DESIGNER nils strinning’s classic string shelf, conceived in 1949 as an ergonomic solution for book storage, has sold more than any other item of swedish furniture and is still the most widely copied.
Featuring classic wire panels that offer almost unlimited combinations, the shelving’s layout can be adjusted with ease and suits kitchens, hallways and home offices. The brand’s full range includes coloured shelves, height adjustable desks and freestanding units, from £122, string.se.
HOT SEAT
FEW investments will pay greater dividends than a classic desk chair. ‘ Vitra’s softshell, designed by ronan and erwan Bouroullec in 2008, is a favourite,’ says interior designer Cat dal ( catdalinteriors.
com). it’s comfortable, which is essential if you are a home worker, as well as chic. it comes in a wide variety of colours and fabrics, too. Add a sheepskin to your office chair for some luxe and extra comfort.’
From £805, The Conran shop, conranshop.co.uk.
BIG CHEESE
CHRISTOPHER HOWE’S in-house designs are investment pieces.
For a chair that works at a dining table as well as at a desk, try the Camembert. made in solid beech and laminated birch with the option of a squab or domed cushion, with or without an upholstered back, the chair can have a wood or painted finish and there’s a wide choice of fabrics and leathers. From £1,008, howelondon.com.
ZONING
USE smart, hard-working pieces to help delineate a living space as well as for storage. Opt for a statement shelving system that can adjust to hold books and accessories while acting as a natural divider. made’s Kya bookcase, £ 399,
made.com, is inspired by modern architecture and its sliding shelves mean it can be easily changed.
MODERN CLASSIC
EVERY covetable item produced by maker russell Pinch is a design classic. his yves desk is an heirloom piece — and far too beautiful to hide away in the study.
simple lines, tactile walnut and an elegant aubergine leather writing surface evoke a bygone age, but clever touches, such as a discreet cable access hole, root this desk firmly in the present. £3,075, pinchdesign.com.
GRAPHIC STYLE
ADDING a little wit to your home office might inspire you to spend more time there. relax the look with unusual shapes, metallic finishes and contrasting textures.
‘Choosing the right lighting for your study is a make or break priority,’ says rohan Blacker, founder of chic lighting brand Pooky. ‘ Opt for a piece that provides excellent task illumination while making a style statement.’ The Bowtie desk Lamp, £160, works that mantra, pooky.com.
OLD SCHOOL
FOR a one-off office essential, go vintage. Former school desks, industrial storage cabinets, Victorian display cases, cast-iron shelving, shop counters and museum display shelving will add a historic twist.
retrouvius has a coral-coloured cast-iron shelving unit from the edwardian era in stock for £2,700, as well as a number of school art room cabinets, retrouvius.com.
STOW AWAY
FOR a hard-working office staple that conceals items you’d rather not have on show, you can’t go wrong with ikea’s Lixhult cabinet, from £30, ikea.com.
Opt for a double unit for maximum presence and choose a block colour such as dark blue for wow factor.
dress this functional piece up by pairing it with a contrasting wall colour such as plaster pink, or hanging graphic art above it. The legs can be removed for a sleek look, but retaining them adds ontrend mid-century style appeal.