Open Office Plans, Popular in Europe, Gain Ground in U.S.

Via Scripps News:

Shelby Bryant admits she wasn't thrilled to learn she would be one of the guinea pigs testing a new open office environment for pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline near Raleigh, N.C.

An administrative assistant in Research Triangle Park, Bryant, 39, went from having a desk outside her boss's office to having no assigned desk or phone.

Instead of personalizing her workspace with family photos and funny cartoons, she was expected to leave her work area each day the same way she found it: pristine.

"It was a big adjustment," said Bryant, who has worked for the drug maker for 18 years. "There were a lot of distractions, and it was hard to stay focused."

But the new setup had its advantages. The lack of offices increased collaboration among colleagues, cutting down decision-making time. E-mail traffic was reduced, as was the time she spent on the phone.

For the complete article, please visit:  http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/60462

Super Hot Trends in Home Design

All that glitters at Toronto show
By Daniel Drolet, Postmedia News March 19, 2011

What's hot in interior design this year? The recent Interior Design Show in Toronto highlighted four scorching trends:  Bling

The show was awash in glitter and gleam.

Crystals, often Swarovski, were embedded in bathroom fixtures, sprinkled on window blinds and wallpaper, sparkling as ember beds in gas fireplaces and twinkling as buttons in upholstered furniture. What wasn't decorated with crystals was shiny, as in gleaming glass kitchen counters, polished surfaces and flashy accessories.

"We treat faucets like jewelry," says Robert Calabrese of Aquabrass (aquabrass.com), a Concord, Ont.-based distributor whose new line of bathroom faucets called AquaCristal brings bling to the bathroom.

Sun Glow Window Coverings of Canada (mysunglow.com) is adding Swarovski trim and pulls to some of its window blinds for what the company calls "delicate shimmer."

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/trends+home+design/4470332/story.html#ixzz1HNYLJjYW
 

Personalized Office Envoronments Can Increase Employee Satisfaction

From a study by informed design, offices that were personalized linked increased satisfaction, productivity and happiness on the job.  For the complete article, please visit: http://www.informedesign.org/Rs_detail.aspx?rsId=3524

This photograph is a dental office reception area in Portland, Oregon with original artwork from Art Rent & Lease.  For information on artwork for your office, please call us at (888) 440-9260 - the first visit is always FREE!

Office Space + First Impression = Organization Culture

   Image


The choice of building is increasingly important for staff considerations. The quality of your building and office space is an important factor for both recruitment and retaining quality employees. Today in order to insure a high performance workplace it is critical that building selection is aligned with Human Resource strategies. The building and your office space portrays the image that reflects your organization both to your employees and your customers. When a customer enters your premises, your office space is the first impression they have of the culture of your organization.

What does your office space say about your culture?  For help with improving the design of your space, call us for a free  consultation: 888-440-9260 x710.

For the entire article from Stumble Upon via ecobuildertoday, visit: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/6FoEZn/ecobuildertoday.com/blog/posts/Elements-of-a-High-Performance-Office-Space//r:t

A Sleek "Power Office"

There's the power lunch and the power tie, so why not the "power office?" In this 17th century converted space in Amsterdam, Office 00 places every board member in the spotlight - literally. Designed by i29 l interior architects and Eckhardt&Leeuwenstein, large oval-shaped lampshades and oval-shaped carpeting define the separate working areas and provide a sense of individuality for employees.

For the full article from Inc.com visit: http://www.inc.com/ss/worlds-coolest-offices-2010/innovative-interiors?partner=newsletter_Success#1

If you're looking to innovate your office, call us for a free consultation: 888-440-9260 x10

How to Design a Great Small Office

GARAGE WITH A CONFERENCE ROOM: With 2,700 square feet for seven full-time employees, 2fORM's owner, Richard Shugar, has managed to create a balance of open and private spaces in the company's Eugene, Oregon, office.

Published on Inc.com and ASID's Eye on Design

How to Design a Great Small Office


Forget reducing clutter or hiding storage. Here's how to design a small office that will boost your bottom line.
By Eric Markowitz
Nov 7, 2010
 
To read the full article visit:  http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/11/how-to-design-a-great-small-office.html
 
And don't forget the artwork!  If you're on a tight budget, consider a tax-deductible art rental.