Offices with Orange accents | Commercial Design Control Inc.

With fall in the air and the leaves changing color there is one color that comes to my mind and that is Orange. Although, I have to admit that this colour also reminds me of the shiny bright summer days which speaks energy and happiness to me.

Like Red if you use Orange too much it could become overbearing. So it’s wise to use it sparingly as a bold accent colour. Orange brings warmth and positivity in a workspace and is a jazzy colour in my opinion. So trust me if you use Orange in your office you will thank me when the winter rolls in.   

A large accent Orange wall can bring warmth and excitement to a workplace filled with Whites and Neutrals. If your office is well lit and you want to bring some drama to the workplace try pairing Orange and Black.

Offices in Red Commercial Design Control Inc.

If you think of your workplace as a second home like me chances are you would like to give it a personal touch. Most modern offices are turning towards brightening up the atmosphere by illuminating workspaces with a splash of colour. But, there is one key element to remember when you are using bright colors and that is moderation. Usually neutrals, grays, earth tones and whites are the main colors of an office which after a while can get boring. Adding one pure extraordinary colour can bring the whole space to life. There are several ways to achieve this result; the most popular being using a bold colour as an accent paint. You could also add a touch of colour by adding colorful furniture or accessories. Red is the trend: When we talk about bold colors red is the first colour that strikes our imagination. Different shades of reds can have different impact on the mood of a room so be careful when using this tricky colour. Red married with Taupes, Browns and Gold can illuminate a room and bring it to life. The boldness of red and the natural brown blends well together to bring a balance and regality to an executive office. If you don’t feel confident using red as an accent paint then you can always brighten up the space by adding some bold red furniture in red leather or fabric. A hint of orange in the reds can add warmth to the room. Red with a hint of pink or brown can blend well when used in moderation.

Colour boards for Office Design - Commercial Design Control Inc.

Colour boards are an easy way to visualize the final look of an office by putting together different colours and finishes to see what looks great in an area. A colour board also helps you to understand how different elements like style, lighting, and direction of a room will impact different colour tones, textures and finishes when put together. When starting a new project it’s always good to discuss with your client the colours that they would like to see in their office. Keeping their needs and choices in mind use colour tones that are acceptable to all and not offending to anyone. This rule is of utmost importance if you are designing a cooperate environment. You want the colour scheme to be a pleasant experience for everyone working in that office. If a project requires more than just new furniture it’s best to create two or more colour boards showing warm, cool and neutral colour schemes and finishes so that the client has a variety to choose from. Start with choosing a presentation board which is big enough to hold all the samples and finishes that you want to present to the client. Choose a contrasting colour so that the samples pop out on the board. Start positioning all the samples and finishes by putting the wall paint at the very top then fabric pieces for drapes (if any) then furniture laminates and finally the carpet to give an effect of how things will look when put together. Use tape around the presentation board to get a neat and perfect border. Make sure you leave space and align the samples properly before you glue them. Use different kinds of glues like cement glue, hot gun and even tape depending on the texture of the samples. It’s wise to position the samples in different ways just to see how they look and what look and size is best before gluing them permanently. Make sure that the presentation board is on a straight surface before starting your work. Add different colours, textures and fabrics if possible which appeals the eyes. But, don’t over do or completely cover the board. Print out neat and clear labels showing the sample names, series and the supplier. Add your business card and the office layout if available on the colour board…voila!! Leave the board to dry over night, its best if you put some weight on the heavy pieces or tile samples so that they stick well to the board. Remember the more the appealing the colour boards is the more chances are that it will catch your client’s eye and possibly lead to a project well done.

Designing an Office using Color and Personality - Commercial Design Control Inc

Many clients come to us asking us to design their offices.  They give us a few words such as “make it look good” or “modern”.  Those words can mean a lot of different things to different people, so we are left with a lot of room to figure out what they really want! When I go in to design an office I look at the following things to determine what they mean by the above because what is good and modern for one usually is totally different to the next. First, I always check to see the current conditions of their office.  Do they have workstations?  Do they have good lighting?  Do they have leather chairs or fabric?  What is the atmosphere of the office … friendly and open, or private and quiet?  This usually gives me the clues to what “good” and “modern” means to them.

There are two distinct and basic ways to go when designing an office.  Once I have spent a little time observing, I lean towards one or the other. 

1)  Contrasting Bold - Outstanding - Colorful, Dynamic with lots of interest and focal points.  You can usually judge the general atmosphere of the office by these same traits.  If your office has a lot of bold thinkers, colorful and dynamic personalities who are encouraged to let their talents loose and come forward … you would probably be happiest with a contrasting style of type of office design.  This shows you are out of the norm, and stand alone on your own merits.  You want to show your individualism and like your staff to express their ideas.  You seek flare and creativity in your business as well as encouraging your staff to do the same.  In terms of style and company image, your concern is not about getting the most for your money or for the long term; you want to show you are in the here and now and understand what is happening in the world today.  Although you plan for tomorrow, you focus on today.  You are a risk taker in general, and like to be on the edge.

Your best look would be contrasting - Colors to use would be reds, navies, chocolate browns, blacks and white with lots of accents, feature walls and unique furniture designs.  Open concepts with lots of low partitions and glass.

2)  Blending Muted – Peaceful – Stable – Professional - traditional with limited accents or outstanding features.    If you like to have your office maintain a certain degree of privacy with a focus on stability and professionalism, you are probably better to use a blending design that stays in a safe creative zone. Blending allows you to portray an image of professionalism focusing on showing that you use your business dollars wisely and that you gravitate towards longevity versus here and now.  Your image is built on managing your money and staff wisely.  You are not so concerned about having a trendy updated image … but like to focus on the future as a long term investment instead.

Your best look would be blending - Taupe, gray, eggplant, cream and muted colors such as blues, browns and caramel would work best for you.

 

How to organize small office space - Commercial Design Control Inc.

Things can easily clutter around you when you have a limited office space. The next thing you know you are ready to abandon your workplace because there is no space for you to sit. If you are one of those space challenged people then keeping a few tips in mind while working in a small office can maximize the space and you would like to work there more often. Free Yourself: Look around and see what is it that you really need in your office and what you can live without. We all know that the computer, desk and chair stays; but what about the stack of files or the extra office equipment around you. Do you really need a separate scanner, fax, copier and printer? Why not get rid of all and get a 4 in 1 machine that serves the purpose. What about the extra bookshelf or file tray on your desk? Do you really need it?? Most of the information these days can be scanned or saved digitally or on the computer. This saves space by not having too much paperwork around you eliminating the need for extra filing cabinets. But if you still need some storage invest in functional storage or store items vertically. But, first you need to figure out what you really need in your office. Off the Wall: What about the old notices on the bulletin board; are those policies still in place? Didn’t Sue cancel that meeting schedule last month which is still hanging on your board? You’ll be amazed how much difference it makes when you get rid of the old or unused paper work on the side of your cubical or wall. My advice is to change it with a pretty calendar with beautiful pictures which not only organizes all your appointments but also provides you an escape from your mundane routine. Sleek & Savvy: If you have nothing more than just office desk, chair and filing cabinets but they are large and old then it’s time to replace them with something new and more efficient and less space consuming. With the on going need for more space and efficiency modern furniture designers have introduced great solutions to fit your style and needs. The new furniture is not only comfortable but ergonomically designed for all day use encouraging productivity. Multi purpose furniture such as an ottoman, bench or chest which can store some of your stuff or take the place of a coffee table will serve the purpose. A desk with lots of compartments and drawers should eliminate the need for filing pedestals or cabinets. Buy a chair which has wheels and lumbar support so that you are able to move back and forth in a small space from your desk to the filing cabinet and have a proper back support all day long. Colour my World: Dark colors may look modern but they seem to make a small space even smaller. You can create an illusion of openness by using light paint colors. If you use different tones of the same colour that could make your room appear bigger and spacious depending on the light and windows. Night Light: If your work space has table lamps or floor lamps, get rid of them and invest in ceiling lights. Track or recessed light works best for small office this gives an illusion of spaciousness. Use blinds where needed instead of curtains but let the natural light flow in because it’s the best way to make a space look bigger. Mirror Mirror on the Wall: A wider and lighter colour floor will open up the space and so does a mirror if positioned in front of a window to reflect light in the room. If this is not possible then add mirrors on the wall where possible so that the ceiling light reflects in the room and on the floor creating an illusion of openness. Last but not least stay away from too many prints in the office. Having a small office isn’t the end of the world; everyday if you set 10 minutes aside to clean up and de-clutter your workspace things can become clear, comfortable and you can become more productive.

Office Relocations - Commercial Design Control Inc.

Whether you intent to move your business down the street or across the border you need help with planning and scheduling the move. Having some professional assistance is always a good thing but due to budgetary reasons not all company’s can afford to bring in someone who can assist you with planning your move. Here is basic checklist of the things that you need to keep in mind before making your move and hiring a moving/installing company. It’s best to arrange an after hour or weekend move or installation to limit loss of productivity and time in the office.If the move is to take a few months or weeks it’s best to look for a satellite office so that the employees have a place to work while the move is in progress.Looking into warehouse facilities to store the extra furniture and equipment is a good idea.If you are hiring a mover or installer it would be best to look for someone who can work on contract basis and customize the contract according to your installation needs.A reputable installer will provide you with a plan that should include some of the following: -Project Management and site surveys -WSIB and insurance certificate -Bins and crates to move the content -IT relocations – includes phone and computers -Furniture relocation – includes full dismantle and reassembly -Protection or liability for furniture damage -Storage for any extra product if required. -Waste disposal or recycling if required after the job is complete. In order to transport items that need to be relocated crates and bins are supplied a week in advance from the move. It is wise to label and colour code the bins for easy access.If the new location is on the upper level it is advisable to book the elevator in advance so that all the furniture and bins can be carried via elevator to the upper level of the office.Once the move is complete and the employees and equipment is in place the bins are picked up by the moving company.Make sure to get a quote from the moving company for the bins and per day charges prior to the move.If you follow my checklist I guarantee you your next office move will be a breeze.

Executive Seating | Commercial Design Control Inc

Ever wonder why the senior executives look so tired while they are sitting in the office? Why they seem grumpy and stiff when all they do is “sit around all day”? When any part of your body is in discomfort it shows on your face and affects your emotions. Some people complain about bad posture and neck/back pain because they are sitting all day long. Most of the time the reason behind all the agony is due to uncomfortable seating and to be more specific “uncomfortable executive seating”.
So how do we choose the best suitable executive chair for the boss? With so many options available for Executive seating it becomes hard to choose the chair. But if we keep in mind a few key factors we can make this decision easily.

Budget: The most important factor to take into consideration is your budget. Having so much variety can sometimes be mind boggling. Prices range from $900.00 - $5,000.00 .If you can stretch your dollar for the sake of durability and comfort, my suggestion would be “you should”.

Style: This is the second most important key factor in choosing an Executive chair for your boss. Depending on the stature of an individual there are many chairs available. Some chairs are specially designed for big and tall individuals. Does your boss seem like a trendy guy, or more traditional

Ask your furniture provider what chair matches the personality type and they will advise you on the “style” of the latest looking chair, or the “style” of a chair that is timeless and has been around for years.

Ergonomics: Another factor to take into consideration is that you have to have an upright posture and less strained neck and back to achieve maximum comfort. Find out if he/she likes arms that stay positioned but move up and down, or arms that move backwards, forward, up and down? Some people like a lot of movement in the chair, whereas some don’t. Seat width is something to consider. Is your boss tall, short or medium height? Refer to your provider for details and options about what is available in your range for your boss’s body type and problem areas as far as ergonomics. Does he have lumbar support issues, or neck pain? All ergonomic issues should be addressed before investing in a chair.

Environment: Every office has different environment. If you are working in a trendy/ young office environment you should go for a fabric or leather color that is bright and upbeat. If you have a very professional atmosphere then sticks to colors like Black, Cream, Beige and Gray.

Specifications & Durability: Today’s modern styles come with various finishes and specifications like mesh, leather, fabric or combo. They come with seat sliders, tilters and more with an option for different caster and bases for carpets and hardwood floors.

Warranty: When buying an expensive chair it would be wise to check the warranty. A quality executive chair usually comes with an extensive long term warranty and includes in office after sales service. Many reputable furniture providers will service your chair onsite or provide you with a loaner if something should go wrong.


Executives usually spend longer time in the offices so it’s advisable to choose something with a good cushion, seat and back. It is wise to have your boss try out some loaner chairs to see which chair is best suited to his needs.