Changing lifestyles take desks to new levels
Height-adjustable systems provide busy families with flexible workspace
By Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, 11/24/2008 12:00:00 AM
Id: 14330
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Kitchen coordination
HIGH POINT — Instead of crowding around the kitchen table to discuss homework assignments, meetings and soccer practices, a number of today's busy families have found a new gathering spot — the home office.
But to producers of home office furniture, that doesn't necessarily mean a traditional home office that's tucked away in a spare bedroom.
Increasingly, such “offices” are found in the corner of a great room, family room, or even the kitchen — settings that aren't always suitable for a traditional executive desk or computer desk.
That's why several leading producers have developed desks that are 5 to 10 inches taller than traditional desks. Often called counter-height or gathering-height desks, producers say this new generation of desks is trying to meet the needs of active families who don't have the space to devote to a more traditional home office.
“The counter-height desk configurations, paired with informal counter stools, create a more casual environment that works well in these rooms,” said Michael Foster, vice president for case goods merchandising at Broyhill.
Such configurations often include USB ports and charging stations for iPods, laptop computers and cell phones. And at least one producer — Sligh — has included space for a small flat-panel television.
“It's a great family gathering area … and it's also great for people with back problems,” said Hank Long, senior vice president for merchandising and design at Hooker. “You can stand up and work if you like.”
Because they're located in more “public” areas of a home, most tall desks are designed to be used by several family members — thus the multiple storage compartments and numerous charging stations for everyone's personal electronics.
Sligh, in fact, calls its product the Family Communications Center. Introduced in October 2006 at the High Point Market, the unit quickly became a top-seller and received rave reviews from shelter magazines and other design-oriented publications.
Kitchen coordination
Long said Hooker's Smart Works Home Center was a winner at its market debut last month in High Point, while Foster said Broyhill has done well with several counter-height desks that are part of its Office2Home collection.
Foster said his company is trying to capitalize on the consumer's desire to put such products in kitchens, so it has developed four finish options that coordinate with existing kitchen cabinets.
“Smaller counter-height desks can work well in a kitchen setting because the surfaces can be positioned next to existing kitchen countertops,” he said.
Long and others say the ability to stand while working at the desk doesn't just benefit those with back problems — it can prevent them from occurring in the first place. That's one reason Danish manufacturer Jesper Office has been successful with a desk that features a motorized adjustable desk top.
The unit, appropriately named the Sit-Stand Desk, adjusts between 25 inches and 52 inches high.
“In many European countries, office workers are required to stand and work at their desks for part of the day,” said Thomas Kristjansen, product manager at Jesper's U.S. headquarters.
“This (adjustable desk) concept is starting to catch on in the U.S. because of the increased interest in ergonomics.”
