New Contract Furniture

Multitasking is such an important skill to have. We do it all the time. It’s great in the workplace, but horrible on the roads. I’ve literally seen folks eating, talking on their cell phones, attempting to drive a car, and yelling at those of us who honk when they don’t notice the traffic light has turned green. It’s hard enough for me just to drive in the city, so I leave this kind of multitasking to the real pros.

Now, you can own your own piece of multitasking furniture. That’s right; this furniture performs the functions of a chair, a table, a book shelf, a lounger, and probably some other functions that more creative minds could come up with. Also known as convertible or ‘Transformer’ furniture, pieces like this are becoming ever more popular as our floor space dwindles. They’re wonderful for young adults in small flats, or students who have to share small dorm rooms. Tiny offices would also benefit from the extra space these pieces help to free up. And can you imagine using one of these wild-looking pieces as reception seating in the UK?

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Sometimes, you just get tired of wood and chrome. Well, maybe you don’t, but I do. Cushiony, padded furniture in crazy fabrics and colors is always fun to look at, whether or not you’re brave enough to try and sit on some of the more outlandish designs. I’m amazed at the variety of commercial hotel chairs and tables that are out there – and not always in a good way.

For the more faint of heart and sensitive of bottom, well-cushioned, curvy designs are a sitter’s best friend. And some of them are very attractive, too. Behold the DJ Bond from B-Bitz:

I really like that setup. It’s pretty, bright, cozy, and looks comfortable. You probably don’t need an engineering degree to figure out where to sit on it. And it would look great in someone’s home or business. It reminds me of some of the furnishings at the fondue restaurants around my home, which cater to couples and small groups of friends. I’m not sure what a fondue pot would do to vinyl, so you’d probably want to protect the tabletop if you went that route.

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All great masterpieces need an appropriate backdrop against which their beauty can really be displayed. What if you could set off your gorgeous furniture with a custom wallpaper mural? Think of it: the night sky spanning the walls of your bedroom, or a cozy French country scene in your bistro or lobby. That would really set the mood, and also give guests something to enjoy looking at while they waited. If you have a pet shop, why not try an underwater scene to amuse your patrons? Or a view of the Italian countryside to back your contemporary bistro furniture?

I have just come across a site that lets you order custom murals using your own pictures. You can even test them out online by uploading the images. Then you specify the dimensions of the space you’re working with, and voila! A preview of how your image would look on your walls. Pretty nifty.

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Do you have a traditional Italian restaurant that needs some authentic-looking furniture to really set it apart from the competition? There are lots of beautiful pieces of Tuscan style furniture available online, or in shops near you. Tuscan furniture is well-made, lovely to look at, sturdy, and impressive enough to provide a great backdrop to the warm scenery in a candlelit Italian bistro.

Tuscan furniture is typically made from ornamental wood and hand-worked wrought iron in designs that range from simple to complex. Its rich materials and polished finishes will add a touch of class to any establishment. Many of the dining tables would also look wonderful when ringed by wooden bistro chairs and topped with whimsical iron candle holders. Think quaint and romantic to start, but bistro furniture has become so versatile, you could really go as posh as you wanted without looking too over-the-top. Nothing is too good for your guests, right?

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Traditionally, bistros were small, family-owned establishments situated near a busy street or a beach. It was easy to walk up and grab a quick meal in an informal setting. Wine and classic French foods were served, usually family recipes that had been handed down. The menu was simple, the hosts were familiar, and the atmosphere was friendly and quaint.

Today, even large, expensive restaurants are calling themselves bistros. This is testament to how integrated the term has become in all levels of society.

If you’re thinking of creating a home bistro, or if you want to spruce up your commercial bistro furniture, you can make a traditional choice by selecting mosaic tops for your bistro tables. Mosaic tops are made from bits of glass or ceramic tiles, inlaid into the tabletop in an attractive design. They can be very colorful and fun to look at, but both types requires constant, careful cleaning and maintenance.

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Sometimes you just see a pretty chair and wish you had some place to put it. That’s what happened when I saw the AB Capital line. These chairs are sort of classically modern, if you know what I mean. I also happen to be a sucker for wooden furniture, and the Capital series is made from solid beech wood.

But since I’ve already got a house full of furniture, I will do the noble thing and show these chairs to you, the readers, so you can try them out for yourselves. I think they’d look fetching in a contemporary home that does not want to sacrifice comfort for looks. When I first saw them, I thought of a nice Kobe style Japanese restaurant. They would also do well in a small, indoor bistro.

As you can see, the Capital line is available as both a bar chair with a tapered back, and a backless stool. The chair can be ordered with a chrome hand grip on the back. There’s also a matching wide armchair you can purchase. All items can be ordered in leather upholstery, different colored fabric upholstery, and light beech wood instead of black. Personally, I think the red and black combo is the most eye-catching.

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