 | Don Swank is General Manager of Spring Valley Woodworks, Inc. in Canton, KS. Spring Valley custom builds commercial furnishings for businesses throughout an area of the Midwest of approximately 500 to 700 miles radius of Canton, with the care and precision of its more than 30 year Mennonite tradition. These commercial furnishings include but are not limited to Desks, Credenzas, U-Units, L-Units, U-Groups, Hutches, Files and Workstations, made in a variety of woods including Walnut, Oak, Cherry, Birch, Ash, Mahogany, Poplar, Teak and more. You can visit Spring Valley Woodworks at www.springvalleywood.com. You can contact Don by email don@springvalleywood.com, or call him at Spring Valley Woodworks, 620-345-8330. |
Commercial Furnishings
2013-04-29 13:47:00
Oak office furniture
Q-We are considering several types of furnishings for our new offices, including Oak. How would I go about selecting the best Oak office furniture?
A-Last month I provided some information relative to Oak office furniture insofar as style and design. This month, I will provide a little more information relative to price, versatility and color.
For those looking to save money, or those concerned about the environmental consequences of using solid Oak, veneer products may be a good choice. Be careful when purchasing extremely low-priced veneer products, however, as poor quality veneer habitually buckles and bubbles, creating an uneven and unattractive surface. Also, some products that look like veneer are just vinyl film, not wood veneer at all. For those with environmental concerns, look for veneer products that have a body made of recycled or sustainable materials.
It is important to remember when choosing good Oak office furniture that it may outlast you in the office. An Oak desk or bookcase can be heavy so you may want to incorporate it into an environment that may be more permanent, not moving and reconfiguring constantly. Consider choosing Oak products for furniture that does not require frequent moving such as conference tables or a front desk.
Color may also be an important consideration when choosing Oak office furniture. Veneer offers a wealth of possibilities, from pale and warm golden Oak, to deep finishes like tobacco and Espresso Oak. Most Oak furniture is golden or medium brown in hue. Considering factors like the amount of natural light, floor color, and the color palate of other office furnishings such as rugs or chair cushions can help determine what color of Oak furniture will match well.
In most cases the same attributes that have been listed for Oak would pertain to other species as well.
