Amateur Reupholstery: Couch

By: Adorn Jan 06, 2007

Photo: Subbotina Anna

Earlier this year, I moved across the country, taking with me only what I could fit in my car. I lived a week without an apartment and another week without any furniture.  Then, I bought a bed.  Well, a mattress and box spring.  I wasn't in any rush to buy furniture, especially not furniture that I couldn't fit into my car.  This made me the office charity case.  A coworker gave me a kitchen table and chairs. Then, another coworker found a couch on the side of the road in a nice neighbourhood.  He smelled it and checked for stains, then picked it up and put it in his pickup truck.  That night, he and I carried the couch up the stairs to my apartment.   

Photo: Adorn

 It was a solidly constructed couch.  There were a few cat scratch marks on the sides of the upholstery, but otherwise, it was in decent condition.  I just couldn't shake the idea that bugs or animals had crawled all over the couch while it sat out on the road.  So, I undertook a plan to reupholster it.

I had no experience with reupholstery and very few tools.  I read a few articles online, but they weren't very helpful.  All of the upholstery books at the library were out.  However, I have a bit of a "just do it" attitude when it comes to crafty things, so I jumped right in. 

Office Design and Build-out

If you're considering an office move or refurbish, here's a useful article from the Help Moving Office (USA) website (http://www.helpmovingoffice.com/the-moving-office-process/creating-the-perfect-office-space)

Your Guide to an Inspiring and Effective Office Design & Build-out

The right office design provides you with the opportunity to create a place of business that can maintain and enhance a strong corporate identity. It will enable you to showcase your priorities, values and image to your customers. First impressions really do matter so the initial visual impact of your office design will play a key part.

Furthermore, all companies understand the importance of having a workforce that is effective, motivated and happy – so your new office design also has a major role to play for your staff. A well-designed workplace will play an integral role in motivating, developing and engaging the workforce resulting in improved efficiency and business performance.

For this to be achieved, working with General Contractors (which comprises Office Space Planning, Office Design and Office Build-Out) who understand your company values and appreciate both the aesthetic qualities and functional aspects that you want to include in your new workplace – is essential to a successful office build -out. These General Contractors will take you through each stage of the office design and space planning process; which involves all or some of the following:

Workspace Appraisal

The starting point for any office relocation is to carry out a detailed analysis of both your current and future business objectives and office space requirements. This can then be assessed against your current office space size and configuration and the moving office budget available. The main aim of the Workspace Appraisal is to determine whether you would be better served by relocating to a new office or refurbishing your existing office space.

Office Space Planning

Office space planning is all about achieving the most appropriate and cost effective office space solutions to meet your specific requirements and maximizing the use of space, facilities and equipment. It deals with the fundamentals such as how much office space is available, how many people need to work in the space, what sort of work they will be doing – as well as the practical issues of your meeting rooms, break out, reception, storage, kitchen facilities etc.

Are your employees as productive as you'd like them to be?

Do you own a business? What are some of the space planning challenges you face? Do your employees have adequate space to produce the desired results? How can minor changes in office layout make a significant difference in how you and your staff feel about coming to work? This blog is dedicated to answering your questions and helping you find solutions to these types of dilemmas. Our first post will be up in a few days. Meanwhile, please feel free to let me know if you have a space planning issue I can help you resolve.

Sincerely,

Evelyn Moore-Jones