Pretty and Productive: Design Tips for Boring Office Spaces

As an industrial interior designer, I get asked a lot by people who want to make their work spaces look more appealing than the usual white and gray walls that they’re stuck with. While I don’t think offices will allow their employees to paint their walls bright red, there are little details that can be added to the typically boring cubicle or corner that people call their workspace.

Choose colorful desk decorations

This tip is not just for the ladies. Even guys can feel the break in monotony with an electric blue clock or a bright orange pen holder. For me, the key to breaking the spell of boredom with a good color scheme. Prints are also a good way to bring life to a desk or a wall. But for all my friends out there who would like to stick with the industrial gray-white-black color scheme, a lot could be done with those three hues too. Perhaps using monochromatic or metallic desk accessories could make your space stand out.

Image source: Lifehacker.com

Adorn the walls

Putting up a poster or even a small picture of the things you love can change the ambiance of your workspace. To be safe on the side, try pinning all your posters and other items artfully onto a corkboard. When you’re stuck finishing financial reports, it’s good to have some motivation. Being creative with wall notes and decors could also be a good way to boost creativity.

Image source: Buzzfeed.com

These are very basic tips to spruce up an office space. Maybe next time, I’ll tell you more design secrets that can help make your office less uninteresting.

Hi! I’m Scott Jay Abraham. I spend most of my time designing the interiors of homes and offices, but I also manage to secure enough opportunities to travel to places that most people don’t know about. Let’s be friends on Twitter so we can talk travel, sports, and pets.

Workplace Chic: Office Designs to Boost Productivity

Gone are the days when offices look like offices. The dreary, clinical setting has been proven to hinder productivity and concentration rather than foster creativity and efficiency. So, how do you transform your office to boost employee productivity? Here are a few suggestions:

Let employees design their space

Workers tend to work better in familiar spaces. Allowing them to personalize their work stations by adding a picture or two of their families and loved ones or any other trinkets they cherish may help them enjoy their work more. This can lead to better output and increased job satisfaction. 

Image source: infochair.blogspot.com

Add color and textures

Colors and textures can brighten up any space. Certain colors also induce emotions. Meanwhile, color psychology could also affect personnel and determine the mood of the workplace. 

Lighting is important

Natural light is still the best kind of light and according to studies, exposure to it can reduce eye fatigue and promote productivity in the workplace. Artificial lighting can be harsh, so it is a good idea to let natural light into your office by adding more windows to the office area. 

Image source: designcurial.com

Provide mixed spaces

Wide and open areas have been proven distracting in a workplace setup. But providing communal areas where employees can mingle and share ideas with each other is something to consider. Closed meeting rooms are still appropriate, though, for serious business discussions.

Hi, I’m Scott Jay Abraham and I’m an interior designer and travel buff. Visit my blog for design inspirations and travel tips.

Keeping Their Heads in the Game: The Golden State Warriors Making History in NBA

Image source: bleacherreport.net

People thought The Golden State Warriors were at risk of losing their first game this season in NBA when they faced-off with the San Antonio Spurs. When the two teams met for the first time in the regular season, the then “rookie” team Golden State Warriors beat the Spurs by 30 points, ending the game at 90-120.

Image source: nba.com

The last game did not live up to the hype. While the Spurs played well, the Warriors played a notch higher. Curry was great on defense, and was a sharp shooter as well. Fans thought it was because of Duncan’s absence due to a knee injury, but the Warriors did not need to explain a lot about their win because their stats say a lot about how good they played the game.

Just like the Warriors, the Spurs were also undefeated (that is, before the GSW beat them for the first time this season), and won 33 straight games in San Antonio. They have beaten giant teams including the Celtics and the Hawks. Sadly for Spurs fans, the Golden State Warriors were as good as their team—or even better.

Can the Spurs get their crown back? It is hard to say for now, but the Golden State Warriors are showing solid performance—one that is for the books. Truly, the Warriors are making NBA history.

Know more about the Golden State Warriors and other interesting sports facts when you visit this Scott Jay Abraham blog

Decorating an Industrial Design Kitchen: Tips and Tricks

Industrial interior design is all about clean, simple lines, neutral colors, and the use of wood and metal to create an unfinished look to a home.

If your kitchen has exposed structural elements such as beams and ductwork, and unfinished walls, half your job is already done. Without these elements, you can still recreate the look of industrial design in your kitchen by selecting the right kind of home accents, appliances, and furnishing.  

Lighting and fixtures

Industrial design uses metal in cold colors: Think steel and iron, not gold or brass. Choose retro-inspired lighting and smooth steel fixture bodies in modern designs to match your modern industrial kitchen, or aged wood and metal in rustic patinas if you prefer a slightly warmer, more rustic look. Oxidized steel cage ceiling lamps lend a utilitarian air to your kitchen while square bronze wall lamps add light to dark corners.  
 

Image source: houzz.com

Flooring

Concrete floors, polished to a high sheen, are the norm in industrial design. Other great flooring options for industrial kitchens are timber, preferably aged, and stone.

 Counters and counter islands

For counter-tops, choose those made from stainless steel, polished concrete, or wood. Avoid matte or rough materials for counter-tops. While matte ones look nice, they stain more easily.

A burgeoning trend is mobile counter islands. No longer just for restaurant kitchens, wheeled counter islands can be moved to make space when necessary and, depending on their style, can add to a kitchen's industrial look or feel.

Appliances

Stainless steel and paneled appliances do double duty as kitchen equipment and decorative accents.

When decorating an industrial design kitchen, remember that less is more. Too many colors, shapes, and textures can make an industrial design kitchen lose its aesthetic edge.

Hello there, I'm Scott Jay Abraham, a California-based interior designer specializing in industrial design. For related articles, please subscribe to my blog.

The Future Of Interior Design Is In Versatile Furniture

I have always said that design is a reflection of the sensibilities of the society at the moment. Enthusiasts of the industry will see how each era, be it in fashion, architecture, or infrastructure was heavily influenced by what society dictated to be proper at the time. That said, I want to emphasize the growing popularity of versatile furniture, and why I feel that the future of interior design lies in these pieces. 

Image source: assets.coolhunting.com

Today, we are witnessing a rapid growth of technology and business. There are so many startups, so much software, and all of these things emphasize the need for a "now, now, now" kind of thinking. Office and home spaces reflect this by being relatively smaller – although sleeker. This is to accommodate the influx of people moving to the cities. Real estate managers have shifted their focus on building assets vertically instead of laterally. This leaves homeowners and employees with a space that needs to be maximized to its fullest. Thus, versatile furniture is such an amazing invention. 

Whereas our grandparents bought pieces of furniture with only one purpose in mind (e.g. this couch is meant to be a couch, and we can sit or sleep on it), many furniture makers have now developed pieces that have a variety of functions. It is not unusual for a sofa to now be a storage space or be converted into a bed. Versatile furniture, as the name suggests, optimizes space because of its versatility. 

This is why I believe the future of design would be based on these types of furniture. Interior designers cannot expect homeowners to spend so much on typical pieces that would take up too much space in their homes. Furniture that can serve several functions is not only practical but necessary.

I am Scott Jay Abraham, and I work as an independent interior designer. Follow me on Twitter for more design talk.

Wood And Metal: The Twin Elements of an “Industrial” Home

Their unconventional charm, authenticity, and originality have made industrial interiors among the most popular home design trends in the last few years. Converting simple buildings into unpretentious but smart lofts is increasingly the norm for modern home renovations. Why not? The distinct style is revolutionary. Industrial interior design is expected to gain even bigger popularity in the decades to come. 

Image source: pufikhomes.com

Owing to the style’s heavy reliance on metal and wood, earth tones and neutrals have been the popular palettes. Exposed pipes and ducts, wooden tables, metal chairs, stainless steel counters—these are all characteristics of a legitimate industrial home. 

Some residences display machined hood, custom stainless cabinetry, wooden fixtures, and exposed brick walls, which together create the feel of a commercial kitchen. Apart from the rugged aesthetics, the design is also very functional. 

Image source: pufikhomes.com

Industrial design enthusiasts often seek out a metallic feel through the use of colors such as gray and silver. Weathered gray walls enhance the steely look, which adds a unique charisma in the room. The use of wood in most industrial homes, meanwhile, neutralizes the strong visual properties of metallic elements. 

My name is Scott Jay Abraham, an industrial interior designer from San Francisco, California. For more insights on how to make your space even more stunning, follow me on Twitter.

Fight the Fido flab and then some: Fitness tips for dogs (and their masters)

So Shadow and I are packing on the pounds as of late. This may become a problem later, so it's for the best that we do something about it now.

It should come to no surprise to anyone that our animal friends too can become overweight and be susceptible to health problems much like we do when we let ourselves go. This is particularly jarring for dogs as they are, without a doubt, some of the most active creatures on earth. If your dog is packing on the pounds, then it might be high time to ramp up your walking routine or in.

Image source: dogtime.com

Dogs are working creatures, first domesticated by people to hunt and gather alongside them. Many dogs were bred specifically as working animals, and the life of a pampered playmate usually goes against this. In addition to making them fat, this sedentary lifestyle has caused many of them no end to mental frustration as their pent-up instincts need to be satisfied in some way. If you've ever had a misbehaving dog, this may be one of the reasons why.

Playtime is one of the best exercises for dogs as it lets them vent their instincts in non-destructive ways. And I'm not just talking about the kind of play dogs do by themselves when you leave them with their favorite toys. Regularly playing with your pooch not only lets your dog blow off steam, but it also reinforces the bond between master and companion and is an excellent exercise in its own right for both.

Image source: instructables.com

Seek a vet's opinion on what activities you and your dog can do before planning a play schedule. Too much rigorous play and exercise can be bad for some breeds. Here's a quick guide from the ASPCA for more information.

Industrial interior planner and dog lover Scott Jay Abraham here. Catch more updates from me and my canine pal Shadow on Twitter.