2019 Trend Forecast

When it comes to crafting the ultimate office, staying ahead of the trends ensures that your space is designed with longevity and functionality in mind. To help you make sense of what’s to come in the commercial space our research has highlighted the following:

Softer Design - Residential influence is becoming even stronger, furniture and offices are taking on a homely style. Commercial furniture is quickly responding to the trend with the emergence of soft lines, luxe fabrics and cozy colours.

Demand for Experience driven spaces - The demand for social spaces will extend throughout 2019. Facilities that encourage staff to have fun such as table tennis tables, coffee bars, exercise zones and courtyards are highly sought after.

Colours - Coral takes the win for Pantone colour of the year and we expect to see it more along with tones such as blush, khaki, navy, softer blues, yellow and emerald green. Natural and earthy colours will also ring through 2019 with greys, beiges, whites, burnt oranges and tans.

Standing Desks -  They’re here to stay, the industry recognises the importance of health and wellbeing, with the focus on ergonomics still remaining strong.

Advanced Task Chairs - They’re getting better and better, in terms of aesthetics and comfort. Chairs with supreme functionality such as automatic tension control, core equalisers and greater adjustment options will be at the forefront.

Working From Home Arrangements - Calling for employers to ensure that their staff have an adequate set up at home to be the most productive. Do they have the right chair?  Desk? Monitor arms? Technology?

Wire Up - Nowadays employees have higher expectations when it comes to technology so avoid frustrations and ensure that your office is equipped with all the right power accessories. Consider USB charging, laptop holders and more GPO’s.

Pods & Zones - Pods and working zones were rampant at the lastest Orgatec. We expect to see this trickle through with more emphasis on quiet rooms with soft furniture, furniture with acoustic materials and the high back lounge trend to stick around.

The De-cluttering movement - Everyone’s talking about Marie Kondo - the organisational guru, her movement is taking the world by storm. Capture the trend by encouraging staff to be organised, offer sufficient storage, filing systems and online cloud storage.

Plants  - From a small cactus on a desk to lush vertical gardens, integrating nature in the office will still be very much on trend in 2019. Studies have also shown that offices with plants are known to be more productive. Read more about office plants here.

Happy New Year - We Have A Lot In Store For 2019

The team at Krost would like to wish you a Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to tackle 2019.

We have reopened and are ready to assist with all your office furniture needs. Come and visit our Mascot HQ or head onto our online store today for a quick purchase.

We have a huge year ahead, from the upcoming release of our 2019 catalogue to a host of exciting new products and a some exciting new projects we can’t wait to reveal.

We look forward to working closely with you through 2019 and beyond.

Season's Greetings!

Thank you for your support throughout the year. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We're looking forward to 2019, It's our 30th anniversary and we've got lots planned including a host of new products and the release of our 2019 catalogue. 

We will be closed from December 24th and will reopen on January 7th. We hope you have a great break and look forward to hearing from you in the New Year. Until then, eat well and rest up.

5 Ways To Prepare For The Silly Season

As the end of the year draws near and you start to scratch your head about how quickly another year has passed, we’ve put together a bunch of ways to help you prepare yourself for the holidays and the new year:

1. Close Off Your 2018 Tasks: Now’s the time to drill down on your to do list, start on the bigger tasks first and so that you can slowly wind down to the smaller tasks in the final weeks of the year. There is no greater satisfaction that crossing things off your to do list and starting the new year with a fresh slate.

2. Organise Yourself:  Clean your desk,  remove clutter, sort through your computer files and desk drawers to set yourself up  for an organised 2019

3. Take Some Time Out To Unwind: With all the christmas commotion and rush to close tasks don’t forget to take some time out for yourself, book in your end of year holiday, practice relaxation techniques and look after your well being.

4. Set Some Goals: Reflect on the year and its successes and challenges and start planning for 2019, set new goals and strategies to get you excited for the year ahead

5. Create An Exercise Plan - With summer holidays just around the corner, now’s a good time to get your new year's resolution to be fit in motion. A healthy self is a productive self, look after your body and reap the benefits in and out of work,

If you’re looking at investing in office furniture, why not speak to us about how we can help you start 2019 with a fresh new office look and make it your best year ever!  

How To Create The Perfect Ergonomic Set Up

With office workers spending more time at their desk than anywhere else in the workplace it is important that the design and arrangement is suited to the user and the work they perform. By providing the right equipment that is easily adjustable, you reduce the risk of ergonomic-related injury and promote employee health and wellbeing.

Here are a few tips on setting up your workstation correctly:

• An office chair should be chosen based on the ability for a user to interact comfortably with their work environment. Sitting with your knees at a 90 degree angle with your feet flat on the floor or supported by footrest, leaving a gap of 2cm between the back of your knees and the chair and raising or lowering the back of the chair so it provides maximum lower back support ensures the best ergonomic seat is created.

• Your desk should allow room for all necessary equipment to be used comfortably without the need to continuously bend and twist your body. Many workplaces are integrating height adjustable desks to allow more flexibility in sit/standing positions to promote productivity and assist in a healthy ergonomic environment.

• Your keyboard should approximately be at elbow level with your mouse close to maintain a straight, neutral wrist posture. Position both so your arms rest comfortably at your sides or elevating your chair to meet this angle relieves pressure on your wrists and fingers.

• Position the keyboard and mouse directly in front of you and the monitor. The top of the screen should be just below eye level and titled to minimise the glare. Adding monitor arms allows for more flexibility in movement to ensure the correct ergonomic position is established.

Krost Presents Gold Medal Award To Sandy & Peter Geyer at The 2018 IDEA Awards

We were honoured to present Sandy & Peter Geyer, the founders of Geyer Design with the prestigious Gold Medal Award at the 2018 Interior Design Excellence Awards on Friday.

Over the past 40 years Sandy & Peter have made their mark on the A&D industry. The couple noted that their legacy is helping people to realise that interior design isn't just superficial application but rather a a change in the way companies operate - “Design can and does enhance a persons experience. It's everything, it's how we live and how we should live.”

The gold medal is the most prestigious award at the IDEA Awards, and is given in recognition of those practitioners who have made an influential and enduring contribution to Australian design culture over the course of a career.

Congratulations to Sandy and Peter and all of the IDEA nominees. It was a for pleasure for Krost to be the Gold Medal Sponsor of the event.

The IDEA Awards Countdown is On

It’s just a few more days until the highly anticipated Interior Design Excellence Awards 2018.

As the official Gold Medal sponsor we look forward to the awards presentation this Friday where we’ll announce who will take out the prestigious gold medal award!

We 're delighted to support this event and can't wait to find out who will collect the IDEA Gold Medal for 2018.

How to Plan the Perfect Reception Area

A reception area is the first thing a client sees when they walk into a business. On their first visit, it is an excellent opportunity to make a positive impression. With a shift in the traditional corporate environment, knowing your brand and message you want to convey to customers is important to determine which style of reception area is suitable for your workspace.

Here are 3 tips on how to design the perfect reception area:

1. Seating: Depending on the business, picking the right style of waiting chair is important to ensure clients are comfortable. For a more relaxed and welcoming environment, lounges like our Maya paired with a coffee table create a friendly and open atmosphere. For more formal reception areas like medical centers, factors to carefully consider include: quantity, dimensions, chairs for all types of people and materials to suit clients expectations.
   

2. Reception Desk: As the main focal point of your reception area, the counter should resonate with the culture and aesthetic of the business. Investing in a creative design with brand-specific artwork assists in shaping a company's identity. Knowing the practicality of your counter is important in determining what equipment you need to allow for.  If using computers, it may need to be obscured with a raised counter, like our Central which has the option of full or partial sides for more privacy.
   

3. A Welcoming Atmosphere: A reception areas furniture is extremely important, but the guests experience should be seamless in every aspect. Small touches of comfort to incorporate into your waiting area include: offering coffee or refreshments, reading materials to keep clients entertained, granting wifi access or a mounted television if suitable. Small gestures like the above make clients feel welcome and important.

Carefully planning your reception area ensures clients indulge in the ultimate front of house experience. By making sure it is comfortable, spacious, welcoming and aligned to your brand, it will turn a one time visitor into a regular.  

Even More AFRDI Certified Products Now Available

We’re thrilled to share that even more of your favourite products now hold blue and green Australian Furniture Research & Development Institute (AFRDI) certifications.

AFRDI is an organisation that provides standards, testing, product certifications and research for buyers and sellers of furniture based in Australian and New Zealand.

The highly regarded AFRDI tick guarantees that a product meets the criterias of strength, durability, stability, function, flammability, reasonable finish and workmanship.

Here is our full list of our AFRDI Approved products:

• Benchwork Workstations

• Benchwork Desks

• Keywork Workstations

• Keywork Desks

• Vast Workstations

• Miro Chairs

• Miro S Chairs

• Future Chairs

• Space Chairs

• Wing Chairs

• Noma Chairs

• Project Chairs

• Logic Monitor Arms

We pride ourselves on offering only the highest quality products and ensure that all of our products are suitable for commercial use and feature either 3, 5 or 10 years warranty.

Riverwood Library’s Colourful Space Revealed

Using an eclectic palette of colours and range of materials, Riverwood Library’s new space features layers of visual interest at every turn.

Throughout the libraries open layout, parts of the original structure are interjected with new furniture, lighting and mosaic glass panelling creating a fun, contemporary environment.

Cascading along the natural light filled windows, our Gogo and Sofi Ottomans paired with Halo Coffee Tables welcome you as you enter the library.

Using our Cooper, Cali and Clip S chairs, a theme of red and blue is incorporated into every room, transitioning from one space to the next effortlessly.

In the middle of the library, our Keywork Spine desk and Space chairs are used for visitors seeking help and looking for more information. Using a combination of Natural Oak and White finishes, a bold contrast is made with the geometric carpet design.

Our Keywork Tables paired with red Clip S chairs create an energetic burst of collaborative and training areas. Moving upstairs, the Clip S’ are combined with Flip tables for more intimate meeting rooms. The colour scheme is continued with the Keywork workstations and Trak Screen system, for a cohesive look and feel.

Designed by CK Design, Riverwood Library features eye-catching details and bold colours throughout for visual impact. Bringing in new and innovative ideas to the traditional space a modern aesthetic was achieved.

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15 Fundamental Office Etiquette Tips

Office etiquette and professionalism in the workplace are crucial to every company’s success. Here are some essential tips to ensure your workplace remains a productive and pleasurable one:

1. Keep noise and distractions to a minimum - Loud voices and noises easily distract other people in the office, so unless everyone needs to know what you are talking about you should try to reduce your noise output.

2. Be punctual - Be on time to your meetings and if you are going to be late ensure you let people know in advance.

3. Be aware of odours - Eat lunch in the lunchroom/ avoid eating smelly food at your desk.

4. Clean up after yourself - keep your desk tidy and ensure that others don’t have to clean up after you, throw your rubbish away, clean your dishes and don’t let food go off in the fridge.

5. Keep personal phones on silent - and avoid distractions by responding to non urgent personal texts and calls on your lunch break.

6. Respond to emails - Acknowledge colleagues emails in a timely manner, good communication is key to a thriving workplace.

7. Think before hitting reply all - Consider whether everyone in the thread needs to see your response before sending your emails.

8. Use headphones sparingly - Be apart of the team rather than shutting them out, not responding to colleagues because you can’t hear them can be frustrating to others.

9. Don’t block the elevator door - If the elevator is full and others are trying to get out, step out and let them out, then step back in.

10. Be positive - If you are disengaged don’t bring others down with you, refrain from speaking negatively about your work to others.

11.  Don’t use speaker phone - Don’t play your voicemails or have conversations on loudspeaker for the entire office to hear.

12.  Give your undivided attention in meetings - Avoid being distracted by your phone or engaging in conversations with others whilst the main speaker is talking.

13. Share the credit - If you worked on a project with another team member ensure that they are also recognised for their efforts.

14. Present yourself appropriately - Dress for success! Ensure that your attire and personal grooming are appropriate for your workspace.

15. Knock first - Don't barge into an office without first knocking ór asking if you can enter.

3 Ways to Quieten The Workplace

The modern office has an enthusiasm for open workplaces. They are great at fostering collaboration and communication. However, the need for quiet spaces in an office design has increased to cater to all employee needs and wellbeing.

Here are 3 tips on how to create quiet spaces in your office:

1. Unassigned or Enclosed rooms:
   Designing an office with designated quiet spaces allows employees to make phone calls, hold meetings and escape office chatter without distraction. Quiet rooms should be open and uncluttered with minimal furniture to enhance focus and productivity. Integrating glass doors also creates privacy while maintaining visibility.
   

2. Furniture To Define Spaces:
   If structural changes are not an option, using furniture to mimic the feel a of a private office can have the same benefits. Products like high back and side lounges such as the Benj or Hush paired with a small table creates an ancillary area as an alternative to an employee's primary workspace.
   

3. Walls or Dividers
   Creating boundaries using walls or dividers within the open office defines private and focused individual spaces. Freestanding screens such as the Scape or Local screen allow employees to adjust their work setting to suit their needs without disrupting the overall design of the office. Walls and privacy screens maximise the potential of a space, absorb the cacophony and create a quiet havens