March 2017


The expert team at WallGoldfinger - best known for its custom tables - is taking a departure from its normal newsletter format to focus on a topic we discuss a lot throughout sales and design phases and will no doubt help you better define your next project. How do you design the perfect table? We break it down in simple themes and questions to consider in no particular order. (And if you need more after you get done, our custom table planner is a great quick resource.)
1. SIZE

We determine the size of your table by how many people it needs to seat. We calculate at least 30 inches per chair. So if your board has, say, 15 members plus nine members of your executive team who join each meeting. That means you need a table for 24. So how big is that? Well, that depends on the shape of your table. 


2. SHAPE

The shape of your table is determined by personal preference, the size of your room, how many people you need to seat and how you plan to use the table. If you room is square, a round table might make more sense than a rectangular table. Maybe your room has a large monitor at one end. Well, you will want to choose a V-, U- or some sort of open-ended shape so no one is sitting in front of the screen. 



See lots of other shapes on the Custom pages of our website. We arrange our image gallery by shape.
3. TECHNOLOGY NEEDS

Speaking of screens, technology is a major determining factor in the look of your table. Do you want large retractable monitors? Well, then you'll need a full base to store those monitors and their associated technology. Do you need microphones to hear one another or for video conferencing? Do you need power and data? What kind? Where do you want to place it? 



For more images and ideas, check out our Technology page on our website.
4. TECHNOLOGY PLACEMENT

Placement matters. Maybe you have a large boat-shaped, round table or even a large rectangle or elliptical. Putting a power and data box with a hatch lid in the middle of the table doesn't make much sense because you won't be able to reach it. You need to bring your power and boxes out closer to the edge or, better yet, consider apron power or WallGoldfinger's completely hidden under table Covert Glide. What about those big retractable monitors? Do you plan to speak to the person across the table from you? Will you even be able to see him or her? Perhaps you want monitor wells instead or a credenza holding a large screen all can view.


5. MATERIALS

Do you love veneer like we do showing beautiful wood grain and patterning? Or are you following the trend toward white stones and glass? Will those materials work for your use? If you're creating a dining table, will the material you chose hold up to spills? If you're creating a teleconference table, will your glass or polished stone be too reflective? Will you break up the look for your tabletop, such as with a veneer or metal technology inlay band or a glass, stone or faux leather centerfield? 

6. STYLE

Is your office sleek and sophisticated or more traditional? If it is the former, perhaps you want a thin edge, which rules out apron power. Maybe a touch of metal will make your creation shine. Maybe an open base is important, ruling out those retractable monitors. Maybe you like a thin base. But how big are your floor cores for power and data? Will your thin base cover them? 



See other edge options.
7. LEG ROOM

Twenty inches is our standard leg room. Unless you're in the NBA, that's a very comfortable distance from table edge to base. But maybe you want the look of a big cantilever anyway. It's possible with the right engineering, including steel frames and tables that bolt to the floor. If that's your goal, you'll want to consider that in your room construction.

8. HEIGHT

Are you sitting down the board to meet for hours or are you hashing out a quick decision with the team? If it is the latter, perhaps a standing height collaborative table is what you need. Standing meetings tend to move more quickly and getting up and moving about is good for your health. 


Standing height, or collaborative tables, are all the rage. See others.
9. MOBILITY

Does your table need to reconfigure? Does your meeting room serve multiple purposes? If so, perhaps you want tables that easily move to form different shapes or separate into two tables so an operable wall can be used to create two meeting spaces. WallGoldfinger's Summit and Arbor tables are great examples of tables that reconfigure, but other options are also available such as fixed tables with removable end sections.


10. COST

Maybe that calacatta white marble that is all the rage is on your materials list, but, wow, it is adding a lot of cost to your project. Consider a lower-priced alternative such as engineered quartz or porcelain. Or maybe a metal clad base is on your wish list. Consider metallic lacquer. Bases are under the table and hard to see. You could be spending money where it is not going to make an impression.


NEXT STEPS

So that is a lot of questions, but where do you get your answers? Ask your team what they need. You now know the right questions to ask. Ask your facility team about your room size and floor cores, or send us a drawing of your space and we'll help you maximize it. The sky is the limit for custom tables and accompanying furniture, but that doesn't mean any design will work for you. You have a unique identity, style and needs. We'll help you meet those needs with just the right table, and accompanying furniture, for you. Contact us for help getting started. 
ABOUT US
WallGoldfinger produces the world's finest corporate office furniture. From custom boardroom and conference tables, lecterns and credenzas to meticulously-crafted product lines, WallGoldfinger's furniture is designed with state-of-the-art, integrated technology solutions, responsibly sourced and made in America for discriminating designers, furniture dealers and corporate clients.
Stay Connected
802.483.4200  |  info@wallgoldfinger.com  |   www.wallgoldfinger.com