Also see Bars & Counters
This is the place where you meet the company representative, the maître d' etc. The first point of contact. The chance for your business to make a great, lasting impression.
There are practical considerations to take into account such as:
- place for a cashier till or monitor
- if using a computer can you position a keyboard for comfortable screen viewing
- cables: do you need holes for these to pass through
- do you need to hide (or overtly expose) the view behind the unit?
- would it be preferred to obscure the legs of the person behind the counter for staff privacy
- for pub bars plan locations of pipes to serve beer pumps
- for refrigeration allow venting of heat
- storage of documents, fliers
- lighting
Finishes & Materials
Many of the materials used in our tables can be incorporated. The underlying structure can be wooden panels, steel or a combination of both. The visible outer surfaces can vary:
Examples
Bars
Copper, brass or zinc tops in addition to traditional materials such as tropical hardwoods- sapele for example.
Reception Desks
See more fit-out examples Here
High pressure laminates such as Formica can be used to give a clean crisp look. A wide range of subtle to vibrant colours, gloss and matte can present the right image for an organisation. When combined with other materials, the possibilities are almost endless. For a business, the reception desk is a great place to orientate a visitor, pointing them in the right direction in an otherwise confusing array of rooms and corridors.
Bars
Metals are a popular choice for bar surfaces. Zinc appears to be most common where this route is taken, although copper is often considered. Lacquering us almost never carried out. Instead it is accepted that marks will occur but then blend to form a characterful patina. Traditional pub bars often have wooden panelling, with modern industrial-rustic designs incorporating more peculiar textures such as old metal corrugated sheets.
Counters
Places for serving and performing transactions don't have to be utilitarian. Each part of a customer experience journey should be great and can have impact. Think about what a person needs at the service point. Are specific features needed such as a place to store trays at a food outlet? Or perhaps a card machine and its associated cables. If you use wireless devices will cowling and partitions block signal?
DDA compliance
Instead of just "ticking a box" for DDA take time to make all of your customers feel happy and appreciated; are there features that could help users with alternative or extra needs? You will often find that the design exercise alone will end up benefitting a wide spectrum of users.