Cast Contweet

 All hail  Twitter - Lord of Socialnetworkingdom, a nice big lump of a reception desk treated with contrasting finishes ,designed with guts. Honed concrete tops including the boardroom table(t) manufactured by Concrete Works who are also developers of processes and products, not just crafty applicators. The concrete mix is 40% fly ash to 100% recycled aggregates as stated in the designer Sara Morishige Williams' website. Also seen at Freshnessmag is this headquarters of the big 'T' in San Francisco. Look out for the bird motif apparently inspired by a group crows suddenly taking flight.

'Ohana Values

Maui’s venerable Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Bay Spa resort on the island’s west side has recently gone through a major renovation and rethink style wise. Walk into the pale, spare new spa – open to the gorgeous outside and you sense the changes. Designer Jonathan Staub of Philpotts Interiors has given the spaces a fresh, modern, yet luxe feeling. It begins with the curved reception desk made of wood and smooth coral with edges left raw. Flanked by oversized contemporary art in soothing hues, the space shelters while letting the visitor connect with the tropical environment beyond. “The materials were chosen as a reminder of the living culture that still exists here,” says Staub.

Story Credit: Kaui Philpotts and Roberto Tiscareno
Photo Credit: David Franzen

Beneath The Surface

From the HI-MACS portfolio - a Berlin 'reception desk for a doctors surgery plays with organic design and linear shape' utilising  CNC technology to form this strong graphic work in various colours from HI-MACS solid surface  palate. Design by Nathalie Alonso & Soner Pirasa and production by Kiebitzberg Group , Germany.

Unicode,Trifoliate,Chevron

We were going to start this posting by singing the praises of HI-MACS with a series , starting with this one, and we will, so a HI-Five to them, but but after discovering this gem instead we now bow down to the design talents of the German based designer Yasmine Mahmoudieh. She has turned to solid surfaces as a material to produce this subtle magical sparkle of a snowflake motif forming this reception desk in the Hotel Nevai, Verbier, Switzerland. Fabricator: Innenausbau Bachhuber, Germany, Material: HI-MACS®, Arctic White.

Between the trees

We managed to find a reception desk to post following our visit to 100% Design, London - via the brochure of  the friendly people at Piegatto Furniture. This Guatemalan company of architects and designers produce elegant and stylish structures in Guatemalan plywood whether it is an exterior screen for a house or a cantilevered dining chair ( very comfortable too as we tried it !).The finish is matt polyurethane for exterior and cellulose coating, and finishes in graphite, wenge, oak, gray, milky white and natural. Thanks to Alejandro Estrada and Sandra de Estrada, we look forward to seeing more of their work.

Fahrenheit 451

While sifting through the virtual image library we stumbled upon this book worms feast via Design Fetish , a blog by Yasmine Zalek, a designer based in Beirut.  This fortification of books is in Delft Central Library and can also be seen on Ellen Forsyth's flickr image bank....and a world without reception desks ? dystopian indeed!

Mr Tom Narrow

 Top pic : Reception desk in European oak veneer with corian desk/counter top, and veneered columns concealing steel work.By Whiteleaf Design Ltd - Design, manufacture and installation Aug 2010 in Northern England.

Bottom pic: 'Double-u' barrow seat - concept and design by Neil Whiteleaf  ,  deconstruction and re fabrication  of 2 Haemmerlin wheel barrows and paint by Martin Bulled - Aug 2010  in South Western England. Fabric - Kvadrat 'Sudden'.

Wood for the trees

We have just received our regular Woodland Trust mag here in Blighty so we feel it appropriate to dedicate this posting to them.
Reception desk world has learnt one thing and that is USA designers are not shy of using timber au naturel in contemporary interiors. Here it is used in a way that is not competing with the architecture even as furniture, a practical focal point and not a hoarding . Design by the New York studio of architects Studios Architecture for advertising agency Grey Group

I didn't lose myself in the crowd

This truly crafted work was made by David Emery and designed in conjunction with Design Inc. An individualistic free form 360 degree work of art with what appears to be an intriguing entrance gate to cocoon the the receptionist into. The top pick is thanks to the very busy interiors blog Design files, and the other is by the architectural photographer Dianna Snape ( check out her website esp. the interior shots) for one of the architects of the CH2 building in Melbourne- Design Inc., claimed to be the greenest and healthiest building in Australia ! Note the mechanical timber shutters.  

Echoes 23:31

Reception desk world is not going to try to explain Frank Havermans installation Ontvangstkamer/Postkamer located in Zin north of Eindhoven. We are just going to allow it to speak for itself as inspiration for interior arttexture , avoiding the static, allowing a bleed from one space to another and ultimately leading to the fun in functional. Rene de Wit released the shutter and Karin released the image.Did you buy the book ?

Tactile Stakeholder

When a dignified, old escrow company says they need to refresh their offices, the designer needs to proceed with caution. In this case, Marion Philpotts Miller of Philpotts Interiors needed to accomplish this with both care and a limited budget. The newly designed wood reception desk, unembellished, solid and contemporary, continues the quiet, earthy, monotones of the rest of the spaces. Inexpensive solutions such as dynamic painted walls, chrome and leather seating, and simply mounted bamboo shafts, liven the space while maintaining its essential reserve. 

Story: Kaui Philpotts and Roberto Tiscareno

Photo credit: David Livingston

Because we can

What no mitred corners?, dove tail joints ? and yes...spears! The Tiki themed office with a funky functional bamboo reception desk from 'Because We Can' - the husband and wife team of Jeffrey McGrew and Jillian Northup. A creative playful power house that we at Reception desk World consider to be uniquely USA. Lovable Designs - Sustainable Materials - Water-Based Non-Toxic Finishes - Made in Oakland, California - Non-Sweatshop Labour. Thanks to founder and Architect J. McG.

Live Like You Mean It

This reception desk was designed for the North American Headquarters of the long established designers and manufacturers , Parnian Furniture, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The individual design of the  furniture displays their wide capabilities, such as the inlay work and a deep lacquered finish that you rarely see outside Italy. Nice details like the concealed plinth  lighting trough prove that this piece isn't just for show.First viewed @ Popular Woodworking.

Hey Boy Hey Girl

Sterling Surfaces fabricated this DJ booth complete with LED lights pulsing away in sync with the music.  Using Opal from the Lucent series, illuminated by multicolor LED light strands, the DJ booth was apparently a hit at the party. Before it all goes 'Pete Tong' we mustn't forget four pairs of creative jeans @ Keane Creative who designed this slammin piece. The Tempe brand agency who 'create experiences,tell stories and build personalities and launch ideas', SEE the Youtube clip of it in action. 

Will it, won't it

Concept development for glass counter top supported on brackets clamped to glass upstand. Images and concept by  Whiteleaf Design Ltd. Top image brackets similar to Shop Kit product and the bottom image is based on utilisation of Architectural glazing fixings.

Green Phase

A.M.O.S Design are pushing the boundaries of solid surface manufacturing again with this original reception desk for  a further part of the huge Masaryk University Campus project in the Czech Republic. The MU building in Brno is almost becoming a vast showroom of world class solid surface reception desk design and craftsmanship. See previous posting for more. Thanks to Karel Riha for the images.