A New Wave of Furniture for Home or Office

The shift to resimercial furnishings— contract-grade, residential-feel—is hard to deny. Even more evidence of the trend could be found last fall at BDNY, where attendees were greeted by Room & Board Business Interiors, a fresh venture from the Minneapolis-based manufacturer. But unlike other “pro” divisions in the market, Room & Board doesn’t stop at warranties or trade discounts: The Business Interiors brand consists of curated, best-selling existing products, including accessories, lighting, and furniture, all with a durability suited for contract use. Pieces in the line have been ANSI/BIFMA-tested and use ACT performance textiles. This winter, the brand also debuted Pren, a new collection produced with the engineered-quartz manufacturer Cambria, an indication that there’s plenty of room for collaboration among American favorites.

Late last year, the Jasper, Indiana, manufacturer National Office Furniture announced the launch of Etc., a new ancillary brand. Banking on trendy silhouettes and finishes, the line is designed to appeal to decision makers looking to keep workplaces in sync with the latest design tastes. Already, Etc. has tables and accessories on offer, as well as furniture ranging from substantial upholstered seats to clean-limbed barstools. As for style, look no further than Amos—a wire-base chair built like an origami butterfly, which could easily slide into a home reading nook—or Siren, a two-level metal table that looks tailor-made for holding übercool magazines in an art gallery. And with a two-week turnaround between order placement and delivery, Etc. promises to appease buyers eager to spruce up their spaces on a tight timeline, too.

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