Showrooms
Consultation Table Materials and Finishes for Showrooms
Select materials by where they will be installed, how they are cleaned and what can be repaired when one part wears.
Explore the ideas
Compare the options
- Set the brief
- Mark high-touch, wet and impact-prone surfaces separately before picking finishes.
- Compare
- Ask suppliers for care instructions, repair options and a full sample with exposed edges and joints.
- Before buying
- Price installation, replaceable pieces and long-term maintenance alongside the initial material cost.
Worked example
Imagine a desk used for drawing, video calls and hot drinks, with the front edge already showing wear from daily contact. A replacement finish must be easy to maintain.
Compare samples for glare, cleanability and repair at the exposed edge, not just the top surface. Consider a replaceable worktop or protective mat while keeping the edge comfortable for forearms.
How to test it
Put the sample beside its adjoining materials and test the agreed cleaning method on a spare piece.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Place tables beside relevant displays but outside the main browsing loop.
- Detail
- Provide broad work surfaces, comfortable mixed-height seating, and adjustable light for sample comparison.
- Trade-off
- Private consultation rooms improve focus but reduce casual access.
- Lay out a typical sample set
- Check conversation privacy from nearby displays
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
