Published: 3 January 2017

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

The reception area of a hospital can be a fairly loaded location. Often it’s the first place visitors and patients alike have a face-to-face interaction with the staff and the environment. It’s also typically the first chance a hospital has to project a healing environment to those who enter the doors. The reception desk is a big part of that environment. It must build a positive impression from the very start, and there are a number of key hospital casework design features you must consider if you’re looking to create that perfect image.

Create a Path: The ideal hospital reception desk will help create a path for those entering the hospital to find their destinations. There are a number of ways hospital casework can do this. Start by integrating the organizational aspects necessary for volunteers to properly do their jobs. You’ll also want to consider the size of the design. The larger the hospital, the larger the number of volunteers working there at any given time. That may mean that you need a far larger reception desk.
Build Comfort: Your volunteers and hospital employees tend to work long shifts without relief, and for them, the desk should be the perfect oasis. It should include the ideal features necessary to ensure they can do their jobs well and in complete comfort. They aren’t the only people to consider, though. You must also take into account those on the other side of the desk. Make certain it’s the right height and offers any necessary added features to put patients and visitors at ease as well.
Design for Privacy: Health privacy regulations abound these days, and a custom hospital desk needs as much privacy as any other space in your hospital, so make certain that you design a desk that offers plenty of privacy for those on both sides. You may want to physically separate part of it for confidential sessions. You may also want to position computer work areas to ensure they cannot be seen by those outside of the reception area.
Future Proof: It’s tough to know what the next wave of hospital design will incorporate, but to any extent possible, work to future-proof your reception desk so it will last well into the next generation. The simple truth is that patients will soon likely be able to swipe a card or use a fingerprint scanner to check in. Relatives may be able to do the same. If you know what’s coming next, integrate the right features now to help make your hospital the trendsetter instead of the follower.

There’s little doubt about it – hospital reception desks aren’t just important, they’re absolutely essential. Contact Carroll Seating Company today and learn more about how we can help you find the right hospital reception desk to meet your needs.

Published: 30 August 2016

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Carroll Seating Company recently finished a beautiful custom millwork job at Round Lake High School in Round Lake, IL. CSC created a wall cap on the stairs that was manufactured by Kohout Woodwork.

This job is an excellent example of how Carroll Seating can excel in customizing. This job may look easy, but it took a lot of field measurements and talent went into making this cap look seamless in the field.

For more information on custom millwork for your school or office, contact Carroll Seating Company today at 847-434-0909.

Published: 19 May 2016

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Images is everything in the world of business today, and whether you have a potential customer walking through the door or a potential employee, you want your environment to look nothing short of amazing, Planning a commercial renovation, though, isn’t quite like planning a home renovation. Instead, far more thought, planning, and help has to go into the process. Fortunately, we can help.

Office Spaces to Libraries

Challenges abound in almost any public space, and minimizing those is a must. After all, staying on time and on budget isn’t really optional. To get the best solution for your company, you need a well-managed, well-executed project that will actually create a more productive space, not detract from your business as it stands today.

Carroll Seating Company excels in commercial remodeling services. We’ll help you from design to completion to ensure the best possible results.

The Carroll Seating Company Difference

From a simple refresh of your current decor to a full transformation, Carroll Seating Company is the premier source for commercial renovations. Since 1954, we’ve been serving companies like yours, working to create some of the best looks in the industry. We incorporate the latest software tools and technology into the planning process to ensure even the smallest details look amazing. You’ll work one-on-one with a project manager to ensure things go as planned. We partner with the highest quality vendors so you get the casework and look you want most.

Our reputation is based on knowledge and reliability, and the skill of our tradesmen is second to none. We’ve worked in many different spaces in the past to help enhance space utilization and capacity, as well as aesthetic appeal. No matter what your final goal, we’re here to help you achieve it.

To learn more about our services, please contact us today.

Published: 11 April 2016

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Choosing the right educational casework is about as complex as selecting the right teaching style for each individual student. Essentially, there are many different possibilities that serve today’s educational needs. While it can be difficult, we hope to narrow it down for you a bit with these tips on choosing the right educational casework for your needs.

Know your audience well before you begin to choose casework. While the offices in the administration wing may need a certain set of requirements and have given decor with which you want them to fit, something very different is going to be true in a science room or in technology lab area. Consider carefully who will benefit from the casework, and build an individual profile. The expectations of the individuals using those spaces truly matter.

Think about materials. While Carroll Seating does offer essentially any material, from plastic to wood veneer, you need to realize that wooden casework is not ideal in some situations, and stainless steel might not be perfect in others. Likewise, a plastic laminate isn’t welcome in all settings either.

Consider flexibility. Education is a continuously changing industry and with it changes the needs of everyone involved. Selecting casework that meets those flexible requirements means making an investment in something that is certain to last in the years to come. The more adjustable you make your casework, the more likely it is to meet both today’s needs and those of your future staff and students. While you may not want to fill every area with flexible casework solutions, it’s going to be ideal in certain settings like the media center and your science laboratory facilities.

Perhaps the best tip anyone could give you about educational casework is that you should always work with the right team before you order or install anything. Sure, this is something you can handle on your own, but you run the risk of making selections that just don’t meet your needs. Carroll Seating has been working with schools and other educational institutions just like yours for the past six decades, and we’re ready for any challenges you have when it comes to complex casework. Contact us today, and get the casework your school deserves.

Published: 5 April 2016

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Managing an office, taking in appointments, and helping any clients is a huge job for any receptionist or front office worker. However, this can be made even more difficult by having bad reception area casework. Does it actually matter that much? Absolutely. Take a look.

The Importance of Good Casework

In a nutshell, reception area casework is the seating area occupied by a receptionist that has many drawers, spaces for books, and a computer keyboard spot. This can be customized for any individual needs.

A reception desk can say a lot about an office. At first glance, people can tell whether the office is well kept and professional or just struggling to stay afloat. It’s also obvious if the owners of an office are not investing enough to even give their receptionist a good working area. All of these factors can go into whether you will accrue new clients.

Don’t overlook the importance of happy employees, too. Comfortable seating means a happy receptionist, and a good choice of casework makes for a beautiful office people want to work in day after day.

The best casework designs echo the other aesthetics in the building, making it look sleek and modern. Depending on your clientele, you may want a certain casework choice. For example, traditional wood paneling may work well in typical settings like law offices, insurance companies, and more, but something like stainless steel may help create the perfect feel in a cutting-edge industry like technology.

There are so many ways reception area casework can beautify your space, but only a professional can advise you well of all the options at your disposal as well as the best one to fit the needs and looks of your space. If you need help designing the casework that will make your reception area gorgeous, don’t hesitate to contact Carroll Seating Company, the golden standard of the seating industry!

Published: 3 March 2016

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Security at a university is of utmost importance these days. Most campuses are continually refining their security features, and ensuring that almost every building on campus is secure is an absolute must. One of the key features is the presence of an officer in residence halls and buildings, and installing security desks at each door can help make that more possible.

Why a Security Desk is Important for Campus Security

With a security desk at each door, officers can often serve as the gatekeeper to a given facility. It automatically becomes their job to monitor who comes and goes into these areas, and gives students and staff a check-in spot in the event of an emergency. Creating a strong presence is half of the battle with security today, and officers who have that presence build an unstoppable rapport with students and staff, creating a far more protected environment.

The Right Features

Simply placing an unused desk at the door, though, won’t solve your problems. A security desk should be the ideal workspace for your officers and include a place for their computer, office supplies, sign in sheets and an area to complete paperwork. It should also have an area where they can view any camera screens for given areas. Having locked drawers for securely storing certain items is also important and it’s a good idea for the desk to be put on casters so it can be moved to different locations. Carroll Seating specializes in creating customized solutions for your work spaces and can provide you with the features needed for all of your security desks.

Size of Your Security Desk

The size of your security desk will depend on the area that you are placing it in. Larger areas would require a larger space ensure they’re easy to see. There are places though that space is at a premium so a smaller security desk will be required. No matter what size you need, we can help.

Learn more about security desk options when you contact us today.

Published: 16 February 2016

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Beautiful casework can mean many things to almost any environment. You get a gorgeous, consistent appearance, functional flexibility, and a design that fits your needs. Casework, though, isn’t limited to today’s biggest offices. Instead, many medical offices and healthcare facilities can benefit just as much from durable casework that is certain to enhance any setting. Carroll Seating Company offers a wide variety of medical casework options that may be perfect for your offices. Take a look.

Enhancing Medical Office Design with Anti-Microbial Surfaces

One worry that many medical offices today have is that they can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other infections, so designing your offices with anti-microbial surfaces can be a nice addition to your office with the added protection that such surfaces can provide. We offer 3 different types of anti-microbial surfaces to choose from, and they’re available in a number of different surfaces including plastic laminate, acrylic, and technical ceramic..

The Benefits of Using Stainless Steel Equipment and Cabinets

Stainless steel is often overlooked since its initial cost can be somewhat higher than other materials. However, the benefits of this material are enormous. Durability is a real factor in some offices, and that’s where stainless steel shines brightly. Stainless steel will last for years in this setting and retain its beauty continuously. Another benefit is that because of its stain and corrosion resistance, it can be an ideal choice for medical offices and other locations that demand cleaner conditions.

Other Types of Equipment and Cabinets

In addition to the veneers like, stainless steel and antimicrobial surfaces, Carroll Seating can also provide wood, wood veneer or painted metal equipment and cabinets. These options are less costly and can also provide a much cozier and less sterilized look than many expect in a medical office.

Electronically Adjustable Workstations

Another option for your medical office can be to add in electronically adjustable workstations for your staff. These workstations will reduce workplace injuries, relieve back pain and also improve the productivity of your employees.

Interested in giving your offices a facelift? Contact us today.

Published: 27 January 2016

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Think about this: your company’s reception area often provides the first impression of your business to your customers or clients. So let us ask you this. Is this space inviting? Is it interesting? And most importantly, is it reflective of your business or brand? If you answered no to any of these questions, it may be time for a reception area overhaul, starting with the furniture.

There are lots of options for reception area furniture, along with a variety of materials and finishes. In terms of furniture types, there are two main categories: modular and custom.

Modular – This is furniture that is prefabricated and ready to install. The pieces are essentially one-size-fits-all, and you simply piece them together to create your desired workspace.
Custom furniture – Custom furniture is designed especially for your space, and according to your needs and specifications. With custom furniture, you get to choose the configuration, the materials, the finishes – literally everything.

With a custom reception area, you can design your furniture to match your existing space, creating a seamless flow from the front entrance to the rest of the space. Customized furniture also gives you the opportunity to let your creativity shine through, creating an inspiring workspace for your employees.

Carroll Seating specializes in creating custom casework for homes, offices, and more. We have extensive experience in working with customers who are redesigned their reception areas, and we know what it takes to maximize functionality in a space. Our quality and craftsmanship is top notch, and we have the experience to back it up. We’ve been in business since 1952, and our skilled team members can assist you every step of the way. Let us help you transform your reception area into a space you can be proud of!

Published: 30 December 2015

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Your employees work hard every single day. What’s one thing you can do to make sure they know how much you appreciate their contribution? Design the perfect break room. The furniture you choose will make a huge difference in the way your break room is perceived, too, so it’s one facet of the design you certainly don’t want to overlook. Here are a few tips that may help.

Go for Physical Relaxation: Investing in workplace comfort can often mean serious increases in productivity and employee engagement. Offer soft, stylish furniture including couches and lounge furniture that encourages physical relaxation while they’re on break. Whether you go with a couch, a lounge style club chair, or something like a love seat, you’re providing a space where employees can rest their minds so they can get back to something more productive much sooner.
Go for Functionality: You want your break room to be as functional as it is relaxing, so go with the right spaces for employees to congregate, have a snack, or even enjoy a meal. Make certain to include some fixed furniture options like countertops for things like a coffee maker and a microwave to ensure employees have everything they need at their fingertips.
Go For Flexibility: You want your break room to serve a number of needs, particularly if it is required for meeting space or something similar. Small bistro tables may make that happen, as may comfortable, portable seating options that allow for a break or a functional meeting.

More offices than ever are moving from that traditional work environment to a slightly more stylish space, and adding break room furniture your employees love can be the perfect first step toward that in your own work environment. Contact us today and we’ll show you how you can make a positive impact on your team with the right break room furniture.

Published: 18 December 2015

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork, Seating Solutions

Design + Function

Just how important is design in your upcoming project? It means absolutely everything to the success of the project, and it’s one of the biggest reasons people contact Carroll Seating Company again and again to ensure they get the right design. Wondering how we can help? Take a look.

Visual Appeal – it’s what drives every designer, and we strive to reach it with every single project we handle. We want your space to look nothing short of amazing. Whether it’s a school library, an arena, or something as extensive as a lab remodel, we can help you ensure your day to day world looks phenomenal to potential employees, students, and customers. We know just how much it matters that people love the space they’re in, and our designs always work to incorporate that wow factor so you can impress anyone who walks through the door.

Functionality – As important as aesthetically pleasing spaces are, they aren’t going to do much for you if they’re not very functional, so along with your concerns about making certain the space you want is visually pleasing, we’ll also work to make sure that you have what you need at your fingertips. From highly functional casework to better layouts, we can help you plan the perfect space to help you increase your efficiency.

Budget Friendly – You want a great space, but your budget probably isn’t unlimited, and at Carroll Seating Company, we appreciate that. We’ll work with your numbers to help find the perfect solutions that still meet your overall financial restrictions.

Don’t just think about design. Make it the central focus of your project. Give us a call today so we can pair you with a project manager who will oversee every aspect of design and make certain you get the perfect space to meet your needs.