Author: Eyal Salpeter

New York Hospitals Face Extreme Conditions

Space Plus Blog

It’s no surprise that the city of New York would be one of the most affected by this crisis, and would suffer the most severe damage from the general design of New York City and the sheer amount of citizens living in a 2.3-mile wide territory. The inevitability of this catastrophic disaster was so abstract that for many, our largest fears surrounding this situation in New York have now been realized. With the exhaustive conditions of overcrowded hospitals and a current death toll of around 2,000 people, New York is by far the most severely hit state by Coronavirus.

Offices

Because these hospitals are so overcrowded, reports and imagery of patient living conditions within the city hospitals are confounding. Images of patient-lined hallways and hospital beds scattered throughout empty floor space in medical centers have many of us wondering what solutions may exist. Unable to enjoy the comforts and privacy of a hospital room, most patients are currently placed wherever there is room available. With the number of cases rising every day, news of nurses and doctors coming to help from neighboring states gives some hope in these dire moments.

Creating a healthy hospitalized environment for patients, front-line care workers, families and communities has become our top priority at Space Plus. Within the context of the all-encompassing coronavirus outbreak, we’re now offering our Wellness Walls to accommodate the increased needs for time-sensitive medical facilities, with minimal disruption and no major construction.

office wall partitions

Our Wellness Walls are essentially glass wall partitions that hospitals can install and integrate into the hospital floor plan to create spatial separation and the confinement of patients being treated. These act as small-scale care rooms that can be deployed almost anywhere you have available space. Below is a comprehensive list of all of the potential uses and situations where our Wellness Walls could be deployed.

Situational waiting rooms
Infection control prevention
Mitigation Isolation System
Protection of Staff
Customizable and Convertable (can adjust depending on the number of sick vs. healthy patients)
Exam rooms
Triage rooms
Helps Increase Patient Flow and Available Rooms
Isolation rooms (positive and negative pressure)
Diagnostic labs
Easy to Clean
Doctors and Nurses can write on the glass walls (great for indicating arrival times and numbers, as well as labeling immediate attention patients, etc. Can be erased easily)
Administration spaces
Glass is Impermeable to Infectious Virus
Sliding pass-through window great for medications and paperwork
Perfect for testing and lab stations
Interior construction for temporary facilities
Can be installed in unused administration spaces that could be transitioned into overflow areas
Existing lower acuity units that could transition to high acuity units

sliding door in a medical office space

With the integration of glass partitions and wall dividers, hospitals may be able to stabilize and care for all of the incoming patients in need. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo approximates that we have not yet hit the “Apex” of this Virus and that by the end of April we will have reached the high point of the pandemic in New York, with a hopeful drop-off and decline to ensue thereafter. This indicates that the time for action is now and that we are currently in a race against the disease spreading further. Spatial separation is the most crucial element in this process to safeguard our citizens against this deadly virus.

Make your wellness facility as safe as possible for everyone involved. Stop the spread of COVID 19 within hospitals by integrating glass wall partitions and increased patient separation. Visit Space Plus, A Division of the Sliding Door Company online to view our online catalog, and Get a quote from one of our professionals today.

Bringing The Outside In During COVID-19

Space Plus Blog

With the recently mandated closures of most businesses across the globe, many are left without classrooms to teach in, restaurants to dine in, gyms to workout at, and offices to work from. The self-isolationism of the Coronavirus pandemic is a side effect that has left our economy in shambles and has thoroughly altered everyone’s daily routines and ability to work. Even for those lucky enough to work on computers or continue making artwork form home, sometimes the unavoidable distractions of homelife (especially for those with restless children) is enough to stifle creativity and concentration.

Without access to a quiet, secluded office sanctuary to work from, most freelancers are (understandably) having a very difficult time maintaining productivity. Amounting less billable hours while working twice as long can often mean working ten or twelve hours a day, while only billing for six or eight. For others, the inconvenience of not having a gym to go to or a beach to access has resulted in lethargy, loss of muscle, weight gains, psychological distress, and overall physical stress for those who rely on gyms and the outdoors to maintain positive health. So, if you’re among those affected by the isolating shelter-in place mandates, you’re not alone. We’ve come up with a few healthy and sustainable solutions to integrate into your home and infuse into your lifestyle to ensure you make the most of your days during this all-encompassing crisis.

Bring Your Office Home

Within the past few weeks, once corona virus cases reached uncomfortable numbers across the States, almost all office buildings were temporarily closed, forcing most workers to either lose out on wages or attempt the tricky task of working from home. Computer work is not easy- regardless of profession, it can be exceptionally difficult to focus on a screen for eight or so hours a day, not taking into account the mental impact experienced during these scary times. Now add in the comforts of home, the many enticing distractions, the dog needing a good walk, and the children or roommates that want your attention. Considering all of the interferences, its a wonder how people get any work done from home. If you’re looking for a way to create a bit of spacial distinction in your home during the next month or so, consider installing glass wall partitions as a way to craft a temporary office enclosure. These wall partitions make for fantastic home offices in any house, no matter the size. With a plethora of customizable options, varying glass opacities, and accessories choices, you can design the perfect office that not only works for you but also integrates flawlessly into your existing home. With no major construction needed, these glass walls are easy to set up and take down in a matter of hours. Perfect for the current and unknown state of affairs, these office room dividers can be moved or dissembled depending on these extenuating circumstances.

The Ultimate Home Gym

Many of us are already starting to feel unhealthy during this global pandemic. With government-mandated quarantine efforts and strict home isolation mandates, it has become increasingly more difficult to retain a healthy lifestyle, including an adequate amount of sun exposure, fresh air, physical exercise, and mindful eating habits. Basically any sense of day to day normalcy went out the door when we were asked to stay at home for the majority of our waking hours. For most, access to gyms, hiking trails, yoga studios, and other such physical outlets is an integral part of life, one that helps create balance, reduce stress, improve mental health, and of course, maintain our physical well-being. A lot of people don’t have the much-needed privacy apart from their families or friends to enjoy a solid workout, stretch, or have a yoga session. Being unable to enjoy the many benefits of a physical routine is the last thing we need during this time. We should be utilizing these healthy tools to help us cope mentally, to aid in our stress management, and to help make us more resilient to illness. So, we’ve come up with a few helpful ways to integrate that special space into any home, regardless of size.

Replace your bedroom closets with sliding glass mirror doors to create a workout room in your own bedroom, when you don’t have extra floor space within your house.
Buy a set of weights, lay out your yoga mat, invest in a door hung pull up bar, stretch bands, jump ropes, and any other simple yet effective exercise equipment you may need
Install a sliding door room divider into your room or shared home space to craft a totally separate workout zone within your house.
Turn a part of your backyard into a circuit zone, or an obstacle course of sorts. This could double as an outlet for young ones to release some pent up energy while you get in a good workout, all while enjoying some fresh air together!

wall surround in an office space

By integrating some of these cost-effective, quick and breezy solutions into your home, you can finally enjoy the much-needed space and tranquility you deserve during these unprecedented times. To craft your ideal workspace, home gym, or hobby room from the comfort of your home, simply visit Space Plus, A Division of the Sliding Door Company for ideas and inspiration. Get a quote from one of our professionals to begin the transformation today.

Ingredients For A Productive Work Day

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With most of us transitioning our work from the office to our homes the next couple weeks or even months, many have already found a challenge in simply getting a solid eight-hour workday in amongst the chaos and confusion of our current moment. Especially for those who live with other family members or children or other roommates, it can be hard to find a healthy work-life balance that feels well rounded, yet also productive. Many are currently struggling with working more hours, for less billable time. Fewer hours are being clocked, yet it feels like the entire day is taken up with work. Many are experiencing a diminished capacity right now to concentrate and be productive and inventive, and it has significantly affected our daily schedules.

Because we’re not used to creating our own schedule, there’s a lot of transitional and spillover time throughout our day, yet we’re not necessarily using it wisely. It can be difficult to find the time to simply go on a walk or get in much-needed exercise for the day amid trying to complete as much work as possible. One of the biggest problems that people are facing right now is finding a quiet and productive workspace in which they can settle into and cultivate work. The secret to actually creating a productive workday from home lies in the individual developing a well-rounded health-centered lifestyle. This means starting early, getting enough sleep, securing the time to exercise, having a good work environment and taking breaks when you need them. Below are a few ways to effectively create balance in your workday even through these unprecedented times.

Start Early

One of the best ways to get a head start on the workday is to set a schedule much like you would set during your normal routine as if you were going to the office. Wake up early, make your coffee, settle into the morning without having to rush and scramble to sit down at the computer right when you need to. Use an hour or two in the morning when everyone else is asleep to do the things that will help make you feel your best and to be able to sustain energy throughout the day. Stretch, take the dog for a walk, wash your face, have a coffee, eat some food and psych yourself up for the ensuing hours of concentration ahead. By starting early you can end your day before 5 or 6 and still have the evening to relax, spend time with family, play games or go on a run. This balance is super important and it’s also crucial to get into bed before it’s too late so that you’re getting enough sleep.

Physical Exercise

During stressful times, the first thing that tends to go is our willingness to exercise and respect for our physical being. While understandable, this is perhaps the most important facet keeping us all together and maintaining a balanced lifestyle that we need more than ever right now. It can be difficult to set aside time during the workday even under normal circumstances to get to the gym or go on a run from your house. However, at this moment it’s increasingly more important to give yourself that time to feel good in your body to engage in some heavy breathing and to cut out a solid chunk of time that is just for yourself. When we commit to a work day we are giving up our time to our company and our bosses and a lot of the time it can feel like it’s not our time. So, during your workday, it is key to make sure that you are getting outside to go for a walk or run and knowing that the time is reserved solely for you. It’s also a really great time to mentally reset and clear the mind. Returning to work after a healthy walk is sometimes the best way to feel productive and fresh.

Craft A Work Sanctuary

Although it can be difficult to imagine an office within your bustling home environment, it will make all the difference if you can create a safe and quiet place to lean into your work. Start by designing your temporary office layout. Perhaps you’re one of the lucky ones who has a spare guest bedroom you can turn into a home office. Though if it’s a living room that you have available, consider ordering glass wall partitions to create an at-home cubicle with office room dividers or room divider with doors that will give you enough spatial separation from the rest of the house (and family) to be able to detach and concentrate. Another solution is installing sliding glass doors, that can be either left open for when you’re not working or closed and even locked for those grueling hours when you really need to shut out the outside world. Filling your home office with things that spark joy will also help make you feel at home in your work sanctuary. Bring some plants into your home office to give yourself some fresh air and relaxing greenery. Natural light will also really help bring life into the area, so another benefit of having a glass sliding door room divider is that they allow for the flow of natural light. Consider bringing a diffuser into your space to again freshen up the atmosphere and help you breathe easy.

glass surround in an office space

Breaks and Breath

It’s important to give yourself the gift of rest. Take breaks throughout your work day when needed, the most important thing during this time is to listen to your body and your higher self and make sure that your needs are being met. Don’t try to push through even while uncomfortable as it will only backfire down the road. Creating a healthy work/life balance is key in getting through these troubling times. Remember to breathe throughout your day. Maintaining inner chi is heavily dependent on your willingness to breathe deeply and consciously.

Draw upon more tips and inspiration by visiting the Space Plus online and get started creating your ideal home office today! Make the move towards crafting a desirable workspace, and visit Space Plus, A Division of the Sliding Door Company. Get a quote from one of our professionals to begin the transformation.

Tips on How to Flourish During The Workday

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We’ve all been there; tired, stressed, overworked and mentally exhausted during your workday. You glance over at the clock and your fears were correct, it’s not even close to 5 o’clock and you are far from finishing your daily tasks. Why is it you find yourself so spent day after day at the office? Perhaps it’s easily attributed to poor quality of sleep. Or maybe it’s because you aren’t living your work life as authentically and ambitiously as you could. Well, fear not, for we come bearing positive news. There are a number of healthy lifestyle choices, mental exercises and flourishes you can employ into your 9-5 to keep you jazzed, increase your quality of life, and make some serious headway on those all-consuming deadlines you’ve been running from. Read on for the secrets to flourishing during your (once dreaded) workday.

Practice intentional breathing

While this may sound all too new-age for you, just consider how completely important the act of breathing is. The effect that breath has on our all-around mental and physical health is unparalleled. Though, despite the voluminous amount of findings that prove how impactful conscious breathing is on our lives, many of us tend to cast this very simple practice to the side. While at work, try to integrate mindful breathing into each hour. Start with twenty deep breaths every top of the hour. This will only take you the better half of a minute, yet the effects will generate so much lastly positivity on your whole being. Then, once you master that, increase the amount of deep breathing to 30 breaths, then forty, and so on until you reach five full minutes of deep, intentional breathing per hour. Not convinced? Try it at least twice before deciding it’s not for you.

2. Build awesome relationships with your coworkers- and your boss!

Many employees report that a big cause for unhappiness during the workday is caused by a feeling of separateness amongst their coworkers or floormates. See if you can change this lack of closeness and human connection by asking one of your team members to have lunch with you a few days a week. Just having thirty minutes to talk with and learn about someone else’s life will significantly reduce feelings of separation. You may come to find you’re not alone in these feelings of solitude.

3. Get outta that chair!

This one is super important. As humans, we were not physically (or mentally) designed to sit in a chair for eight-plus hours a day. Make a concerted effort to get up, walk around, stretch, and move your body a few minutes every hour or so. This act will get your blood pumping and flowing properly again, which will also flow to your brain and as a byproduct, increase your mental capabilities exponentially.

4. Bring the gym to you

If you don’t have a gym that you frequent after your workday, and you can’t find the time during your lunch break to get up and be active, considering bringing the gym t you. Bring weights, a yoga mat, and even an exercise ball to the office if space allows. Especially if you enjoy your own office space, why wouldn’t you want to get up and enjoy some light exercise every few hours to maintain physical health and mental wellbeing? Yoga can be the answer to stagnant blood flow, stress, work-induced anxiety, and being overwhelmed. Yoga also forces you to breathe deeply, which will check #1 off your list.

5. What’s fueling you?

It’s so important to carefully consider what you are consuming throughout your workday. While there are so many opportunities for us to make unhealthy dietary choices at work, this is where mental strength comes into play. Physicians strongly recommend packing lunch in the morning to bring to work with you. Not only with a homemade meal be a lot healthier, but it’s typically a lot cheaper and environmentally sound than ordering takeout or Grubhub every day. Try to avoid too much boredom snacking and sugary coffee drinks, as these will simply turn into stored fat as your body sits for hours and hours without being able to burn it.

6. Create an office oasis

Crafting a serene surrounding office environment will seriously brighten your daily work experience. Consider bringing in low light houseplants, art for the walls, personal photographs and knick-knacks to personalize your space. Ask management about installing a glass office door so that you don’t feel so boxed in and closed off from the outside world. Often times, office partitions aren’t very well-considered, and therefore they can tend to detract from employees’ happiness and ensuring productivity.

7. The power of thought

Though at times it can be understandably difficult, try to maintain a positive mental outlook and attitude, both internally and externally. The power of positive thought is growing more and more curiosity and testing because science is finding a direct correlation between people living longer and healthier who practice positive thought, and who surround themselves with positive people. Be that person in your office that spreads and inspires infectious positivity.

8. Stop procrastinating!

Of course, this one is easier said than done. However, procrastination can have a seriously unhealthy impact on your mental health, which then effects (you guessed it!) your physical wellbeing, too. We procrastinate for a number of reasons, ranging from fear to inability, and from insecurities right down to pure laziness. Does it ever result in a positive outcome? Nope. Cut it from your life. Procrastinating only adds drama and stress to your life- both things we’re aiming to reduce.

9. Become a sun worshipper

If at all possible, talk to your boss or management about the possibility of introducing glass walls and translucent office partitions into the open floorplan of your workspace. This will allow for so much beautiful (and necessary) natural light to free flow through the interiors and lift everyone’s spirits, boost morale and create a healthier inside environment for everyone to enjoy.

10. Crank the tunes!

This one may seem silly, but trust, this is one of the best possible ways to increase happiness, stimulate your senses and add some serious ambiance to an otherwise dull workday. Latin jazz and Cuban dance music are known to add some vibrance and flavor to the atmosphere- don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to get out of your chair and dance a few steps of salsa (before your coworkers spot you, of course).

With all of these creative solutions to enhance your mood, your physical health, and your overall working experience, you have all the wonderful ingredients to create the idyllic workday and lifestyle centered around balance week after week! Make the move towards crafting a desirable workspace, and visit Space Plus, A Division of the Sliding Door Company for ideas and inspiration. Get a quote from one of our professionals to begin the transformation today.

How To Be Everyone’s Favorite Co-worker

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It may sound silly, but being well-liked at work by your fellow co-workers and colleagues is like social currency. It holds immense value and can make or break potential career opportunities and relationships alike. Being a beacon of light in an otherwise dim work environment will brighten everyone’s day, foster long-lasting friendships, and boost the overall office morale. It’s not always easy showing up to work and being the very best person you can be, day in and day out regardless of your current circumstances. Of course, we’re all human and we all have hardships, nuances, and things in our personal lives that spill over into our work life, and our energetic exchanges. Yet with these helpful tips and considerations, you’ll have the foundation and tools to employ each day to become everyone’s favorite employee.

office partitions by space plus

Practice Patience and Awareness

Existing in shared spaces, typically cramped ones, is not always fun. With so many different and unique personality types, energies, and stress levels, sharing close quarters can be taxing on many. What many successful co-working teams have found, is that practicing patience and compassion are the most effective tools in which to utilize when confronted with unsavory working environments. Some co-workers tend to talk a lot and distract others from their work. Using patience and a calm, thoughtful tone, politely remind them that you have deadlines and quotas to meet and that you get easily distracted by any conversation. This takes the blame and pressure off the chatty employee and simply reminds them that everyone experiences different levels of distraction while at work. Perhaps you find yourself on the phone often for your position. Practice awareness and see what your options are in lessening the burden on your surrounding co-workers. Because loud phone conversations are a distraction for many employees, consider talking to management, or your boss and suggest the installation of glass wall partitions throughout the office for calls to be taken in. These office wall partitions are essentially a room divider with door that reduces noise and creates a spatial barrier so the person engaged in the call is less of a distraction to others. These partitions help to provide visual privacy and curtail foot traffic.

There Is No Replacement For Kindness

No matter how large or small, acts of kindness go a long way. Everyone could use some more kindness in their lives, so why not be that person to spread and share it? Little gestures like smiling at your co-workers throughout the day, asking how they’re doing. Remembering personal details about their lives, their families, taking the time to check in with those around you. Bringing in food to share, or beverages every now and then could start a shift towards sharing and community within the office, that inspires others to do the same.

Being Helpful and Pragmatic

If you notice a need for something within the office, take initiative and talk with your boss about it, or bring it in yourself if resources allow. Perhaps everyone is sharing a similar feeling of separateness, or lack of energy and inspiration during the day. Notice all of the ways in which the office environment could be improved, and then go from there. A lot of people suffer from a lack of natural light during their workday. Obstructed visibility and wall cubicles can cause serious depression, anxiety, and loneliness in many employees. Perhaps talk with your building about installing light-allowing glass office dividers and sliding door room dividers to increase visibility throughout the floor plan. These will create an increased feeling of connectedness, and raise team morale.

There are all just little ways in which you can help improve everyone’s day, including your own. Start with small gestures, considerations, and thoughtfulness. Speaking up about office conditions and the life quality of your fellow employees could yield surprising results. Many times, management is just vastly unaware of issues within the system, or employee discontent until it’s brought to them. Make the move towards crafting a desirable workspace, and visit Space Plus, A Division of the Sliding Door Company for ideas and inspiration. Get a quote from one of our professionals to begin the transformation today.

Inside Starbuck’s New and Exciting Retail Strategy

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Has anyone else noticed the overwhelmingly upgraded Starbucks interiors and improved green measures that seemed to have happened almost overnight? We did. And it’s no happy accident. Starbucks has confidently embarked upon a novel venture- a path towards sustainability and environmental awareness that has everyone pleasantly surprised. This eco-conscious green push paired with luxury leaves us air-clapping everywhere. This green evolution we didn’t always associate this mega-franchise with highlights a defining moment in history. It illustrates novel corporate environmental awareness and the active repair and redefinition of outdated and harmful business practices.

The Proof Is In The Pudding

We know what you’re thinking, can Starbucks truly have the planet’s best interests at heart? Well, apparently (and statistically), they do.

“According to John Kelly, SVP of global affairs and social impact, they could set Starbucks on a path toward greater conservation of resources. Kelly estimates that the program could divert around 50 million meals’ worth of food to people in need in the U.S. per year, and reduce water usage across its 10,000 “Greener Stores” by 30%.” -Fast Company

How has Starbucks reached this widespread evolution and redesign you might ask? It’s simple; they’ve crafted an excellent retail strategy and sought guidance from the best in technology, infrastructure, and design upgrades.

“The Greener Stores Framework, as Starbucks is calling it, lays out six key standards the more sustainable stores must abide by, ranging from waste management tactics to design upgrades. And the company is making its new framework open-source, in the hopes that other retailers will follow their lead.” -Fast Company

These six standards are as follows:

Energy and water conservation
Renewable energy
Responsible materials
Waste diversion
Healthy environments
Engagement

Today it’s no secret that the majority of people (that means us, too) want a top-quality experience with each monetary exchange and everywhere we go. That means every establishment visited from the moment we awake to the time we hit the hay must be in alignment with our expectations- after all, we are creatures of habit and comfort. With the latest and greatest in technology, there’s no reason to waste our invaluable time in uncomfortable experiences anymore.

For any and all businesses looking to follow by example, and jump on the eco (and financial growth) train, here’s a simple breakdown of how Starbucks redesigned their entire brand and brought their company into the ‘20s, in four key steps:

Inspired Interior Design

Our everyday collective environment is very important to us- our favorite coffee shop that begins our day, our hairdressers, the restaurants we dine at, the hotels we visit, the salons we frequent, our grocery stores, and our local cocktail bars. We’ll happily pay the extra cost of an aesthetically pleasing business over a less expensive underwhelming establishment. We are strikingly good these days at discerning businesses when choosing where to go. Because of this, interior design aesthetics has become a crucial, if not the crucial aspect responsible for drawing in customers and retaining positive client relationships.

Starbucks was not naive about this facet of business. In fact, we’re surprised they took as long as they did to upgrade their interiors in such a rapidly evolving market. What they did, was successfully redesign their interior stores and cafes to resemble chic, contemporary social parlors much like a hotel lounge- complete with stylish yet ultra-comfortable modern furniture, upgraded tables and flooring, and artistically inspired accent pieces, art, and enhanced lighting.

What’s more, Starbucks has intelligently personalized store interiors based on location-specific demographics, surrounding industries, and consumer relationships. They cater to the demands of their relative location. Because of this, they contacted us at Space Plus- A Division of The Sliding Door Company to integrate glass phone booth style solutions into a number of their stores in tech-heavy locations. They wanted to offer enclosed spaces in which customers could step away from the hustle and bustle of the open cafe to make a phone call, get some quick work done and enjoy some privacy amid a crowded store. These have become quite popular globally now, with room for 1 – 3 people to sit and collaborate or just have some much needed visual privacy. Our glass wall partitions and glass bifold door system worked great for their needs and we were happy to help attain their goal of added privacy as well as an increased personal interior design approach.

bi-fold door in a workplace setting

Convenience Driven Technologies

Starbucks has made strides in offering user-friendly technology within the past decade that all cater’s to the individual’s unique tastes, needs, and preferences. They consistently improve their app features, convenience-based online or in-app ordering systems and data collection to optimize customer experiences. With the growing consumer demand to know where our food and products come from, Starbucks rightly offered a super exciting app that actually allows the consumer to trace their beverage or food item back to it’s the source via a scan code, and see where it came from. This innovative “farm to cup” take on accountability garners them big trustworthy points amongst their customers and environmental/animal advocacy groups alike. They also offer competitive loyalty membership benefits that make you feel more appreciated and involved in the company.

Sliding glass door in a workplace

Pledging Green

Starbucks is currently making massive strides in their environmental impact reduction efforts and is moving forward with as much green gusto as possible. Their CEO is intent on setting a standard in green business, a model that he hopes other large franchise companies will soon follow. With this new and much-anticipated emphasis on sustainability, Starbucks is introducing things like no straws, investing in smart HVAC technologies for their stores, aiming to reduce their water usage by 30% by 2025 and diverting about 50 million meals worth of food to people in need in the U.S. alone through Food Share, a partnership with Feeding America. In addition to that, they plan to build education platforms to inform their partners and employees on sustainable practices during and outside of work. They pledge to only buy sustainably-sourced materials for any and all building needs, construction as well as for their packaging materials.

modernized starbucks locations with glass doors

We were very impressed with their ambitious changes and upgrades that Starbucks has recently made and continues to employ, and we hope to see more and more businesses follow suit in the months and years to come. Most companies have come to understand that by “going green”, it’s actually more economical than continuing down a path of unsustainability. It keeps the green in their pockets and works with our planet, rather than against it.

To upgrade your business, get on track with the green movement, and improve your interiors, consult us at Space Plus- the experts in commercial spatial optimization. For more exciting solutions and inspiration, visit Space Plus to browse our online viewing catalog and Get A Free Quote from one of our team members to actualize your design dream today.

Salon Partition Ideas

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Boutique hair and beauty salons are popping up everywhere across the country and surprising us with their stylish lounges, evocative interior design, and amenities. This attention to the fine details has raised the bar for these businesses and drawn many new customers in, as enjoying a top-notch salon can be an unparalleled experience. Beauty gurus across the map are realizing just how in-demand luxurious salons have become. The customer will happily pay the extra cost of an aesthetically pleasing salon over an outdated, underwhelming one any day. Going to a salon is a self-indulgent gift, and as customers, they want to feel that they were carefully considered during the designing process.

Now, to the How.

If you are ready and able to begin your salon transformation (or design an entirely novel one) set aside some healthy time to visualize, design, plan and lastly, take action. Below are some of the most crucial considerations to think about during your design process.

Plenty of light

Above all else, your salon should proudly boast tons of natural light. This will not only help aid the hairstylist in color decisions and acute visibility during cuts but also create a warm and vibrant indoor environment for everyone to enjoy. A dark salon can appear smaller, more boxed in and uninviting. To achieve the most natural lighting, install floor to ceiling windows, especially on the street side of the parlor. This will also attract curious passers-by and give clients the opportunity to people-watch while waiting.

salon with office dividers

Consider using transparent office partitions to achieve spatial separation throughout the salon rather than minimizing the open space with light-blocking partitions. The space will breathe better and light will flow freely with this space optimizing solution.

Consistent design theme

A crucial aspect of great interior design is maintaining a consistent design theme throughout the hair salon. There are so many exciting themes to choose from- the trick is not mixing and matching them. If too many themes are employed, the design can appear muddied and confused. Some classic interior design schemes are:

Modern (contemporary),
Luxury
Vintage
Chic
Rustic
Earthy
Industrial

Once you pick your theme, aim to stay within the borders of that look to successfully evoke the emotional response and vibe you’re after.

Mirrors

Mirrors effectively expand space and reflect crucial light. By integrating mirrors throughout your salon, you’ll enlarge the interior space and provide more visibility for your customers. Everyone loves a good full-length mirror. Try installing full length sliding closet mirror doors to hide your unkempt closets and backrooms. This solution is an all-around win- these sliding mirror doors will conceal mess, reflect natural light, expand the space, and provide your clients with better visibility!

salon with sliding door entries

Lounge Area/ Comfortability

One of the areas many salon owners and designers fail to acknowledge is the lounge or waiting area. This is a crucial facet of any salon business, as you will inevitably experience an influx of clients in and out with overlapping appointments and customers waiting to be seen. Those who are awaiting their appointment may very likely be in a hurry, anxious with anticipation and overall, inpatient. It’s necessary that you provide them with a comfortable and inviting lounge area that will smooth their nerves, provide some healthy distraction and cause them to feel excited about their big makeover, not nervous. Your lounge should have all the essentials- comfy couches and chairs, a coffee table, magazines, perhaps a tea/coffee bar and a place to hang their coats and personal items. This first impression will make or break the client’s overall experience and perception of the business. Set yourself up for success and return clients by catering to their every need.

Amenities

Anytime a customer sets out to spend a healthy amount of money on beauty, they expect to be taken care of from the minute they walk through the door, to the second they exit the building. A comprehensive approach should be employed, and you as the owner need to ensure your salon exceeds their expectations. Your customers should be greeted with a warm welcome and a beverage- be it tea, coffee, sparkling, wine or water. Bonus points for offering snacks and up-to-date magazines for them to pore over. Your receptionist should check in with your clients regularly and ensure them that their wait time is limited. A sparkling clean bathroom is also a must. Some hair appointments can take up to 5 or 6 hours and your clients will need that convenience! For an extra artistic touch, install opaque glass barn doors as the bathroom door. Interior sliding doors will save your salon space and offer a design flourish they weren’t expecting.

Again, it’s all about the fine details. These little facets to your overall design will be subliminal yet effecting and will leave your clients impressed and eager to return month after month. Word of mouth is a huge marketing platform for any salon- make it easy for your clients to refer you to their friends and family by carefully considering these tips and tricks.

To get started on your salon transformation, check out our products gallery for inspiration and product images. Schedule a call with one of our knowledgeable professionals to get a quote and other information on our many available solutions. Simply find a location near you and get that much closer to optimizing your beauty business for success!

Your Startup Needs This to Thrive

Space Plus Blog

The competitive nature of startups has generated an entirely novel approach to how we design and exist in office spaces. Most startups today value symbiotic relationships in the workplace, free-flowing exchange of ideas and ample communication amongst its workforce. The design and layout of startup office spaces are largely determined by these factors and have become the inspiration for many an architect, contractor and interior designer across the country. Setting your company apart from the sea of startups is not only crucial- it’s life or death. Great team members are now, dare we say, entitled to have idyllic workspaces in order to maintain productivity, inspiration, and cohesion during the workweek. Providing the best office environment for your workers will ensure a high retention rate and a flourishing output that everyone can enjoy.

Chic exposed brick walls, leather couches, ping pong tables and corn hole games, full kitchens complete with healthy snacks, wet bars, and beer fridges are quickly becoming the new norm across the country’s leading startups. Office spaces are no longer the begrudging labyrinth of narrow hallways and cubicles that they once were. They are essentially a *productive* home away from home- a place where employees plug away on laptops and strive to change the world alongside equally ambitious “teammates”. Often upgraded from warehouses, old clothing factories, or machine shops, trendy startups are utilizing all the rustic aesthetic they can to craft unique and enthusiasm-evoking spaces.

Partitions for Offices

What You’ll Need:

A Great OFP- Open Floor Plan
Amazing Lighting (natural and artificial)
Space-optimizing Designs and Solutions
Artistic Flourishes (and greenery)

Let’s Break it Down:

A Great OFP

To optimize your startup and craft a working oasis for your enthusiastic team, you’ll need an open, lofty and intelligently laid out space. If you want total cohesion and integration amongst your employees you’ll want an effective balance of fewer walls, cubes, and individual offices. Samantha Bernstein, communications manager at Tasting Table touches on this, saying that, “Open plans make it easier for everyone to know what’s happening across departments, and it keeps the team energy level high.”

Of course, and without question, you will need a touch of spatial separation and closed quarters somewhere within your vast swath of office land. Providing a closed conference room or executive office will come in handy when special meetings or presentations are to take place, and not distract nearby workers. Use glass partitions for offices to construct totally enclosed office rooms without any major construction or hassle. Choose from a plethora of varying glass opacities- from transparent to opaque, and everything in between, the customizable options are endless. Sliding door room dividers are another fantastic way to craft a conference room within a larger open floorplan. Want to impress your team with the ultimate artistic flourish? Install the stunning modern take on a rustic design- sliding glass barn doors. This space optimizing solution for a closed office/conference room entryway looks amazing and offers an exceptionally smooth (and quiet!) glide that the entire office will love.

Amazing Lighting

It goes without saying that lighting is everything. This goes far beyond “well-lit” offices and the switch to energy-efficient bulbs. This statement refers to large floor-to-ceiling windows, open floor plans and glass office partitions to make use of ample natural light in peak daytime hours. We are all humans of the earth, and though we have become accustomed to living indoors 80% of our lives, we still need to feel like we’re somehow connected to the outside world. Great big windows do this. Glass office partitions do this. Skylights, mirrors and Edison lightbulbs do this by providing luxurious mood lighting to effectively raise the vibration and increase productivity. Instead of making your employees daydream about the great outdoors, provide your workforce with ample views to the outside world so they feel as though they’re already living and working in an ideal environment.

Space-optimizing Designs and Solutions

Well designed spaces work within the given floorplan and make use of smart space optimizing solutions to achieve a comfortable and fluid environment. Bringing an interior designer on board for your space optimizing needs wouldn’t be a bad idea, although with the unexplained intrigue and lure of a hearty DIY interior design project, why not tackle it yourself? If you’re amongst the many that enjoy the process of doing-it-yourself, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Don’t over-clutter the open floor plan
Keep the decorations to a minimum
Arrange the desks thoughtfully to encourage and integrate discussion while maintaining individual spatial separation
Leave room for a lounge area for your workers to collaborate
Use interior sliding doors so as to save space (as opposed to forward swinging doors)

Glass Barn Doors

Artistic Flourishes and Greenery

Again, going back to the whole ‘bring the outside in’ theory, try to integrate as many plants and vegetation inside your working interiors as possible. Plants have been tested in working environments extensively, and have been proven to increase employee concentration, production, and happiness. As previously stated, we are creatures of the earth. We need to be surrounded by natural elements in order to feel safe and healthy.

In addition to integrating essential greenery, aim to decorate your startup space with thought-provoking art, and compliment it with an exciting paint pallet for the walls. Consider drawing it all together with accent pieces such as pillows and rugs, lamps and simple sculptural elements to foster creativity and inspiration amongst your talented team.

Keeping in mind these innovative design elements, feng shui techniques, and space-saving solutions, you’ll be ready to craft the ideal startup atmosphere. You’ll impress your team and promote a healthy life/work balance for everyone to enjoy.

To get started on exciting office improvements, check out our products gallery for inspiration and product images. Schedule a call with one of our knowledgeable professionals to get a free quote and other information on our many available solutions. Simply find a location near you and get that much closer to optimizing your offices for success!

Optimizing Productivity in the Workplace

Space Plus Blog

As the dedicated owner of a flourishing company, there are many factors to be taken into consideration when laying the necessary framework for a promising business. Some of these components are more obvious, such as meeting efficiency, ensuring all of your employees are well informed and able to make decisions, and of course- a fair amount of cohesion amongst all of your team members.

One thing that typically goes unnoticed and undervalued, is the physical environment in which you and your employees exist in each and every day. Spending countless hours indoors in the classic work environment of an office space can be taxing on just about everyone. It can strain the individual and consequently – the overall morale of a business. Or on the contrary, it can be exciting, productive and a joy to exist in. How can you set your company apart from others ensuring that your workers are happy, healthy, stimulated and able to provide the best possible work for a flourishing business? The first step is to take a look around at what already exists. Below, we have outlined a few questions to ask yourself when assessing your provided work environment and the necessary solutions.

glass wall

Does the existing office offer your employees the ability to work together while maintaining crucial productivity?

Do you and your employees exist in a vast open space with communal desks and no partitions? Or do you work in tight quarters secluded to individual spaces? Neither of these options is the right or wrong answer- yet both of these offer equal opportunity to either provide or detract from your business. Your employees’ engagement in their workday depends largely on how the building is laid out. If it is an open space, is it one that offers cohesion, shared thought and teamwork amongst your employees? Or does it restrict conversation and sever creative free-flow.

The free-flowing exchange of ideas can be one of your company’s greatest assets. Allowing and encouraging employees to easily communicate and brainstorm with fellow team members is a key component in innovation and creation. Work environments that do not offer a fluid surrounding suffer a great loss of unity and integration of objectives. Of course, space and solitude in any working environment are necessary and integral to successful production and typical workflow. One promising way to achieve both individual spaces yet offer integration amongst your employees is to install easily adjustable wall partitions and glass office dividers- offering options. This way, your employees can swiftly enter and exit work areas with the semblance of separation when needed. This innovation also offers an inviting feel to any office environment, boosting morale and allowing for teamwork. This is a sure way to provide much needed and appreciated cohesion in the workspace.

sliding door

Is there ample light throughout the workspace? Or is it a windowless environment?

Oftentimes we don’t necessarily have the choice or comfort of abundant light in the office. If you find yourself enduring a windowless or sparsely lit existence, we have a few helpful solutions to consider. One answer to this problem is to effectively open up partitioned office spaces to allow for necessary light to pass through when windows are not abundant. Space Plus, A Division of The Sliding Door Company, proudly provides a myriad of glass wall partitions to choose from that are designed intentionally with the workplace in mind. Ranging from glass wall partitions, sliding door room dividers and glass Wall Cubicles, Space Plus offers it all. Rather than obstructing views and hindering light with solid cubicle partitions, opt for more of a free-flowing approach allowing for beautiful light to pass through. The last thing you want as an employer is for your workers to suffer and tire from an arid environment. There is little to no inspiration there, and that diminished capacity translates into the quality of your worker’s content and productivity.

Is the general atmosphere instrumental to production and enthusiasm for your team members?

A great way to gain and retain successful employees is to provide a healthy space to create. To learn, grow, develop and produce. When employees are uncomfortable, strained and lack enthusiasm about their environment, it can me expectantly difficult to anticipate excellence from your team.

A few ways to ensure a positive working container is to take the small details into consideration. Can the office act as an extension of their home? In the sense that it offers comfort, sustained energy and contentment. Consider things like lighting, art on the walls, and stylish features that are overlooked every day. Smooth sliding glass doors offer the feel that you exist in a smart and modern working arena. Hanging doors that slide, such as Space Plus’s hanging glass barn doors provide a stylish and thought-provoking flourish to a normally ‘safe’ office space. Not only are the hanging glass doors a joy to slide open and close, but they signal that care and intention were thoughtfully consideration in respects to their working environment. Offered in addition to the doors themselves are a plethora of accessories and options to individually customize your products. From a variety of glass opacities to framing options and panel configurations, your unique choice is implied in our business model.

By adding thoughtful touches and well-considered features to your office environment, you set yourself and your employees up for successful work experience. After all, you want your workers to be inspired, productive and sustained at the beginning and end of each day.

To get started on your exciting office improvements, check out our products gallery for inspiration and product images. Schedule a call with one of our knowledgeable professionals to get a quote and other information on our many available solutions. Simply find a showroom near you and get that much closer to optimizing your offices for success!

Becoming An Office Eco-Warrior With 4 Simple Tips

Space Plus Blog

We spend the majority of our weekly waking hours getting to work, existing in the office, and of course, getting home at the end of the day. We are accustomed to making these transitions and bulk time spent in the workplace as simple and effective as possible. But can we push ourselves further and consider a few simple ways to lessen our overall environmental impact surrounding our work life? With these four simple tips, you’ll be on your way to living and promoting a greener lifestyle.

1. Transportation consciousness

The average American jumps into their own car each morning, commutes to work in a mostly empty vehicle and sees nothing wrong with it. To observe this phenomenon, simply look to the right and left of you next time you’re stuck in traffic during your daily commute. Everyone is driving solo. This not only burns an unthinkable amount of fossil fuels, but it also discourages community, conversation, and potential exercise. This is not a normal feature of everyday life in other countries. Most Europeans exclusively take the underground, utilize their city bus’s, carpool or even bike to work. Lucky, there are a few easy ways to jump on the eco-train and slash your CO2 emissions overnight!

We now have a plethora of great ride-sharing apps made available to us that we can choose from. There is really no good reason to drive a four or five-seater car alone to work five days a week. You may be surprised to discover that someone in your neighborhood is doing the same commute each morning- also alone, paying too much in gas, and feeling slightly lonely.

Below are just a few Rideshare apps to get started and redefine your daily commute:

Secondly, the option is always there to make use of great public transportation in your city. Take the Metro or the city bus. Many of us don’t even consider taking public transportation to work- because it seems like a hassle… it’s not necessarily on our individual schedule, or it’s uncomfortable. However, the pluses far outweigh the minuses. Public transport provides a fantastic solution to a daily commute, and it’s typically much faster than driving. There is virtually no traffic, no red lights, no accidents to make you unexpectedly late. Not to mention, taking public transit is far more economical than burning gas and the taxing miles you put on your car during a daily commute. A quick internet search will provide readily available information on a metro or a bus near you.

Lastly, consider a healthy alternative to normal transport. Biking, skating, walking, scooting or jogging to the office is a viable option for many, yet for some reason, we tend to shudder at the thought of exercise outside of the gym. Now that many office spaces are providing showers for their employees, a biking commute to work is a viable option. No worries about remaining sweaty throughout your workday. It just becomes a matter of giving yourself a little extra time in the morning to allow for slightly longer travel time. Your waistline is not the only thing benefitting from a physical commute!

2. BYOD

That is short for Bring Your Own Dishware! Mugs, plates, and silverware are all necessary items in the office. Come lunchtime, that midday cup of coffee, or unavoidable snacking, we tend to use whatever our companies provide for us. Often times, that means paper plates and plastic cups and utensils. Using throw-away plastic dishware is understandable a few times a month but becomes excessive if used every day. Five plastic cups a week quickly becomes twenty plastic cups a month- and a whopping 230 plastic cups a year. Now, multiply that by the number of employees in your building all doing the same thing and you have a major waste issue at hand.

Consider bringing a reusable coffee mug and water bottle to work from now on. You’ll be saving the planet a lot of unnecessary waste and will also save your company a lot of money on products. Check out the amazing vacuum-sealed Hydroflask water bottles and canteens for a great solution to throw-away cups and water bottles. You can also invest in some great alternatives to paper and plastic plates and utensils. For example, Cost Plus offers these stylish BPA-free bowls made from bamboo at an affordable cost that will gain you major karma points with Mother Earth and your company.

3.Lay Off The Thermostat!

Offices that are shared by many tend to endure high monthly heating and cooling costs. During frigid winters, most offices overcompensate by cranking the heat and therefore pouring a mountain of resources into regulating temperature. This is extremely costly, not to mention consequently generating a lot of ugly CO2 emissions in the process. In the summertime when it is too sweltering outside to comprehend, our buildings are typically overly chilled to the point where we find ourselves in jackets in the middle of July. There are a few smart solutions to combat the temperature swings both economically and environmentally.

Bring layers to the office. Keep a coat and a variety of shirt options in-house so that when the office temperature rises or drops, you’ll be ready. This way, you can swiftly adapt to the atmosphere rather than asking management to adjust that thermostat. This will save you time, annoyance and your companies money all at once.
Suggest that your company update its typical partitions for offices and glass walls. Making this transition is a great way to increase airflow and temperature regulation so that air can move freely throughout the entire office space and not get trapped in pockets of stagnant air. Have a look at Space Plus, A Division Of The Sliding Door Company office partitions, glass room dividers and sliding glass doors to see how they can improve your energy costs.

4.Lighting is Everything

We’ve all heard it said before- lighting is everything. And it truly is. Light greatly affects how we work, how we exist in an environment, and how we feel. Too often, places of business do not thoroughly consider the lighting for their offices. Not only is this a bad economical move, but its also unfair to its employees. Fluorescent overhead lights are a staple of the workplace. But are they right? If they aren’t LED, and they detract from the quality of life of the employees, they’re probably not a great solution to lighting in the first place. Luckily, there are a few simple solutions.

Using spotlighting with LED bulbs- i.e. desk and floor lamps- can update a space and transition an office into a green business. LED bulbs now come in all sorts of hues and shades, from white light to amber and soft. Switching to LEDs will undoubtedly save hundreds of electricity. Many LEDs have a rated life of up to 50,000 hours. This is about 50 times longer than a typical incandescent, 20-25 times longer than a typical halogen, and 8-10 times longer than a typical CFL.

Secondly, transitioning to glass partitions, glass office doors, and glass office room dividers throughout an office building will allow natural and artificial light to pass through and therefore- slash energy costs. By replacing standard office partitions and light-blocking walls with glass partitions and sliding glass doors, you create a warm, light-filled environment that is not only an economic no-brainer, but it also greatly improves the life-quality for office workers.

With these four simple tips, you can start your transition to becoming the eco-warrior of your dreams! Discover how much cleaner and guilt-free you’ll feel about taking conscious action towards a normally wasteful experience in the workplace. Check out Space Plus, A Division of the Sliding Door Company for ideas and inspiration in updating your office space for the better. Get a quote from one of our professionals to begin the transformation today.