22 minute read
HOME OFFICE How to WFH with style
by MediaClash
© PETE HELME PHOTOGRAPHY
clockwise from top left: Your own viewing room is a perfect immersive way to escape the world; much of Multicoms Solutions’ work is about improving and expanding WiFi connectivity; BrownHen Solutions has seen an increase in requests for outdoor cinema spaces
SWITCHING OFF Why home entertainment is more important than ever By Sarah Moolla
© PETE HELME PHOTOGRAPHY
While our homes are increasingly becoming places of work, paradoxically they’ve never been more important as places to relax in. We need designated areas to switch off, to find calm, and to regroup as a family. We asked the Bath home entertainment and technology specialists just how this aspect of lockdown has influenced their industry.
“Prior to lockdown the product mix we were seeing was, as expected, evenly spread across a wide range of audio/visual goods,” says Tim Moss, the managing director of Moss of Bath, who specialise in audio visual retail and installation.
While for Matt Trott, company director of Multicoms Solutions, which offers a range of installations including communications, security and custom audio visual, their main business pre-Covid “was home security such as CCTV and intruder alarm systems – it was about ensuring your property was safe while unoccupied.”
Then the coronavirus lockdown came along, and many of us were in and around our homes much more, for both work and leisure, and with this came new demands, as Matt notes, “Since lockdown a lot of people are spending a lot more time at home, either remote working or on furlough, and as a consequence have decided to convert unused rooms to offices needing better home networking, and also upgrading existing audio and visual systems for family entertainment.”
Jools Browning, director of BrownHen Solutions, the awardwinning technology integration company, agrees, “There is an increasing appreciation for the importance of reliable, high performing internet and WiFi as people become much more dependent on their internet for work, education, entertainment, and health/wellbeing.”
“Most of our requests are now about large screen televisions, smart speakers and turntables,” says Tim. “There is a huge
above: Spectral Audio Möbel, sold at Moss Of Bath, is a pioneer in smart furniture with added features such as built-in speakers and docking stations; inset: Kef wireless also available through Moss of Bath
increase in the demand for televisions, particularly larger screens and those that feature smart functions such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon etc. Increasingly clients want their TVs wall mounted (without visible cables) which has kept our in-house installation teams extremely busy.”
Tim adds, “This year the impact of social distancing restrictions will inevitably result in a rise in TV sales. We are already experiencing a high demand for our goods and services, with a global shortage of televisions. As we approach the colder seasons we know that statistically households spend more time watching television, live or streamed.” Many are taking this screen time a step further and going for the full-on silver screen treatment, as Jools explains, “With less opportunity to visit cinemas or sporting venues, movies or the big match are instead watched at home. Hence there is a growing trend to transform rooms into their own private home cinema for films and sport given the reduction in opportunity to enjoy these elsewhere. The advantages of installing your own cinema room in these pandemic times is plentiful.
“With people spending more time at home (both indoors and in their gardens) there is an increased appetite for home improvement and a greater appreciation of the part that technology can play in those improvements.”
This is reflected in the type of work Multicoms Solutions are now doing. “A lot of our jobs now are about improving and expanding WiFi connectivity around the home, and installing bespoke audio visual
including home automation ideal for cinema rooms,” says Matt.
And a home cinema isn’t as remote a possibility as you might think, as Jools explains, “Capabilities across the entire home technology spectrum are more relevant than ever – there are opportunities now to transform everyday rooms into home cinemas at the touch of a button. Customers want more than just a picture and some sound, they want a truly immersive experience so other aspects such as seating and lighting control are involved in the design.
“The use of acoustic treatment is increasingly popular. Dramatic improvements to the sound quality can be achieved by relatively small investments in strategically placed and carefully designed sound absorbing and diffusing panels, which reduce echo and enhance the aesthetics of the room. It can also significantly improve the sound quality in your home cinema or wherever you choose to watch your favourite box set or movie. The ‘calm’ environment that this creates, which is great for relaxing at home, often surprises people.”
The trend of increasingly sophisticated home entertainment is unlikely to disappear any time soon, Jools predicts, “The recent increase in time spent at home is simply accelerating the trend for home technology. An increasing number of smart gadgets are catching the eye of homeowners, and more are considering integrating some level of home technology.
“The infrastructure that supports home technology integration should be looked at in the same way as other services such as electrics and plumbing, leading to some level of smart home becoming a standard feature in all of our homes, both new and old.”
For more: www.brownhensolutions.com; www.mossofbath.co.uk; www.multicoms.co.uk
DO YOUR HOME WORK How to make your WFH space a cut above the usual 9–5 By Sarah Moolla
FROM THE DULUX 2020 CARE PALETTE RANGE AVAILBLE FROM DAVIES OF BATH;WWW.RABART.CO.UK
A great view can really help with creativity and productivity
Last year it was estimated 1.7 million people, out of a UK workforce of some 32.6 million, were based solely at home, while 4 million were working from home sometimes. Come the lockdown and the figure was nearer to half of the working population. And aside from Covid-19 itself, working from home was what we were all talking about. We were learning about VPNs, remote servers, Team Talks and Zoom. The phrase, “You’re on mute” must have been the most commonly spoken exchanges between colleagues in 2020.
Now we are all a little bit more settled into this new way of working, and starting to realise WFH could be here to stay, we’re taking stock of our surrounds. Laptops on laps whilst lounging in the lounge just isn’t going to be conducive to productivity long term. We asked the Bath interior and design experts for their help in how to plan the ideal home office space, big or small. As Richard Asbury, director of Bathbased Maack Architects, says, “The Covid-19 restrictions means we’ve been forced to look afresh at the kitchen table, the loft or that dusty cupboard under the stairs as potential workspaces.”
IN THE ZONE “You don’t need much space,” says Bath-based interior designer Clair Strong. “Create a mini office in a corner of your sitting room, on the landing, in the spare room or in a space under the stairs. Try not to work from the kitchen table though, where it is hard to separate family and home life.”
“Many of our clients already work from home and have a dedicated office space for this purpose. However, what has changed is the need for multiple work stations within one room, or indeed multiple offices within one household to accommodate several people working and studying at once,” says Nick Woodhouse, director at Woodhouse & Law, the interior and garden designers.
“Where the space isn’t available, we’ve assisted clients by designing multi-functional live/work spaces, with a dedicated office area concealed by sliding panels or large doors. This has worked well in guest rooms that are used only occasionally, where a bespoke solution really comes into its own. By designing each element of the study area carefully, it’s possible to ensure adequate provision for files and IT equipment, as well as a comfortable desk space and a backdrop that’s worthy of all of those Zoom sessions.”
Jody Myerscough-Walker, founder of BON, a fabric and lifestyle brand, got inventive when it came to planning her WFH space. “My workspace is actually in my bedroom, so it proves you can successfully marry the two if you are clever with zoning. I had a big overhaul of my home workspace at the start of lockdown, so I could work in a more inspiring, efficient space. I wanted the space to be creative and inspiring, but not cluttered, and I added a potted plant for some greenery.”
Woodhouse & Law have assisted clients by designing multi-functional live/work spaces The best lighting to work in is daylight
DAY BREAK “Where you create your home office space is important. If you can, position your desk near a window with lots of natural light,” advises Clair. “A view of the sky and some trees will really help you be productive. Try not to face a wall; it will stifle all creativity, but if you have to, stick a few pictures or quotes up to inspire you.”
Richard agrees, “The best lighting of all is daylight, but many desks are set against a wall or hidden in alcoves to maximise space so a good solution is if you can rearrange the space so that your desk faces the room to provide a broader sense of perspective. Good artificial lighting will help and is important to create an atmosphere conducive to work. Mood and task lighting will help you focus, but be careful where you position any screens to avoid glare and eyestrain.
“Don’t forget to make your space your own; artwork, personal ‘objet’ or photographs will inspire you and remind you of your mission – as well as giving colleagues something interesting to stare at on those endless Zoom calls.”
ALL SORTED “Good storage is essential so try and incorporate either shelving above your desk, or drawers below,” says interior designer Annabel Grimshaw. “Shelving can again either be built into the nook or across a wall, and painted in a beautiful colour to tie in with your colour scheme, or for a more modern look use a modular system like String or Vitsoe. A desk with built in drawers can be really handy if you have lots of odds and ends you like to keep to hand.
“Try and keep the more mundane items hidden away, and style your shelves with good looking files and storage boxes from places like Harris and Jones, prop pictures up on your shelves, add a nice candle, a vase of flowers, a beautiful paperweight. Your work place should still look good
Clair Strong advises to invest in a desk, so you can separate work from home life
and make you feel happy to spend time there. An office cat is an added bonus!”
Richard adds, “Whilst organised storage, a good data connection, and power supply are critical to provide a neat clutter free workspace; you should also think about how your home office supports you mentally and emotionally. Introducing colours can enhance your mood; for example, blues and greens are said to be calming whereas more vibrant colours increase productivity.” DESK JOB “If you haven’t already, invest in a desk, so you can separate your work from your home life and have an organised office space,” advises Clair. “A slim desk or a fold-away bureau and some storage is all you need. ”
You could also get inventive like Jody did. “My desk is a large piece of high-grade plywood that I got cut to size and positioned to look out of the window. It’s mounted on the wall on one side and under the other I have a large chest of drawers that houses my art materials.
“I love pops of colour, so I surrounded the space with my favourite pieces from my travels and things I have collected. I also upcycled an old 1950s desk lamp of my mum’s by spraying it neon pink.” . TAKE A SEAT “If you are seated for most of the day you need to be aware of posture and physical health too,” advises Richard. “It’s really important to get your desk and chair set up properly to avoid back and shoulder problems. It’s worth investing in a good chair and there’s lots of advice online about the optimum set-up – or get a stand-up desk.”
And as Clair points out, “Office chairs don’t have to be ugly; look for an Eames inspired leather chair for a 1960s Mad Men vibe or a light natural wood chair with clean lines and minimal detail if you’re after more of a stylish Scandi look.”
OUT OF OFFICE Simon Scott, CEO of Push Entertainment, has been coaching and developing his remote team of 40 from his Bath home for 15 years. Here he shares his 10 top tips to making it work from home.
1HAVE A WORK UNIFORM It becomes your entry point to the day. I have 10 black t-shirts exactly the same, I never wear them socially and when they are on, I know I am at work.
2HAVE A GOOD CHAIR You cannot work from home long term from a laptop in your lap. You will just get a bad back. If you have space, a standing desk extender really helps you to do your 7,500 steps.
3INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY AND YOUR TECHNOLOGY SKILLS Fastest broadband, external screen if you can, back up to the cloud, good set of headphones with microphone, become friends with Slack, Hangouts, Zoom, Google Docs, Dropbox.
4ENFORCE VIDEO CALLS We enforced video calls about six years ago as we could see that people were simply not understanding each other. They were not listening, getting distracted and I am pretty sure eyes were rolling. As soon as we got eye contact back, people started interacting properly with respect and as a team.
5HAVE A DAILY STAND UP This works for teams of up to about 20. At 9:15 every morning we have a series of ‘all hands’ team calls. These should not last more than 15 minutes and each person should say a) what they are working on that day and b) who else in the team they expect to have contact with. It means that your team bonds right from the off.
6TAKE THE TIME TO BE CLEAR Communicate exactly what you want people to do, and follow up in writing so that there can be no misunderstanding.
7ESTABLISH YOUR CHAT CLIENT ETIQUETTE Never video call someone without establishing the right to do so. A request to ‘Speak?’ in whatever chat client you use will suffice.
8REVERSE THE PERMISSION PARADIGM Understand that as soon as you have team members e-working from home, life will get in the way so it is better embrace rather than fight it. The ‘Can I pop to the shops?’ becomes ‘I’m just popping to the shops’. In return for this freedom the understanding is that you have no outstanding uncommunicated obligations to a fellow team member before you leave your desk.
9IT IS A SIN TO KEEP A COLLEAGUE WAITING Co-worker respect becomes all when remote working, no matter your position in the company.
10 ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SHARE PERSONAL STUFF We run a few group slack channels including PushThingsI’veMade for the creative and PushCinemaClub where some of us go and watch the same movie in the same week.
Push Entertainment is an ecommerce services company that works with music artists, entertainment brands and influencers to help them develop their online businesses. For more: www.pushentertainment.com
If you have to face a wall add artwork to help inspire you
OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS It could be worth looking further afi eld for your new offi ce space as Mark Lord of Lord Architecture explains, “We have seen a signifi cant rise in the garden studio, the separation of a working environment from the home no matter how closely detached, being a must for many.
“When considering where and how to carve out a portion of your home to facilitate your work, it is important to fi rst consider the signifi cance of this decision and the impact it may have on your wellbeing.
“From our perspective the physical attributes of a successful working environment are; natural light, garden or sky views, adequate ventilation and a functional work-top to suit your profession, be it for painting, reading, writing or poring over a laptop. The use of nature and integration of art within the immediate vicinity or even visible at a distance can drastically improve wellbeing and thus increase productivity.”
For Vanessa Sayce of the Bath-based interiors company Marmalade House, working away from her house was a natural progression as her business grew, “I work from my barn studios at home, and have done so successfully for the past three years. For our design and painting work, space and light are hugely important, and so we began the process of converting one of our old pillared barns into a habitable space. We are lucky enough to have high A-framed ceilings, and so there is a real sense of space around us.
“I wouldn’t change my working environment for the world now. I have the peace to concentrate, no overheads, the ability to juggle more than I could when I was at a designated location away from home, and the joy of feeling rural yet completely connected. Social media has done wonders for home-workers.
“With a little creativity, you can create the perfect holistic space to be both productive, creative and achieve that ever-important work/life balance.” ■ For more: www.annabelgrimshaw.com; www.bon-maison.co.uk; www.clairstrong. co.uk; www.lordarchitecture.co.uk; www.maack.co.uk; www.themarmaladehouse. co.uk; www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk
There has been a signifi cant rise in setting up garden studios
The colour popping work space of Jody Myerscough-Walker, founder of BON, is actually in her bedroom
‘HAVE YOU TRIED SWITCHING IT OFF AT THE WALL?’ Dave Edwards of Bath-based Computers Direct, who specialise in direct remote support and software support, tells us how the working from home revolution has impacted on his work.
“Before lockdown a lot of my work centred around mobile phone and tablet developments, but since March, many people have needed to use computer systems. Everyone was trying to get their systems working as well as possible, not just for work communication, but also for home-schooling. Often these machines had been neglected and were older than fi ve years, so needed attention and updates etc, to help make them work effi ciently.
“I always advise people to think of the ergonomics of their needs when deciding on new systems and quite often, once they do so, they realise the most expensive solution isn’t always necessary.” For more: www.computersdirect.org
Surround sound
Discreet full range music from MOSS OF BATH adds just the right atmosphere to a large, newly designed outdoor terrace at a luxury country hotel near Bath
Nestling within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Beauty, Homewood is a privately owned boutique hotel promising fi ne dining and bespoke service within a secluded ten-acre country house setting. Recently completely refurbished, the large Georgian manor house provides a stimulating mix of period and modern design, indoor and alfresco dining experiences, twenty-one luxurious bedrooms/suites and a spa, all expertly curated by owners Ian and Christa Taylor to offer a refreshingly-individual approach to hospitality.
According to the Taylors, “Homewood offers us an opportunity to create a truly luxury boutique country property and to do something different to what everybody else is doing locally.” A major part of this ambition focuses on the completion of an elegant new outdoor terrace as a restaurant space for the summer months. Ian has devoted all his energy and vision to create an authentic outdoor dining experience serving breakfast, lunches, afternoon teas and evening meals cooked on the terrace, involving big sharing plates, an imaginatively stocked bar and just the right level of high quality audio from a discreetly installed Sonance Landscape 16.2 channel outdoor sound system.
Playlists especially created for different times of the day are designed to draw his guests to the terrace, adding atmosphere while stimulating conversations rather than dominating them. By complementing the cuisine on any night, the music helps to evoke the mood of an Italian piazza or a Mediterranean terrace, for instance, making Homewood’s alfresco dining truly memorable and unique to the area.
THE PROJECT For specifi cation and installation of the sound system, Ian turned to Tim Moss, managing director of Moss of Bath, an established and respected local audio/visual retailer and custom installation specialist. Tim takes up the story, “Moss of Bath had previously been involved with other Bath hotels under Ian’s ownership, notably Number 15, The Abbey and The Bird. Last year we had supplied and installed the bedroom televisions, the UHF distribution system and internal audio installation within Homewood. With the new terrace project, I knew that Ian wanted an outdoor speaker system that would refl ect the quality of the Homewood experience.
“Having just completed a similar installation at a property in Dorset using the stunning Sonance Landscape product, I immediately recommended the system to Ian. My colleague and Moss of
Sonance Landscape LS4T satellites discreetly surround the new terrace at Homewood
Bath sales director Harvey Samways, was so impressed with the Landscape product that he installed a system at his home – this allowed Ian to audition the speakers.
“We’ve discovered that the excellent detail and bandwidth available from Sonance actually allows the system to run at a lower volume level while keeping the perception of audio quality. In this way, the system produces a relaxing backdrop, encouraging social interaction without competing with it. It’s perfect for the subtle but enveloping audio quality and control that Ian was seeking for the terrace.”
THE PLAN Working with Habitech, Tim selected a Sonance Landscape system in a 16.2 confi guration to deliver even coverage of full-range sound over the terrace’s substantial 460 sq m area. Sixteen Sonance LS4T 4.5” 2-way landscape satellite speakers mounted on ground stakes and two LS12T 12” in-ground subs are discreetly installed within a surrounding gravel soakaway and powered by twin Sonance DSP2-750 twochannel amplifi ers. Camoufl aged in a dark brown all-weather composite to the highest 810G
Twin Sonance LS12T in-ground subs are hidden from view behind planters
and IP66 standards, the satellite speakers and subwoofers are positioned to project inwards from the perimeter in accordance to traditional Sonance garden sound design. They blend with their environment with the help of strategically placed planters and pots.
“The installation went like a dream,” says Tim. “Which is just as well because Covid-19 restrictions gave the team just ten days to survey the site and install the system before the hotel reopened on 4 July in line with Government guidelines. We are indebted to Habitech, who pulled out all the stops with specifi cation, coverage plan and the timely delivery of everything we needed, including the accessories and cable.”
THE PERFORMANCE Both client and installer are delighted with the outcome. “The team on-site were so impressed with the audio quality reproduced by the speakers they were sending video back to me in the offi ce. The audio distribution is so evenly spread that you can enjoy just the right level of richly detailed sound no matter where you sit on the terrace. Ian, as well as his general manager and the staff at Homewood, have been bowled over by the success of the Sonance installation, and have received positive feedback from the guests, who have noticed the clarity and depth of the system.”
Word is spreading. Friday nights on the terrace have become very popular for their party atmosphere and the ‘Instagrammability’ of the setting. “Great dining and music quality are putting Homewood on the map for a very wide demographic,” says Tim. “Especially during the lockdown recovery phase when everyone feels a little safer outside. Ian Taylor invited us to create an ‘unforgettable’ experience, and with help from Habitech and Sonance, I think we have accomplished exactly that.” ■ THE SYSTEM
LS4T (SON-93369) • Two-way loudspeaker • Tweeter Diameter: 25 mm (1.0”)
PEI dome • Woofer Diameter: 114 mm (4.5”) • Frequency Response: 75Hz - 20kHz ±3dB • Transformer Taps: 70V: 40W, 20W, 10W, 5W; 100V: • 40W, 20W, 10W; 8Ω • Listening Area: 60˚ coverage, 10’- 50’ distance
LS12T SUB (SON-93104) • In-ground subwoofer • Woofer Diameter: 305 mm (12”) • Frequency Response: 22Hz - 100Hz ±3dB • Transformer: 70V: 300W, 150W, 75W; 100V: 300W, • 150W; 8Ω
SONAMP DSP 2-750 MkII (SON-93379) • Output Power: • 8Ω: 500 W RMS per channel (all channels driven) • 4Ω: 750 W RMS per channel (all channels driven) • 8Ω (Bridged): 2000 W • Frequency Response: 5Hz - 50kHz ±3dB • Auto-on (audio / trigger) • Dimensions (W x H x D mm): • 438 x 98 x 427 (with feet) • 482 x 88 x 427 (with rack ears, without feet)
SCP 14-4 direct burial gel speaker cable
Moss of Bath, 45 St James’ Parade, Bath, BA1 1UQ; 01225 331441 www.mossofbath.co.uk
