'Organic shapes make for efficient space layout'

Round or square: for years, that was pretty much the only choice you had when it came to tables for a new interior. Leading project designer Homint has found a solution with the new FreeShape collection. As the name suggests, practically all table shapes are possible. "This collection offers a particular solution for the hotel sector, where appearance and efficient room layout are after all essential," says account manager Oscar Verveer.

Triangular with gentle curves, teardrop-shaped, kidney-shaped or in the shape of a cloud: you can't think of anything else but the FreeShape collection offers it. "And every table can be combined with a wide choice of wood, marble or concrete decors," says Verveer. "As a result, we can always deliver a table that perfectly matches what you have in mind for the interior of your hotel. In addition, the wide range of bases completes the picture and ensures that the table can be tailored to any application, for example as a dining table, side table or high standing table."

When designing a hotel interior, available space is often the limiting factor. By no longer being tied to the traditional round, square or rectangular table tops, a much more efficient room layout is possible, Verveer clarifies. "For example, in a breakfast room, placing a few triangular tables can already yield a considerable space gain and a more efficient distribution of guests. Where previously a party of, say, three breakfast guests often sat at a four- or even six-person table, one triangular table now suffices for that. And in hotel rooms, where space is often extra limited, small side or coffee tables in any shape often offer a solution."

With the FreeShape concept, it is also possible to create any look you want, the account manager continues. "For example, we were commissioned by the Mister Highland hotel on the Rokin in Amsterdam to design tables that perfectly match the sofas located there. Both the sofas and the whole space there are organic in shape. Square tables don't fit that, but our FreeShape tables move with the space, so to speak."

As a leading project furnisher, Homint closely follows all furnishing trends. "Generally speaking, the hospitality industry is several years behind the private living trends as you see them in the living magazines and the living programmes on TV," says Verveer. "For example, the industrial style, which was totally hot in the residential sphere about 10 years ago, only translated into the hospitality industry a few years later. Incidentally, these trends are succeeding each other at lightning speed. What is coming up now, for example, is an amalgamation - or fusion - of the past trends. Typical of this is a combination of the industrial style - with lots of plain steel and natural wood - with 'boutique chic' using much fancier fabrics such as velours and bouclé-like materials."

In its own design studio - Studio Homint - at its headquarters in Emmeloord, the unique furnishing concepts come to life. "In doing so, we often also try to portray something characteristic of that company or region. For instance, in the Wibauthuis - part of Hogeschool van Amsterdam and named after the chemist Johan Pieter Wibaut - we printed a large effigy of this famous Amsterdam scientist on one wall. We also realised a new interior for the coffee corner and the canteen. The special feature of this project is the green wall in the hall towards the restaurant. In the canteen, more atmosphere was created by the (silk) plants added to the interior for decoration."

Another image-defining project, in which Homint was asked to fit the terrace with new furniture, is Landgoed Zonheuvel, located in the heart of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. "The assignment was to carry through the feeling and atmosphere from inside to outside as well," says Verveer. "We did this through the use of colour. Here, the frequent use of green and earthy tones creates a natural connection with the green surroundings."