Student Housing Business is the voice of the student housing industry.
Issue link: https://studenthousingbusiness.epubxp.com/i/564824
FURNITURE JULY/AUGUST 2015 STUDENT HOUSING BUSINESS .COM 60 latest looks mimic what's sold in stores, these pieces are still built to endure the wear-and-tear of stu- dent life. "We build furniture that's fash- ion-forward and student-proof," Christian says. "For example, we took a design that we created for Restoration Hardware, then sized and priced it for student housing. It's the same look, but bullet proof." For Zaki, durability is always number one. "Our mission here, more than anything else, is to make furniture that lasts," he says. "We test quite heavily. If it doesn't pass, we don't sell." That's what operators, like Peak Campus, want. "We believe that the best products at our projects are those that are built to last with high-quality components and are easy to clean," Clark says. "From a management perspective, we are looking for the same, but also want to have furniture that is easy for us to repair with parts versus replacing the entire piece." Ecologic Furniture is so conf- dent in its products that it ofers a lifetime warranty. "We believe in our product that much," says Goldman. "Plus, if the property sells to another owner, the war- ranty is transferrable." Whether in a dense urban or sprawling suburban environment, modular furniture continues to be a popular choice due to its fex- ible design, and it comes as no surprise that getting the most and best use out of limited space con- tinues to be top of mind for high- rise properties in infll markets like New York, Cleveland and San Francisco. "Murphy bed units are a huge trend this year," says Amanda Thompson Bowen, director of business relations for Blue Furniture Solutions. "We've sold a lot of them. We are seeing prop- erties trying to get smaller units and high rents, especially in over- populated areas." Murphy beds are a great way for properties to maximize space, but they come with a higher price tag and require more planning. "Space-saving designs are much more expensive than traditional designs," says Alex Cheng, CFO and controller of Blue Furniture Solutions. "It's a very costly approach, but the number one reason properties want them is because they'll get a higher rent." Allowing furniture companies to get involved earlier in the proj- ect planning process allows for better collaboration and more customization opportunities, like Murphy beds, and also gives operators a leg-up as they begin to market their properties. "We come up with beautiful renderings, and we help our cus- www.ERGinternational.com See our entire Connos collection on the web! CONNOS MODULAR BENCHING Furniture by Function First.