What is FF&E furniture?
The term ‘FF&E furniture’ is one which tends to be mentioned by interior designers and when talking about refurbishment and fit-out projects; in fact we’ve already mentioned it a couple of times in this article!
So what exactly is FF&E furniture? FF&E simply stands for furniture, fixtures and equipment and is an acronym which is widely used in architecture, interior design and construction. Furniture, fixtures and fittings covers anything which can be moved and isn’t embedded into a building. So, FF&E items are office furniture and other loose furniture such as sofas, flooring, lighting, appliances, window blinds, shop fittings, audio-visual equipment…the list can end up being quite considerable.
Although FF&E furniture sounds like just another acronym, it’s an essential element of any office, hospitality, education or healthcare design project. Put another way, the architectural structure of a building forms the bones, whilst the FF&E is the ‘body’ which provides an essential connection to the structure.
Many people think planning and selecting FF&E furniture is simply about picking the right sofa in the right colour! There’s so much more to FF&E than this if we are to ensure a successful outcome to a project. Whilst selecting items such as furniture, we focus on a wide range other considerations including durability, sustainability and functionality. In addition, if we’re working on a project within a healthcare setting, for example, we’ll also consider technical issues such as slip resistance, safety and toxicity.
At Ultimate we are specialists in FF&E contracting, with many years of experience in specifying and sourcing the furniture, fixtures and fittings required to furnish and equip a huge range of interior design and fit out projects. From chairs, tables and soft furnishings, through to decorative lighting, bathroom and spa fittings, we supply FF&E designed to meet our the high standards our clients expect.
FF&E and the design process
From the outset of any project, close consideration must be given to furniture, fixtures and equipment FF&E in order to ensure a successful outcome which meets our client’s budget requirements. Selecting FF&E furniture is the responsibility of our experienced interior design team in collaboration with our space planning and consultancy teams.
We offer a complete solution for a wide range of fit out projects for hospitality, business, commercial, education sectors and more. We use a tried-and-tested approach to ensure that the completed project reflects our client’s needs, whilst also providing future-proof flexibility; an essential requirement into today’s challenging environments.
Whilst careful FF&E planning is important for all interior design projects, it is an essential consideration during the fit-out or refurbishment of projects within healthcare or education settings. Here at Ultimate we have many years of expertise within these areas and our team have an in-depth understanding of how to use FF&E to create interiors which serve a practical purpose, but also create a successful learning environment or welcoming healthcare interior.
We work with a variety of leading brands and suppliers from within the UK and across Europe, with the aim of offering our clients as wide a choice of high quality options as possible, with design solutions to suit all budgets and requirements.
It’s important to bear in mind that FF&E forms and essential part of any project, not only in terms of style but also in relation to the total cost. We work closely with our clients to ensure that close consideration is made to FF&E furniture costs from the outset, in order to avoid unanticipated expense later on the project.