All things furniture fittings...

At the beginning of the pandemic working from home seemed an inviting novelty in some ways. I could stay in my pyjamas all day, snack constantly from the fridge and do a bit of gardening during my lunch break. That novelty soon wore off after the back pain set in from trying to work on my laptop while sitting on the sofa. When moving to the breakfast bar was no better, I realised I needed a dedicated work from home space; where my feet could touch the floor, I could have all my documents close to hand and not be constantly tripping over cables. Invest in remote working We all can see that working from home now looks more like a long term scenario for many staff who were previously office based. It has the benefit of saving money and time not having to endure a tiresome commute. Staff are more productive and apparently, work longer hours on average when working from home. It seems to make sense then, to invest in a dedicated work from home space right now. Deciding how to configure ...

If you are sensitive to noise or simply want to enjoy a more pleasant and comfortable environment, then soft close hinges are an essential item. Their application range from cupboards in the bedroom, kitchen, office, workshop and more. Almost any kind of cabinetry will benefit from soft close hinges which are a particular godsend for cabinets with heavy use. At Unico we work with leading manufacturer Siso to supply soft close hinges on both a trade and retail basis. Available in 3 options - full overlay, half overlay for doors on a double unit and inset, where doors sit within the unit. Features of soft close hinges Reduced noise Easy to fit and come with a clip on plate High degree of adjustment for exact fit Hidden mechanisms using a small cover Nickel plated Just making the subtle change of adding soft close hinges can make the biggest difference to your enjoyment of a room. Clever details and hidden solutions can be key. With soft close hinges cupboard doors never need to be le...

Soft close drawer runners mean quality cabinetry with longevity... This type of soft close drawer is in high demand with consumers these days because it has become one of the hallmarks of high quality in cabinetry.  If you are fitting a new wardrobe system, bedroom storage or office furniture, you want to be sure it includes soft close drawers. But w hat are they exactly and what are the main benefits?  Soft close drawers are a premium feature allowing drawers to close silently and smoothly. Just before it is completely shut, the soft close mechanism of the drawer takes over, and gently pulls the drawer closed the rest of the way. What are the advantages of a soft close drawer? Drawers with soft close cannot be slammed shut, ensuring they close gently and silently every time. A soft close drawer is safer because fingers cannot get accidentally crushed in the closing drawer. Drawers with soft close tend to last longer, because the mechanism endures less stress. Drawers that ar...

We know our customers from both the trade and retail sectors have high expectations which is why we supply high quality locks from reputable brands like Lehmann. We know that whatever the application, Lehmann has the perfect locking system. One product we can’t rave about enough is the Lehmann COIN LOCK 70 used mainly in lockers.  Why is this locking system rated so highly? It comes in 2 forms: the basic lock (trust us when we say that Lehmann locks are anything but basic) and a version with the same features but suitable for use in wet areas. Both of these coin locks from Lehmann mean we can safeguard our valuables whenever security is required for the home, office and workplace or travelling. What are the advantages of these types of coin locks? Advantages of the COIN LOCK 70 Basic : Great for applications with heavy use Helps prevent permanent occupancy Self explanatory for users Eliminates the need to hand out keys Reduces the number of lost keys The casing and front are mad...

As staff return to work from furlough there will be some changes in the office. Notably the office furniture and it’s layout. Office furniture fitters, cabinet makers and carpenters have a lot of work on their hands, to meet the standards of our new normal and ensure we are all safe, and compliant with social distancing rules within the workplace. As we can’t predict how long social distancing measures are likely to be necessary, it is certain that employers will want office furniture that offers a variety of layout solutions and give the most flexibility.   Unico for Furniture Fittings At Unico we stock a huge number of office furniture fittings for the domestic and trade markets. We are also proud to be a leading furniture parts supplier to many leading furniture manufacturers from around the world. 7 Essential Desk Fittings We have put together a list of 7 essential items for desk fittings for office furniture and work spaces. These might include reception area furniture, m...

Most of us will have come across the traditional locker system be it at school, our place of work or the gym. These important metal boxes keep our belongings safe while we go about our business. You will also have had to decide where to keep the key to the locker... Of course, a lot of lockers have a key built into a wrist band. Most of us will try and wrap it around our wrists while trying to stop the key from turning around and digging in our arm. As we move around the wrist band can start to feel loose and become irritating. Others will try and keep the key safe in their bag or pocket and hope we remember where we put it when we need it! Installing new lockers? So, for the comfort of your guests, customers and travellers, perhaps those companies looking to install new lockers in such places as locker rooms, workplaces, schools and transport hubs, might want to consider the keyless locking system alternative. Unico components are specialists in supplying furniture fittings a...

Did you know the dial lock has been around since, well - forever!? There are surviving examples dating as far back as the ancient Roman times when dial locks were used to protect the valuables of the dead from grave robbers. And they proved a very good deterrent to thieves even back then.  We find the first written information on dial locks in 1206, in the wonderfully named The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by the engineer Al Jazari. Very much later, the dial lock gets to be patented in the U.S around the beginning of the 20th century by Joseph Loch. The aptly named Loch had been supplying locks for the world famous jeweller Tiffany, who were looking for ways to increase security and protect their precious gems. These locks also went by the name of the tumbler lock and combination lock, because the lock obviously needs a combination of numbers to open. Modern locks vs traditional locks Nowadays we have also advanced on to electronic and digital locks wh...

Of course, we are referring to 'sliding doors' as in room dividers, not the film! In the past room dividers were flimsy, often tacky looking, but now the grown up version is modern, stylish, practical and bang on trend . Sliding door room dividers can come in a variety of styles and finishes, from simple minimalistic to chic glass, or a more rustic feel utilising reclaimed barn doors or wood. It can be an interior designer ’ s dream no less! The sliding door room divider has become the contemporary, budget friendly and easy to install item to completely update and transform a room. We are starting to see them now in a diverse range of places such as student accommodation, hotel rooms, homes and offices. One of the main benefits of the sliding door room divider is being able to temporarily create a multi purpose room when needed, and change it back easily when not. Either in order to hide clutter, but also equally important, is being able to simply just switc...

Applications of our Passion Glass Range If you are planning to upgrade your kitchen or make a display case or showcase, then you will find fixtures and fittings from the Passion Glass Range particularly useful. There are of course plenty of possible applications at work and in the home where glass doors provide a desirable feature, such as: In schools and other institutions they are used for trophy displays and other collections. Keep medicines easy to view but safely locked away. Restaurants can display a range of spirits and fine wines while keeping them securely looked in a showcase or cabinet. Avoids accidents and controls substances. Museum displays and other showcases - look but don’t touch! Kitchen cabinets and home displays Why choose the Passion Glass Range? The beauty of this particular range is that no drilling is required. The glass just slots in and then simply tighten up with the grub screw provided. The complete range is available in one design wi...

Are you are looking at starting a home DIY project to better utilise the space in your bedroom? Maybe space is not the main issue, but you just want to organise better. Or are you a tradesman working on a project such as building wardrobe space for student accommodation, where space is compact?  Consider incorporating these genius wardrobe fittings while being able to utilise and organise every inch of available space. Maximise a wardrobe with bespoke design and create that feeling of order and organisation which brings calm to a bedroom, our place of rest and relaxation.   Pull out storage solutions Pull down wardrobe rail One of our top selling items in the wardrobe fittings range, which utilises a higher space where normally hanging clothes wouldn't be practical. Pull the rail towards you with the pole for this impressive storage solution. Provides easy access to space which could not normally be considered. A good quality product supplied from leading manufacture...

A new type of burglar exists these days who is not interested in taking bulky items such as televisions or even phones and tablets. These items can so easily be tracked with an App, so make sure you install one!  Indeed, intruders these days are more often after our personal data. Sadly, quite frequently this type of theft comes from someone who has a legitimate reason to be on our property in the first place, so keeping passports and other identification documents safely locked away is one of the best deterrents.   Catch me if you can Frank Abagnale, who is now a security consultant but infamously known for his career as a con man and forger said “ People need to be more aware and educated about identity theft. You need to be a little bit wiser, a little bit smarter and there's nothing wrong with being sceptical. We live in a time when, if you make it easy for someone to steal from you, someone will. ” While we are not supposed to write down passwords, how many of...