Shop counter design?

[gidon]

I want to build a shop counter. Are there any design rules I should adhere to? They seem to be 900mm high and have plinths but not sure why the plinth is needed.
I want it freestanding. I want it to be made from local wood. I need the design and joinery to be simple - possibly knock-down. It needs to look contemporary.
I'm having trouble getting design inspiration for this so really any ideas, suggestions, comments much appreciated.
Thanks
Gidon

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Solid wood? All wood or perhaps some mixed materials? Metal, glass, etc.?

 

[jasonB]

You may want to set the till or cash draw at a lower level. Also things like orderbooks, diary, till rolles etc are better out of sight

If its free standing you will need a safe way to get power and phone lines to it without the risk of tripping.

Find out what the clients needs are regarding storage fpr bags and maybe paper wraping rolls etc.

Do they need to display small valuable items under a glass countertop/front

Jason

 

[JoinerySolutions]

Gidon, you don't say what type of shop this is for, that may have a bearing on design.
Counters are nominally 900mm high though cash registers are set around 750 to 800. This is according to the metric handbook Planning and Design Data by the Architectural Press.
The type of store will often dictate the materials used and the owners taste will dictate what they can afford. :wink:

 

[gidon]

Thanks for the replies.

So the cash register is dropped down 15cm to the counter top?

It's for a modern technology shop (think Apple store kind of feel) selling computers, cameras, camcorders, accessories etc. I was thinking some of the items like memory cards etc under a glass top but not so important. Don't mind mixing materials but want something quite easy to build since not much time.

Perhaps a drawer then under the counter top too?

I will try and source local wood - I can get English Beech, Ash, Cherry, Pear at reasonable prices. Not used Enlgish variants of these woods - any I should avoid?

There is an issue with getting electrics to the counter but I was thinking of one of those rubber strips over the wires?

It's for me by the way - not a client!

Browsing the web I can't see much that fits the kind of look I want.

Joinerysolutions - does your book have any design ideas for shop counters?

Thanks a lot,

Gidon

 

[wizer]

Good luck with your venture Gidon. I think you need to think about a theme for the shop. Do you want it to be like a rustic oak feel? Or a 'Back to School' kind of feel (science labs or something). You get the idea? Then you can work out how the place will look. I'd love to have a go at something like that (designing it I mean).



PS: If you need a website....

 

[jasonB]

Try a Google Image search for "shop counters" hundreads of designs there.

If there is a false ceiling you may be able to drop the wires down a tube, less risk of tripping and it looks better.

Jason

 

[JoinerySolutions]

Gidon, the book is a design reference it has dimensions for most design needs that an architect or designer may need. Unfortunately it does not really show actual designs.

Timber wise beech is a clean crisp looking material and cherry is much warmer, avoid heat build up in it when sanding as this can cause surface checking. Some laminates can work well with these timbers too, ideal for large areas of vertical surfaces.
As for you being your own client, brave...very brave! :lol:

atb Rob.

 

[gidon]

Thanks Wizer - I have an interim website up but after the shop opens will be getting full e-commerce site up.

Jason - have a look at Google but not a huge variation - still got some ideas including the variation below so thanks.

OK thanks Rob.

Had a quick play with Sketchup - whaddya reckon? Wood selection in sketchup is not very good - would like a lighter look so may well go with Beech - espeically since I can get very local Cornish beech.

H=900mm (till at 750mm), W=1600mm, D=600mm


Cheers

Gidon

 

[wizer]

I think you could easily get a glass display box in that first, top section and I'd make it an FE drawer. It really depends on your EPOS system, but I think I'd want the till covered from view at the front.

I guess it all depends on how long you've got to make it and how much work you want to do. You could make it as fancy or basic as you like. Wouldn't it be easier and more economical to use veneered sheet stock with solid lippings?

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Hmmm...I was thinking of something a bit more contemporary than you've drawn but perhaps you need more storage space?

edit: I banged this out. It's closer to what I pictured based on your description of the place.

BTW, woodgrain materials for SketchUp are everywhere. All you need to do is an image search on Google for the wood you want.

 

[gidon]

Wizer - yes could use glass as worktop - will see how it looks.
Not sure what you mean about having the till covered - it needs to open?

I'm not against using man made veneered boards - definitely for the bottom and shelves - but would like a fair bit of solid wood too.

Dave - no don't need storage space - just I'm no designer! If you could describe what you were thinking I'll take any suggestions! Tricky thing is it is a barrier - so does seem to limit design options.

Have found some wood grain pics - but haven't used Sketchup for so long - can't remember even the most basic things. You'd have a fit if you saw how I drew that thing up!!

Cheers

Gidon

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Did my image show up for you?

Maybe the front could be made with a window on the front for displaying some small items. I added some drawers on the back that could have locks. I didn't draw in shelves and below the till might be some additional lockable space or at least drawers for supplies and that sort of thing.

 

[JoinerySolutions]

Dave R, How did you manage to use watercolours on a napkin without a splodgy mess? :lol: Nice design concept though. Rob.

 

[gidon]

Sorry Dave - that pic wasn't showing up when I posted.
Nice - may have a play around that idea although not sure it doesn't look a bit like a reception desk rather than a shop counter?
As an aside - when you do something like that in Sketchup - do you still make each individual component and piece it together or do you just sketch it if that makes sense?!
Cheers
Gidon

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Rob, it's just watercolour pencils. Thank you.

Gidon, I drew the counter as a single hunk of geometry. No components at all. Since it is just a concept and not intended to work out construction details, I didn't bother with drawing individual parts. If this was a final design or at least getting close, I would draw all of the parts as components.

Shop counter, reception desk. I guess it could go either way. Depends upon what you need.

Dave

 

[gidon]

Ok thanks Dave - good to know.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[gidon]

I'm scrapping solid wood and going for Walnut veneered MDF. Just too expensive and time consuming to use solid wood and at least the wood will be locally sourced )) if not from locally cut down trees!

Any further comments on the shop counter design (in the Walnut) before I order the wood? May glass top the top left section as Wizer suggested.

I'm also building some simple 900mm high tables (1.2m wide, 600mm deep) for computers and printers to be displayed and used on.

Any comments? Two or three of these will be butted against each other end to end. Cable management at the back. Does the front need extra support (as in the rail - which I quite like aesthitically anyway)?? Any other ideas? I would like a chunky top but to lip with solid wood and acheive this effect the top would overhang which doesn't really seemed apprpriate or is it?

Really appreciate anyone's help on this.

Front:


Back:


Cheers

Gidon

 

[wizer]

ahh you're going for the KISS approach Even if you don't have a glass display cabinet in the top, you might want to consider putting glass on top of the top (if you see what I mean. This will protect the top from hundreds and hundreds of customers each day It will need wiping often to deal with finger prints, but it will extend the life of the top a great deal.

If this is a tech shop then I think we need something flashy in this counter. Some sort of light effect, or video screen.

 

[wobblycogs]

If I was building a counter for a computer shop I would seriously consider building a water cooled windowed computer into it. Whack in a few coloured fans and some nice shiny high end graphics card or something. Bling central I admin but will probably appeal to your customers.

Something I saw once but never got round to trying myself was windowed hard drives. Take two identical hard drives, and put windows in the top then set them up as RAID1 (mirrored). The drive heads will move in sync and look very cool. Your customers will look something like this :shock:. It's apparently fairly easy to window a hard drive just imperative that the environment is very clean but there are ways to achieve that cheaply.