In conversation with Nest Contracts
Delivering informed, consultative support for commercial interiors.
We spoke with Commercial Partnerships Manager, Lucy Farmer, about how Nest works alongside clients to add value beyond specification.
Tell us about you and the team at Nest Contracts
Hello! I’m Lucy, and I head up the Contracts Team at Nest. We partner with commercial clients across the hospitality, workplace, and living sectors to bring spaces to life—curating outstanding furniture and lighting that deliver the very best in design excellence.
The team here combine deep industry expertise with a proactive, hands-on approach. We care deeply about the details, take pride in what we do, and focus on building long-term relationships with clients, brands, and partners who share our commitment to exceptional design. We’re a fun and friendly bunch too!
What sets Nest Contracts approach apart in comparison to other providers in the sector?
We curate furniture that works hard without compromising on design. Our focus has always been on pieces that are beautifully made, commercially robust, and will stand the test of time.
Our long-standing relationships with our brands and partners means that our clients can access the world’s top brands under one roof at competitive prices. You also have access to dedicated account managers who support you throughout your project, ensuring your projects are delivered on time, on brief and on budget.
How does furniture and lighting contribute to brand identity and experience?
Furniture and interiors are one of the most powerful tools in shaping brand perception. From a hotel lobby to a client meeting room, it communicates who you are and what you stand for; quality, intent, and attention to detail — creating spaces that feel considered, welcoming, and distinctive.
How does the Contracts Team support clients through complex or large-scale projects?
We recognise large-scale projects require more than just great furniture – they need careful coordination structure and processes. Our Contracts Team supports clients from the outset with clear project management, transparent communication and meticulous planning.
We work closely with designers, contractors and procurement teams to ensure everything runs smoothly, from specification through to delivery and installation. Our experience of delivering projects across hospitality, education and residential environments, has given us the understanding of the pressures clients face. We provide practical, hands-on support to our clients to ensure they feel confident every step of the way.
What role does collaboration play in your work with designers, specifiers, and architects?
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We partner with designers, architects and specifiers, working alongside them to translate creative visions into furniture solutions that are both beautiful and commercially practical.
Our team brings product knowledge, technical insight and an understanding of how furniture performs in different environments. By working closely with the wider project team, we help ensure the final specification not only looks right but also functions seamlessly within the space.
Can you talk us through your process – from initial brief to final installation?
Every project begins with understanding the brief and the environment the furniture will live in. From there, we guide clients through product selection, specification and practical considerations such as durability, finishes and lead times.
Our team then manages the ordering, logistics, installation and coordination with the client and site teams. By the time installation takes place, everything has been carefully planned to ensure a smooth delivery and a finished space that performs exactly as intended.
How does Nest Contracts help clients with sustainable procurement choices?
Designing responsibly and sustainably means thinking long-term. The brands that we work with create furniture that is made to last, using durable materials and responsible manufacturing. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also delivers better return on investment for our clients.
What design direction is shaping future commercial interiors?
We’re seeing a shift across all sectors towards softer, comfort-led environments which support wellbeing and calmness. Designers are increasingly specifying adaptable furniture that allows spaces to evolve throughout the day, alongside harmonious colour palettes and tactile finishes that add warmth and depth.
Upholstered seating, textured fabrics and natural materials are particularly popular, helping commercial spaces feel more welcoming and human-centred. Ultimately, clients are looking for furniture that balances flexibility and durability while creating environments that feel warm, modern and inviting.
How do you ensure quality and durability across the products you specify?
In commercial environments, furniture must make an impact on the first impression, but also work hard to stand up to the demands of the setting. We guide our clients to make the right choices, balancing design with long-term durability.
Our focus has always been on pieces that are beautifully made, commercially robust, and will stand the test of time. Many of the brands we work with have decades of manufacturing expertise and rigorous testing standards, which gives our clients confidence in the quality of what they’re specifying.
Our role is to help match the right product to the right environment, ensuring it not only looks exceptional but also stands up to daily use.
How do global supply chain changes influence your work – and how do you adapt?
The past few years have reinforced how important transparency and strong supplier relationships are. We work closely with our manufacturing partners to stay ahead of potential challenges and provide clients with realistic lead times and clear communication.
Our experience allows us to suggest suitable alternatives when needed and plan projects with flexibility in mind. For clients, that means fewer surprises and the reassurance that their project is being managed by a team that understands the wider landscape.
What challenges do clients typically face when sourcing furniture for commercial spaces, and how do you help overcome them?
One of the biggest potential challenges for clients is balancing aesthetics with practicality. A piece might look beautiful in a concept scheme, but it also needs to perform reliably in a busy commercial setting. Clients are also navigating lead times, budgets and installation logistics, which can quickly become complex.
Our team helps simplify that process by providing honest advice, clear timelines and products we know will perform in the real world, giving clients confidence that their spaces will work as well as they look.
What advice would you give to clients looking to future-proof their interiors?
Future-proofing starts with choosing furniture that is built to last, both in terms of durability and design. Timeless pieces, high-quality materials and well-engineered construction will always outperform short-term trends.
It’s also important to consider flexibility – furniture that can adapt to evolving spaces and changing user needs. Working with experienced partners who understand how furniture performs in different environments can make all the difference in creating interiors that remain relevant, functional and beautiful for years to come.
Looking to elevate your next commercial project?
Discover our curated collection of designer furniture and speak to the Nest Contracts Team about creating spaces that perform beautifully and stand the test of time.
We’re independent and dedicated, and our team of experts love what we do, and believe in what we sell. You can be sure that when you speak to us, you’ll receive a personal, informed, and honest service. Thanks to years of industry experience and long-standing relationships with our suppliers, our team can provide you with direct access to the world’s most elite interiors brands and the best possible lead times - whatever the size of your project and wherever you are in the world. Work directly with your dedicated project manager from initial brief through to completion or order through our instant access self-serve portal - both offering competitive exclusive pricing for professionals.
We hope you choose Nest Contracts for your next project. Should you have another question you’d like to put to our team - get in touch with Nest Contracts via email, call us on 0114 243 3000 or message us via Live Chat.
In conversation with Nest Contracts
Delivering informed, consultative support for commercial interiors.
We spoke with Commercial Partnerships Manager, Lucy Farmer, about how Nest works alongside clients to add value beyond specification.
Tell us about you and the team at Nest Contracts
Hello! I’m Lucy, and I head up the Contracts Team at Nest. We partner with commercial clients across the hospitality, workplace, and living sectors to bring spaces to life—curating outstanding furniture and lighting that deliver the very best in design excellence.
The team here combine deep industry expertise with a proactive, hands-on approach. We care deeply about the details, take pride in what we do, and focus on building long-term relationships with clients, brands, and partners who share our commitment to exceptional design. We’re a fun and friendly bunch too!
Work with us
Read more
What sets Nest Contracts approach apart in comparison to other providers in the sector?
We curate furniture that works hard without compromising on design. Our focus has always been on pieces that are beautifully made, commercially robust, and will stand the test of time.
Our long-standing relationships with our brands and partners means that our clients can access the world’s top brands under one roof at competitive prices. You also have access to dedicated account managers who support you throughout your project, ensuring your projects are delivered on time, on brief and on budget.
How does furniture and lighting contribute to brand identity and experience?
Furniture and interiors are one of the most powerful tools in shaping brand perception. From a hotel lobby to a client meeting room, it communicates who you are and what you stand for; quality, intent, and attention to detail — creating spaces that feel considered, welcoming, and distinctive.
How does the Contracts Team support clients through complex or large-scale projects?
We recognise large-scale projects require more than just great furniture – they need careful coordination structure and processes. Our Contracts Team supports clients from the outset with clear project management, transparent communication and meticulous planning.
We work closely with designers, contractors and procurement teams to ensure everything runs smoothly, from specification through to delivery and installation. Our experience of delivering projects across hospitality, education and residential environments, has given us the understanding of the pressures clients face. We provide practical, hands-on support to our clients to ensure they feel confident every step of the way.
Shop designs suitable for restaurants
What role does collaboration play in your work with designers, specifiers, and architects?
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We partner with designers, architects and specifiers, working alongside them to translate creative visions into furniture solutions that are both beautiful and commercially practical.
Our team brings product knowledge, technical insight and an understanding of how furniture performs in different environments. By working closely with the wider project team, we help ensure the final specification not only looks right but also functions seamlessly within the space.
Read more
Can you talk us through your process – from initial brief to final installation?
Every project begins with understanding the brief and the environment the furniture will live in. From there, we guide clients through product selection, specification and practical considerations such as durability, finishes and lead times.
Our team then manages the ordering, logistics, installation and coordination with the client and site teams. By the time installation takes place, everything has been carefully planned to ensure a smooth delivery and a finished space that performs exactly as intended.
How does Nest Contracts help clients with sustainable procurement choices?
Designing responsibly and sustainably means thinking long-term. The brands that we work with create furniture that is made to last, using durable materials and responsible manufacturing. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also delivers better return on investment for our clients.
What design direction is shaping future commercial interiors?
We’re seeing a shift across all sectors towards softer, comfort-led environments which support wellbeing and calmness. Designers are increasingly specifying adaptable furniture that allows spaces to evolve throughout the day, alongside harmonious colour palettes and tactile finishes that add warmth and depth.
Upholstered seating, textured fabrics and natural materials are particularly popular, helping commercial spaces feel more welcoming and human-centred. Ultimately, clients are looking for furniture that balances flexibility and durability while creating environments that feel warm, modern and inviting.
Read more
How do you ensure quality and durability across the products you specify?
In commercial environments, furniture must make an impact on the first impression, but also work hard to stand up to the demands of the setting. We guide our clients to make the right choices, balancing design with long-term durability.
Our focus has always been on pieces that are beautifully made, commercially robust, and will stand the test of time. Many of the brands we work with have decades of manufacturing expertise and rigorous testing standards, which gives our clients confidence in the quality of what they’re specifying.
Our role is to help match the right product to the right environment, ensuring it not only looks exceptional but also stands up to daily use.
How do global supply chain changes influence your work – and how do you adapt?
The past few years have reinforced how important transparency and strong supplier relationships are. We work closely with our manufacturing partners to stay ahead of potential challenges and provide clients with realistic lead times and clear communication.
Our experience allows us to suggest suitable alternatives when needed and plan projects with flexibility in mind. For clients, that means fewer surprises and the reassurance that their project is being managed by a team that understands the wider landscape.
Shop the Nelson Bubble Lamp Collection
Shop Muuto Dream View Bench
What challenges do clients typically face when sourcing furniture for commercial spaces, and how do you help overcome them?
One of the biggest potential challenges for clients is balancing aesthetics with practicality. A piece might look beautiful in a concept scheme, but it also needs to perform reliably in a busy commercial setting. Clients are also navigating lead times, budgets and installation logistics, which can quickly become complex.
Our team helps simplify that process by providing honest advice, clear timelines and products we know will perform in the real world, giving clients confidence that their spaces will work as well as they look.
What advice would you give to clients looking to future-proof their interiors?
Future-proofing starts with choosing furniture that is built to last, both in terms of durability and design. Timeless pieces, high-quality materials and well-engineered construction will always outperform short-term trends.
It’s also important to consider flexibility – furniture that can adapt to evolving spaces and changing user needs. Working with experienced partners who understand how furniture performs in different environments can make all the difference in creating interiors that remain relevant, functional and beautiful for years to come.
Looking to elevate your next commercial project?
Discover our curated collection of designer furniture and speak to the Nest Contracts Team about creating spaces that perform beautifully and stand the test of time.
We’re independent and dedicated, and our team of experts love what we do, and believe in what we sell. You can be sure that when you speak to us, you’ll receive a personal, informed, and honest service. Thanks to years of industry experience and long-standing relationships with our suppliers, our team can provide you with direct access to the world’s most elite interiors brands and the best possible lead times - whatever the size of your project and wherever you are in the world. Work directly with your dedicated project manager from initial brief through to completion or order through our instant access self-serve portal - both offering competitive exclusive pricing for professionals.
We hope you choose Nest Contracts for your next project. Should you have another question you’d like to put to our team - get in touch with Nest Contracts via email, call us on 0114 243 3000 or message us via Live Chat.
