Élan Noir

I'll be honest — when my business partner suggested spending this much on a desk, I thought he'd lost his mind. But after 18 months with the Imperium, I get it. The thing weighs probably 200 pounds and hasn't budged an inch, even when my kids decided to use it as a fort last summer. More importantly, it's completely changed how clients perceive our firm. Worth every penny.

The cable management alone sold me on the EXECUTIF line — I was so tired of looking like a tech disaster during video calls. But honestly, what surprised me was how much more focused I feel sitting at this desk. There's something about the weight and presence of it that makes me take my work more seriously. My assistant jokes that I actually show up to the office earlier now.

Here's the thing about good design — you know it when you see it. I'd been shopping around for months, getting frustrated with furniture that looked great online but felt cheap in person. The Clair + Net suite was different from the moment I touched it. The finish has this subtle texture that photographs beautifully, which matters more than you'd think when half your clients only see you on Zoom.

My old setup was this mismatched collection from three different stores — functional but forgettable. Six months into working with the PRESTIGE collection, and I actually had a potential client ask where I got my furniture before we even started talking business. That's when you know you've made the right investment. Plus, the surfaces actually stay clean, which is a miracle given how much coffee I spill.

Running a startup out of a converted bedroom means every piece has to earn its place. The STUDIO collection completely transformed my 10x12 space — I went from feeling cramped to actually wanting to give virtual office tours. My co-founder was skeptical about the cost until he saw how much more organized I became. Sometimes good design is the best productivity hack

I was stuck in a creative rut working from my kitchen table for two years. The L'AVANT-GARDE setup gave me a real workspace for the first time since going freelance. What I didn't expect was how much my morning routine would change — I actually look forward to sitting down with my coffee now. My productivity has probably doubled, and my back definitely thanks me.