NORTH-EAST office furniture supplier Brava Lifestyle Offices has launched a joint venture with a joinery company to help boost its national profile.

The deal with Distinct Joinery and Interiors, of Billingham, near Stockton, aims to strengthen Brava's position as a leading office interior planning and design company.

It will also signal a push by Brava into new geographical markets using the internet.

Brava, which already has an office in London, has just completed a move into new headquarters at the Westminster Business Centre, Wynyard Park, near Billingham - almost a year after Sir Tom Cowie opened its previous HQ and showroom at Riverside Park, Middlesbrough.

"Closing the showroom made perfect sense," said managing director Eric Lloyd.

"Our furniture is designed for the modern way of working and, in reality, the modern way of working for us proved not to be a traditional showroom, but a superb website and a design and consultancy service done on a very personal level in the customer's work environment."

Brava Lifestyle Offices was established by Mr Lloyd and his wife, Julie, more than 30 years ago at Lytton Street, Middlesbrough, initially selling second-hand furniture, then new, and ultimately a comprehensive range of bespoke furniture and planning and design services.