katie.lacy@letsgetcoffee.co.uk, Author at Modish Living

Start now! Get ready for going back to school

It feels like the school holidays have only just begun, yet, again, before we know it, we’re thinking about getting the kids back to school. After the holiday many children are excited to go back to school, so it’s good to be organised and ready!

Below are a few ideas that we hope will get them ready and excited to go back to school. This can be especially useful for younger kids who are starting their first or a new school – it will help them get excited about it – but it’s nice for any child to be involved in getting ready to start the new school year.

School uniform

Check to see if last years uniform still fits and if you need to buy any replacement items. Start looking out for school uniform items now – large supermarkets offer some excellent value items – it is completely worth shopping around to see what you can find. While sorting out the uniform take a look at what clothes storage your child has in their room. A solid wood wardrobe with drawers gives plenty of space so your children know exactly where to grab stuff during the early morning starts!

School shoes

In our experience, kids never wear shoes out before they need the next size up! Now is the time to sort out the hallway storage bench and see which shoes still fit, what can be sold or donated and what replacements you need to buy.

New school rucksack and pencil case

Buying a new rucksack and pencil case is a highlight for most younger kids when it comes to getting ready to go back to school! Make space so the school bag has a permanent “home” in a wooden chest in the hallway – this could save hunting around for it on a Monday morning! It is also a good place to keep their PE kit – ready to grab it on the way out the door.

Travel and bus passes

Get organised and buy monthly or annual travel passes. Your child’s school or the local council website should have information on what you need to do to get assistance with travel expenses for your child. It may also be worth getting in a few spare washable face masks in case they are needed during your child’s journey to and from school.

Create a study area

If your child is moving up to secondary school then they will definitely need a quiet place to do their homework, so think about creating a simple study area in their bedroom. Just a kids desk and chair in the corner with good lighting and a desk tidy is all that is needed. This is also a good idea for little kids – a place where they can keep their pens, pencils, colouring books and school things altogether neat and tidy.

Desk tidy out

If your child already has a desk in their bedroom then have a sort out and give it a bit of a revamp – recycle old drawing books and activity books restock things you are running short on – maybe treat them to a new study chair, hang a cork board on the wall or get a solid wood chest of drawers to give a bit extra storage space.

Haircut

If you haven’t already, make an appointment for the ‘back to school’ haircut – salons get very busy this time of year with all the kids getting a quick tidy up before they head back to school!

Dark or light? How to style your living room like a pro

Do you prefer a dark and atmospheric living room style or do you find yourself coveting a more light and white look? Both styles have their merits and can be difficult to pull-off successfully. Dark and cosy colours are very on-trend especially if you are creating an atmospheric living room, while a white and bright makes a room airy and accessible. In this blog we take two interior designers who have nailed each style and made it their trademark to find out how they do it.

Are you more of an Abigail Ahern or a Chrissy Rucker?

Abigail Ahern – the mistress of darkness

Abigail Ahern is well known for working with darker colours in rooms, which she mixes with glamorous finishing touches to style a room and bring it to life. Abigail creates rooms that are luxurious and glamorous but the rooms have to have a laid back feel to them….you definitely don’t want to feel uptight in your own family living room. Let’s have a look at some ideas inspired by her world-renowned style.

To get her look you need to start with dark painted walls and even ceilings. She recommends painting skirting boards and coving in the same colour as your walls for a statement look. To bring in the luxury and glamour you need to add lots of texture, house plants and dried flowers. Abigail sometimes uses floor rugs with a striking print to break up the dark and draw the eye.

To bring in the glamour opt for oversized gold-framed mirrors or striking wall art – we are looking for luxury so lighting could be in the form of an eye-catching chandelier as well as mood lighting provided by a table lamp stood on an industrial side table. An industrial sideboard like the Knightsbridge is just perfect for this look – the shiny industrial legs bring an element of glamour to the reclaimed body of the unit, a perfect surface to stand that piece of modern art right next to your favourite antique display pieces.

Chrissy Rucker – brighter than white

The White Company is famous for its luxury all-white interiors and accessories. White has been a go-to colour for years in room decor whether in a grand glamourous room or a trendy minimalist space. Here we look at how Chrissy uses a neutral scheme in the living room to perfection.

First of all, it does not have to be all pure white – you can use whites with the slightest hints of beige or grey to add interest and depth to the room – there are so many off-white paints and accessories it would be easy to settle on an overall hue.

You can also combine white with statement pieces of furniture – bring in a modern Chesterfield sofa for some contrast. The trick is to mix different whites and neutrals to give depth and interest – if you want to use reclaimed wood furniture then opt for paler reclaimed wood item, such as a rustic sideboard to keep the look soft, simple and uncluttered. Pieces from the Worcester Range, especially a white painted sideboard is the perfect piece of reclaimed wood furniture for your white, minimalist living room.

Tips to get a family friendly living room

how to get a family friendly living room

We all want a nice stylish living room but some believe that when there are children involved, be it toddlers or teens, that it will all go to pot! In this blog we look at some top tips that we have gleaned over the years to help you keep your living room spic and span and looking fabulous at all times.

Stay on top of clutter with clever storage

Nowadays there are stylish storage solutions for everything in the living room. From a large wooden sideboard for books and board games to a rustic coffee table with drawers for coasters and remotes to a reclaimed wood TV stand with shelves for DVD players, games consoles and compartments galore – nothing in your living room need ever be out of place again!

Use adaptable furniture

To add in even more extra storage opportunities you can opt for a Blanket Box that can also double as a hidden storage space perfect for scatter cushions and winter throws.

Keep the colours bright and approachable

A light and bright colour scheme will always work well in the family living room, but don’t be tempted to go for a pale colour as it will be tricky to match if you need to do any little touch-ups. Of course, you can bring in some bright and bold accent colours for the younger ones in the household – all kids love a bean bag so pick a bright one – perfect for sitting on to flick through a book, a little afternoon nap, watching a film or when extra seating is needed.

Add a photo gallery wall

All kids love seeing photos of themselves and their family around the house – ready to remind them how cute they were and how much they have grown. A family photo wall is also a great way for other people to see your favourite photos, they’re always a great way to start lovely conversations with your family and friends. What’s more, it brings an informal and personal feel to a room. We like to keep it stylish and simple and stick to more monochrome black and white prints.

Invest in a stylish TV unit

Watching a movie is a family pastime everyone enjoys, so keep everything organised and your DVD collection easily accessible with an industrial TV unit like the Ironbridge Industrial Reclaimed Wood TV Unit. There’s plenty of room for games consoles, remotes and other TV and media-related paraphernalia you want to have close at hand, yet out of sight.

Get family friendly furniture

Family friendly furniture is a must-have in your living room with leather furniture being a perfect choice. Choose a 2 seater sofa as it is easy to wipe up any spillages or, of course, there is the faux leather, vegan friendly option. When it comes to furniture go for a rustic coffee table – small wear and tear dents and scratches will barely be noticeable and will blend in with the natural undulations in the wood. Of course being reclaimed and solid wood, any more major damage can also easily be put right by a furniture technician.

How to add grandeur to a living room

pink velvet sofa with dark painted walls and large gold bookcase

If the minimalist look is not for you experiment with adding glitz and glamour to bring some glorious grandeur to your living room. Here, we look at a few quick and easy trips to help you get started.

Mix old and new

Blending old and new together is a really quick and simple way to update your living room and give it a touch of glam. You can have traditional furniture but add some industrial furniture or some ultra-modern wall art. The contrast of old and new adds a chic and stylish touch. You can start with a reclaimed wood sideboard like the Glasgow Reclaimed Elm Small Sideboard – over this, hang a modern wall mirror or can stand a modern sculpture or some grand shiny candlesticks.

Enhance high ceilings

If you are lucky enough to have gorgeous high ceilings in your living room then make the most of it. Accentuate the height by adding tall impressive features and furniture, such as floor-to-ceiling display shelving or tall skinny bookcases. You can hang your curtains high and add some on-trend hanging plant pots to fully use the height of the room. These tricks will also help create the illusion of height in your room if your room has a lower ceiling.

Be bold with colour

If you prefer to stick with an overall neutral theme then add a bold accent colour to bring some grandeur to your living room. Add a bright velvet chair near a window and to balance the colour in the room, bring other accents in, in the form of accessories, scatter cushions or a rug.

Add statement furniture

Statement furniture pieces are a must-have for a grand room – splash out on one piece that really catches the eye – an industrial coffee table or a reclaimed wood sideboard are great choices. Or how about display shelving….which gives you another opportunity to add more glamour to your room with ornaments and picture frames?

Add grand accessories

Bring in lighting that is full of character – this does not have to be just table lamps – a sparkling pendant light over the coffee table or side table, a statement industrial light or fairy lights around pictures or mirrors add a splendid sparkle.

Bold / polished metals

Using gold or silver elements in your living room is an instant fix to add some glamour and grandeur to your living room. Just look at the stylish Redmond Reclaimed Elm small side table – stand a shiny decorative vase or table lamp on this for a grand look.

Brighten a dining room with sunny yellow

yellow daffodils on a rustic dining table

Let’s face it, yellow can be a tricky colour when it comes to interior design, but we think it is a brilliant shade to work with and here we will look at some ways to bring summery yellow into the dining room whatever the season.

There are many hues of yellow you can choose, from barely a whisper of yellow to a much darker, bolder shade. Yellow works beautifully with reclaimed furniture, especially in the dining room. It might be considered a summery colour, but you can use yellow to brighten your dining space all year round. Use it as a base to bring in the oranges and reds of autumn, in the winter brighten the gloom and grey, and in the spring, it will quickly chase winter away!

Yellow and the farmhouse style

Yellow works with most interior styles you just have to vary the shade a little to get the look you are after. But when is comes to farmhouse style, yellow is definitely the go-to colour for many. You can choose a gentle buttery yellow for the walls and brighten it up with other bolder yellow pieces throughout the space. We are all familiar with the farmhouse dining table with a yellow checked cloth on it with a striking vase of fresh-cut flowers – it gives off feel-good vibes and adds a happy brightness to the entire room.

Be bold with yellow

To bring in a subtle hue of yellow then opt for a soft coloured yellow wall, a colour reminiscent of old fashioned vanilla ice cream – if it really isn’t your thing you can easily paint over a pale colour! However, if you are leaning more towards a vibrant statement yellow then go for it! You can bring in this colour by using a few key pieces in your room.

A rug – a rug in the dining room anchors the dining table – choose yellow!

An armchair – we love to use accent chairs in any room and the same goes with dining room furniture – choose a bold statement-making yellow armchair – set this in the corner of your room to really bring in a dash of sunshine.

Dining chairs – yes, why not show off your style by opting for yellow dining chairs. We love how modern accent items work absolutely beautifully when styled with a reclaimed wood dining table.

Accessorise in yellow

If you want to bring in a small ray of sunshine then opt for yellow accessories on a rustic dining table such as ornaments, vases, plant pots and dining chair cushions. Fresh cut flowers is another way to bring in just a little yellow and will lift the room.

Yellow for the body and soul

Research suggests that eating yellow food as well as orange and red is a way of getting some good sunshine into your body and if it is good for the inside it must be good on the outside too!.

Yellow is a colour associated with communication, self-esteem, and power – making it a positive colour to use in your home. It conjures up feelings of happiness, summer, positivity and optimism – so it sounds like we should all be using it a whole load more in our homes!!

Hot tips for successful summer dining

Outdoor dining with friends is just the best way to while away a balmy summer evening – sip sun downer cocktails before dinner, a delicious light evening meal followed by after-dinner drinks around a fire pit – the perfect summers evening!

Here we look at how to dine in style whether it be indoors or al fresco – whether just a get together with close family and friends, a big birthday bash or another milestone celebration. We hope our top summer dining tips will help you hit the nail on the head when it comes to summer entertaining.

1 – Glamourous tableware

More than ever before we are all enjoying and valuing the time we spend with our friends and family, so if you’re entertaining, really roll out the red carpet. There is nothing more wonderful for your guests than walking into your dining room or garden and seeing a stunning dining table set ready for them to feast at – we do after all eat with our eyes first.

In the summertime, especially in the garden, use beautiful glass dishes to make use of any natural light – at lunch, in the midday sun, it will look blue and at sundown, it will take on the pinky colours of the sunset sky. If you have lights on or hanging over your garden table your glass dishes will continue to sparkle throughout the night.

If you choose to dine indoors then sparkly glass dishes work wonderfully against a rustic dining table and chairs – the contrast of sparkly glass and rustic wood just works so well.

2 – Set a theme

Opting for a themed table is sometimes seen as being a bit predictable but why not? Choosing a theme brings cohesion to the dining table. Whether you are dining indoors at a homely farmhouse table, or outdoors around the garden table you can go for a rustic farmhouse theme – dried or fresh cut flowers and rustic earthenware dishes are a winning and on-trend combo for summer dining.

You can also set a summer colour theme for your dining space and opt for blue or green fabric dining chairs. If you have a wooden extendable dining table and a wooden dining bench then dress the bench with colour coordinated cushions and use this colour to blend or add contrast to the plates and serving dishes you use.

3 – Light it up

To host the perfect dinner party you need ambience and atmosphere – the ambience is created by the surroundings you are in and the atmosphere will be created by your dinner guests.

Great lighting is your best friend when it comes to creating the perfect ambience. Work out where your guests will sit and spend time and add your main lighting source there – layer the lighting so you have a brighter area for serving and eating but then have the option to switch off or dim some lights as the evening wears on. A wooden sideboard is the perfect piece of reclaimed wood furniture for the dining room – use the top to add light features like some twinkling fairy lights in a glass bowl – you can place this under a wall mirror to make the light reflect around the room. Hang fairy lights around wall art and use them as the centrepiece on your wooden dining table.

Candles are of course the classic way to bring in ambient lighting – candle flames flickering will always get the mood right for a dinner party – whether it is indoors or out. Everything is softened and looks less harsh in flickering candlelight.

Lighting in the garden can be in the form of string lights, solar lights, festoon lighting or lanterns. If you have a fire pit, it is the perfect source for late-night mooda lighting.

What is reclaimed furniture?

Reclaimed wood furniture is cropping up everywhere here in the UK – so let’s have a look at reclaimed wood and furniture production in more detail…. and find out what is it and why it’s so popular.

Where does reclaimed wood come from? Reclaimed wood is wood that has been used for one purpose already – generally as part of a structure like a building (factory), a boat or ship, railway sleepers a or even a temple door or gate, the structure being dismantled is often over 100 years old! As it is being dismantled any reusable wood is salvaged and will be sold on to craftsmen who will work their magic and transform it into something beautiful! Reclaimed wood can come from anywhere in the world – from the far East to the UK.

How is it turned into furniture? Although it has to fulfil a completely new purpose the idea is to keep it looking as original, rustic and authentic as possible – Yes, we want to see dents, nail holes and slight imperfections in this wood – all add character, history and uniqueness. Skilled craftsmen will access the timbers, using only the highest quality. Any bolts, screws or nails are removed by hand and the timbers are then either machine sanded, sandblasted or skillfully worked on.

This industrial sideboard is part of the Standford Industrial range which is crafted using only reclaimed wood and industrial metal legs and fittings – a perfect illustration of how old wood can be used to create a stunning piece of unique and modern furniture!

Is it lower quality? As we mentioned before, when it comes to reclaimed wood, any dents, nail holes, blemishes, and imperfections give it its character. But in no way does this mean that the quality is lower – the wood is aged wood and extra strong. A reclaimed super king wooden bed frame is made from solid old wood – not new thin wood covered in a laminate or veneer. These are strong and lasting pieces of furniture that will become even more beautiful as they age.

Why choose reclaimed wood? Of course, the most obvious reason for choosing reclaimed wood furniture is the positive environmental impact – reusing saves waste from dismantled structures going to landfill, it also saves new immature trees being grown quickly only to be chopped down. A reclaimed wood table in your kitchen or dining room is an investment piece – it will last for years and is very family-friendly – everyday wear and tear simply blends into the table.

Reclaimed wood furniture is also very easy to care for day to day – all you need to do really is wipe up it down after use as you would with any other dining table – and then go over it every month or so with wax or oil (depending on the original finish) to feed the wood and help maintain its gorgeous luster.

Tips to plan a new living room and bedroom layout

Man moving armchair for tips to plan a new layout for your living room and bedroom blog

Following on from our last blog on Tips for planning out the kitchen diner in your new home, we will now have a look at how to plan your furniture layout in your new living room and bedroom.

The living room really is an important room for your household – a place to relax and wind down in the evenings and weekends. It needs to be comfortable with the correct amount of seating for your household and any extra guests you may have from time to time.

You need to consider if the living room furniture from your old house is the right style for your new room and if it will fit in the space correctly. If your new living room is more square you may need to rethink seating arrangements and add an extra armchair or two, maybe you can fit in a large reclaimed wood coffee table.

Take note of where the TV socket is, other sockets, windows, doors and radiators. Draw a to-scale floor plan and then cut out pieces of paper to represent the rustic furniture you want to fit in. Try a few different configurations to see what works best.

One key consideration for a living room is to note where the TV socket is when planing your seating configuration so you can allow the right amount of space between seating and the TV screen – this should ideally be around 2.5 metres but also depends on the size of your TV and the height it is at.

As for style, the industrial look is incredibly popular and looks great in modern homes – the steel frames look great with reclaimed wood. You may decide not to have a central coffee table and instead opt for an industrial side table or a nest of tables if space is too limited for a central coffee table.

The bedroom is generally a little easier to figure out – especially if it already has built-in wardrobes or a dressing room – not much other furniture will be needed. If you had a double bed before you may have enough space to upgrade to a beautiful wooden super king bed, you might only need a couple of bedroom side tables to finish the look. If you are moving a bed from your old home or plan on buying a new bed with a large wooden headboard it is best to check you will be able to get it up any awkwardly shaped staircases or narrow hallways – this particularly applies to older farmhouses and small cottages.

If the bedroom is smaller or darker and you need to add more storage space you could consider white furniture. A white-painted wardrobe will give the feel of more airiness and space rather than a large dark wood wardrobe. Pale coloured reclaimed wood furniture is also a great choice when creating a restful bedroom.

Tips to plan out the kitchen diner in your new home

kitchen with moving in boxes and ironing board

So you’ve found your new home and need to think ahead and start planning where your furniture is going to go. In this and our next blog we will look at how you can prepare to move into your new home and get your furniture lay-out planned well before you get there – I promise you this will make moving-in so much easier!

The kitchen is the heart of the home and one of those rooms that is needed from the minute you move in, so let’s start with the kitchen and dining room or your open plan kitchen diner.

First off, when you pack the final items into the back of your moving lorry or van, just make sure you add a kettle, cups, tea, coffee, sugar, milk and some snacks where you can easily get to them. Taking a 5-minute breather in your new home with a cup of tea or coffee to get re-charged and re-focused will make you more productive in the long run!

Before moving-in day get the full measurements of the space – take note of where sockets, light switches, windows, doors, radiators are. Then you need to decide if the furniture you currently have will work in the new space – there’s no point paying to move it if you want to change it. If you had a formal dining room before and are now moving into a modern kitchen diner you may want to change to a modern industrial style dining table, if you are moving into a cottage then a farmhouse table may suit the style of your new home better. Maybe your dining space is bigger in your new home and you would like to add some reclaimed wood furniture, such as a rustic sideboard.

Use a floor plan to see how this will all fit in the new space – remember to take into account which way doors open and leave plenty of room around the dining table or breakfast bar to pull the dining chairs out and get around it. If the room is open plan then use zoning to define the different areas – you may want be able to fit in a modern leather sofa and TV area and create a family TV space.

If you have a separate dining room you may want to go for a more formal reclaimed dining table and make it the focal point of the room. Think about if the lighting is in the right place? Would it work better if the ceiling light were moved? Do you need to change your wooden dining chairs to fabric dining chairs? Think about bringing in an accent colour – bold blue velvet dining chairs will give an otherwise formal room a modern splash of colour.

If your kitchen only has a little bit of spare space you may want to bring in a small wooden table and chairs that can be used for breakfasts and quick lunches. Use your floorplan to decide how big the table can be – just allow an additional metre all around it for chairs.