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

Take a look at our top 5 pendant lights

Black double pendant light against white painted exposed brick wall

Now we are getting deeper into winter…. and the longest hours of darkness, we are looking at stylish ways to light up our rooms.

Jute hanging pendant light over side table next to a grey sofa

Here we have a look at our top pick pendant lights. These are no longer limited to being suspended over the dining table, the breakfast bar or above the stairs. They look really stylish hanging over a small bedside table as well as also over a small side table at the end of your sofa, or in a reading corner. This is also a great way to keep dangerous, dangling cables out of the way of babies and toddlers.

A pendant light can be a subtle addition to your room, a way to distribute light more evenly or it can be a bold statement piece reflecting your personality. You can layer lighting in your room depending on what mood you want to set in different areas and at different times of day or night – use a combination of downlighters, pendant lights, table lamps and even fairy lights to cover all your lighting requirements.

1. Large Woodchip Pendant Light

Eco-friendly reclaimed wood furniture is hugely popular so we wanted to extend this to accessories. Woodchip has made a stylish comeback in the shape of modern pendant lighting. The woodchip used to produce this light is moulded using completely biodegradable woodchips into a classic industrial form. This gorgeous and sustainable light fitting would be right at home illuminating a reclaimed wood dining table.

2. Bamboo Segia Large Double Pendant Light

Bamboo is another material that is making its way back into the eco-conscious modern home – and here it’s doing so in the shape of a stunning statement double pendant light. Produced from durable and sustainable bamboo this light fitting pairs up beautifully with rustic furniture in any room of the house.

3. Bamboo Darcy Single Pendant Light

We love the minimalist qualities of this bamboo pendant light. The rustic shade allows light to filter freely around the room, creating interesting shapes and patterns.

4. Bamboo Half Moon Double Pendant Light

Believe it or not, this modern pendant light is also produced from sustainable bamboo but with a polished, shiny finish. Available in natural, white and black – this pendant looks stunning if you have an industrial black-legged dining table.

5. Manta Triple Pendant Light

This handcrafted triple pendant light is a gorgeous weave of natural and black bamboo, three complementing lampshades hang in a cluster to create an unusual yet very stylish pendant. This will blend in perfectly in a living or dining space filled with light coloured, natural and earthy materials.

Great ways to brighten up a dark dining room

Dark dining room with black dining room table

If you don’t have a lot of natural daylight streaming into your dining room here are a few of our top tips to help brighten it up.

Bright kitchen diner with wooden dining table, chairs and dark rug

Crisp white walls

White reflects light – so the number one tip is to keep walls and the ceiling nice and white, crisp and clean. Light bounces around a white room and scatters light around the space. Build on the white theme by adding white curtains or blinds, white mirror frames or white framed artwork. This includes wiping down walls to keep them as white and bright as possible.

Pale wood dining table with matching spindle chairs in bright dining room with dark blue doors

Photo featuring: Branford Round Extending Dining Table – Oak

Pale wood and white furniture

Of course, a great way to introduce light into a room is by furnishing with light coloured or white furniture. A Scandinavian minimalist theme is perfect, the whole concept of Scandi style is to make the most of natural light and to use every means possible to bring yet more light into the room. The Scandi interior embraces sustainability so reclaimed wood furniture is hugely popular. Crafted from high quality light oak, we think the Scandi influenced round Wycombe oak extending table is a perfect choice. A round dining table set also works particularly well in a small space as it has no corners so it will make your space look bigger. The Chelwood Medium Reclaimed Wood Dining Table is another excellent option, with this trestle table you have the option of a wooden bench as opposed to individual chairs. As a bench has no back, again it will make the room appear brighter with less in it.

Photo featuring: Chelwood Medium Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Layering lighting

If your dining space is in a kitchen you can place one or two glass table lamps on the top of a kitchen sideboard, hang fairy lights in dark areas or stand a floor lamp in a dark corner. Wall lights also work well as the light is concentrated on the walls -more eye level than a ceiling light, these work particularly well if they shine light down as well as up.

Photo featuring: Vance Neutral Lamp

Use a light floor rug

If you have a dark floor and want to bring more brightness into the room you can add a light coloured rug. With grey still a popular colour in interior style right now you will easily be able to find a light grey rug that suits most interior decor styles. It’s a neutral colour and will help break up and brighten dark flooring.

Add a bit of black and accent colours

A great way to make the white really pop is to add a couple of dark items to the room – we suggest adding a black pendant light – this works to make the white look whiter! A black pendant light works wonders over a reclaimed wood dining table as it distributes the light more evenly around the room. Bright and bold accent chairs will also help brighten the room – adding a burst of vibrant colour against the white will bring in another eye-catching contrast against the white.

Modern wing back chair in bright red in empty room with white walls and black hanging pendant lights

How to add glamour to your dining room

Reclaimed wood dining table with dark wood and gold legs with blue velvet dining chairs

Dining room with round dining table and pink velvet dining chairs and reclaimed wood sideboard

First and foremost let’s look at dining tables – this is the focal point in your dining room and what you will spend the most time in this room sitting around. If you don’t have space, or the real need, for a big 6 seater dining table then consider a round one like the glamorous industrial Luxe Kensington.

Back buttoned grey velvet armchairs with black wooden legs

Photo featuring: Bladon Grey Velvet Dining Chairs

If you love your dining table or don’t have the budget to change this right now then you can switch up a notch when it comes to chairs – velvet is a regal fabric and will quickly glam up any dining room. Fabric chairs with button backs and stud detailing will also do the trick – If you can’t afford to replace all chairs you can also switch a couple of chairs for an upholstered bench – they really are the thing in dining room style right now – add some glamourous cushions that coordinate with other elements of the room to tie it into your scheme.

Industrial reclaimed wood drinks cabinet

Photo featuring: Kingsbridge Industrial Reclaimed Oak Drinks Cabinet

A cocktail cabinet in the dining room just screams “seasoned entertainer”! Practice your cocktail making skills on your dinner guests in style with the Kingsbridge Industrial Reclaimed Oak Drinks Cabinet, plenty of room for all your drinks, glasses and anything else you might need, all tidily tucked away when not in use. This is a piece of reclaimed wood furniture with an industrial element, the luxurious wood patterning gives it its glamourous vibe.

Dark wood sideboard with gold handle and frame

For a similar dark wood sideboard see our Pimlico Elm Large Sideboard

Wooden sideboards are a great addition to any dining room – a place to hide away clutter with the added bonus to add an elegant display on the top of if. Gold or silver candlesticks, a sparkly framed mirror, a house plant in a decorative plant pot and glass table lamps so you have more subtle lighting when you’ve finished dining. Of course for lighting over the dining table you can add a chandelier or a pendant light, this will add the feeling of height to the room as well as look fab.

Large white sideboard with two table lamps

See a similar white sideboard see our Worcester Reclaimed Wood Large Sideboard

Whatever type of flooring you have in your dining room, you can always add a rug under the dining table and chairs – it just anchors your dining set in the room. You can use this opportunity to reinforce your chosen colour scheme.

Investing in furniture that will last a lifetime

Neutral scheme living room with light grey sofa

You want to invest in some quality furniture and you should choose these wisely – these will not be flat packed items or mass-produced – here we are looking at good quality statement pieces that you won’t regret buying.

Sandy beach with old wooden boat on shore

Reclaimed wood furniture

What’s not to love about reclaimed wood furniture? Environmentally it is the best type of wood to use, no new trees are being cut down to produce your investment furniture, it’s already had one life, maybe as a boat, a girder from a demolished factory or a railway sleeper, and now it’s being given a second lease of life as a unique furniture piece. Reclaimed wood is full of character, it’s already naturally aged with markings and indentations that give a small glimpse into its history – all this comes together to give you a durable, unique piece of classic furniture. A reclaimed wood dining table gives a room a warm homely feel, perfect for family dinners, along with a modern sideboard it is all you will need in your dining room.

Wooden dining table with white trestle legs and matching wooden bench

Photo featuring: Dorset Reclaimed Wood Extendable Trestle Table and Dorset Reclaimed Wood Bench

Classic designs

We suggest sticking to classic designs when shopping for investment furniture – nothing too fussy and definitely no impulse buys…! Reclaimed wood furniture tends to be hand made or at the very least hand-finished by “a person” rather than a machine – so your furniture has a personal touch. We suggest investing in pieces that can be moved around the house as your needs change.

Reclaimed wood chest of drawers with small dog of sheepskin rug on the floor

Photo featuring: Beam Medium Reclaimed Wood Chest of Drawers

Our Beam range includes chests of drawers, bookcases, bedside tables TV units and much, much more. A bookcase could be used in a teen bedroom, when they move out it can become display shelving in a hallway or living space, likewise, a large chest of drawers can be used in a dining room, kitchen, bedroom or living room! Simple natural style will never go out of fashion.

Brown leather chesterfield armchair and footstool in front of open fire

For a similar armchair see our Traditional Chesterfield Leather Armchair

Lasting materials

Choose hard-wearing materials like wood, metal and leather – you want your furniture to stand the test of time. Reclaimed wood already has oodles of character – if it receives a small knock, it won’t show but rather will blend in. Wood is also easy to care for, to keep it looking fresh and full of lustre you can easily add a thin layer of wax or oil from time to time. Furniture technicians are also more able to work with a solid reclaimed wood piece of furniture if more serious attention is needed. A leather sofa is a great choice – get a versatile brown, grey or black – you can style your investment sofa with a classic brown leather armchair and footstool or a bold coloured accent chair. You can change cushions, add throws and change your room colour scheme as several colours will work with a neutral colour. Leather gets better with age and you can purchase treatments for leather help it age gracefully.

Photo featuring: Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Curved Coffee Table

Introducing our new glamorous Standford Collection

Knightsbridge Reclaimed Oak Dining Table and velvet chairs

We have gotten ourselves a little bit excited about our new Standford collection of reclaimed wood furniture and couldn’t wait to share it with you!

This range is for the environmentally conscious who really don’t want to skimp on style and luxury it’s crafted from prime reclaimed wood with its natural markings and undulations proudly on display. The industrial element is introduced by the shiny silver metal legs and frame. This range of rustic furniture includes everything you would need to luxuriously furnish your living room, dining room and hallway – so let’s have a look in a little bit more detail!

Photo featuring: Standford Large Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table

For the dining room

The focal point of a dining room is, of course, the dining table – the Standford brings together a rustic dining table, a good helping of glamour and a brings in a dash of industrial. This statement dining table looks gorgeous when you add plush velvet dining chairs or a velvet dining bench. This collection includes three different size wooden sideboards giving you complete flexibility to choose how much storage you need and also how this range will fit into your dining room. If you only have a little space then the console table will give you an extra surface to put serving dishes and drinks on.

Photo featuring: Standford Large Reclaimed Wood Industrial Sideboard

For the living room

Of course, an industrial sideboard is a great option for a living room too – plenty of hidden storage space for family games, DVD’s books, console games etc. With a solid wood coffee table in the collection, an oak side table and the choice of either a small TV stand or a large TV stand your living room furniture could be coordinatingly complete.

Photo featuring: Standford Reclaimed Wood Small TV Unit

We think the clean industrial lines make this an ideal furniture for the modern home as this collection will also add a real warm rustic element to contrast. The incredible character of the prime solid oak used to craft these pieces is sure to be a conversation piece in your home and will definitely encourage compliments. In the image below you can just see how this collection will bring the beauty of nature into your home.

Most importantly you will have a clear conscience knowing that your furniture has been skillfully produced from reclaimed wood that would otherwise have ended up in landfill.

For the hallway

A narrow reclaimed wood console table is perfect for the hallway – hang a mirror over it for a last once over before you head out the door and a decorative dish keeps keys in so you aren’t hunting around for them when you’re trying to get out the house.

Photo featuring: Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Console Table

Living room furniture that has stood the test of time

Brown leather chesterfield sofa with rustic coffee table and wooden sticks with blue candles

Living room style has changed a lot over the years – from a formal room used for special occasions and receiving guests, to the room many of us spend most our relaxation time in. Here we have a look at what pieces of furniture have stood the test of time and continue to be a living room favourite.

The Chesterfield sofa

The Chesterfield sofa started becoming popular in Victorian living rooms during the mid 19th century, the colours and fabrics have been changed to follow interior design trends over the years but the basic style remains the same. This classic 3 seater leather sofa is here to stay, it’s hugely versatile and continues to timelessly blend with ultra-modern, industrial or reclaimed wood furniture.

Photo featuring: Oswald 2 Seater Sofa

Wing back chair

This is another living room classic. The design of this armchair was initially driven purely by functionality not for comfort or for its aesthetics – they were designed with sides and a high back so that the person sat in it would not be affected by drafts, common in a 16th or 17th century house. Similarly, these features also offered protection from the blistering heat as they sat by the fire.

Photo featuring: Grayson Grey Fabric Armchair

A mid century sideboard

Sideboards were originally only for the dining room – initially just a table against the wall on which the food would be placed – then shelves were added below and then doors until they ended up being what they are today. Their storage capability was recognised and they made it into the living room, where they now store board games, DVD and console games, books and anything else you want to keep close to hand but hidden out of sight.

Photo featuring: Mitcham Large Oak Squared Industrial Sideboard

Faded rug

Faded pink rug with glass coffee table and pink velvet sofa

Photo featuring: Louis de Poortere Fading World Pink Flash Red Rug

The oldest known surviving rug is the Pazyryk Carpet which dates back to around 500BC – but textile floor coverings are thought to date back more than 4,000 years. With today’s endless fabric dyes and weaving capabilities, we have a huge choice when it comes to living room rugs. These are definitely here to stay, we love how Louis de Poortere rugs mix a modern faded finish with classic rug designs.

Wall mirrors

Hanging a big mirror above your mantlepiece is the classic way to decorate over the fireplace. Some suggest this was historically done as frames and wall mirrors would have been very expensive – frames were often made from silver, ivory, tortoiseshell or ebony – it was the done thing to display your most valuable pieces in a prime position so it would be the first thing people see as they enter the room. Of course, fine art was also displayed in this prominent position and now we often see a TV over the fireplace.

White living room with white armchair, mirror of fireplace and large green plant

Pendant light

Pendant ceiling lights are believed to have originated in ancient Greece where they started off as a clay pot hung up with animal fat in and a wick for burning….Luckily they have come a long way since then! Now they are a must-have in a living room with a high ceiling. In a living / dining space, you can hang one over a dining table or suspend one so it hangs over a sofa end lamp table as a stylish alternative to the standard table lamp.

For similar pendant light see our Karine Jute Pendant Light

How to enjoy a family bonfire night party

Young children in dark holding sparklers

An alternative bonfire night is on the cards for most of us this November. There will be very few large organised events so we have come up with some suggestions on how to create a safe bonfire night to remember at home with your family.

Two steel fire pits in a field with small wooden stool

Photo featuring: Barrington Steel Fire Pit

Obviously, one of the main elements to get the ball rolling is a bonfire but having a great big bonfire in your garden may not be a very practical option, so we love the idea of a wood fire pit! This is a great addition to your outdoor garden furniture that will bring you many warm and cosy evenings under the stars, long after bonfire night has been and gone.

There are so many gorgeous types of fire pit available now and they’re perfect for small or large outdoor sitting and entertaining areas. A metal fire pit will make your garden become an area where you can spend many more hours – they provide light into the night and make your garden a cosy and warm place to be during the colder months and of course, they are just gorgeous to just simply sit and watch….on extra chilly nights you can wrap up in a blanket and sip a hot cocoa!

Photo featuring: Lyneham Round Fire Pit

Back to Bonfire night….!

During the day get your garden furniture ready in situ with your fire bowl, load it up with a couple of fire starters, kindling and wood ready for lighting later.

To get organised in the kitchen – we suggest getting a hearty chilli con carne in the slow cooker for dinner – it’s a bit of a bonfire night classic, full of flavour and soul-warming spices. We love this firework cupcake and we’re pretty sure the kids will love them too!

Bonfire night theme cupcake with sparkler in the top

When the kids come home from school you can do bonfire finger paintings – get some large sheets of thick paper along with yellow, orange and red liquid paints – get those little fingers into the paint and swoosh the paint from the bottom to the top of the page to look like flames – paint some logs on the bottom and sprinkle over some glitter for a bit of sparkle!

Close up of marshmallows being roasted on sticks over a bonfire

You can set the dining table with a bonfire night theme. We love how the colours of bonfire night, warm red, orange and yellow work with the natural tones of reclaimed wood furniture, use a vase of fresh-cut autumnal flowers as your centrepiece, use red napkins and some candles to create a cosy atmosphere. Or if it is a milder night, you could take your evening meal outside and sit in the cosy light and warmth of the fire, followed by toasting marshmallows over the flames. You can still get some garden fireworks, a few Catherine wheels and some sparklers for the kids. Probably the best and safest way to spend the 5th of November this year. Enjoy!

How to work out the best size for your dining table

Large reclaimed wood dining with white dining chairs and white plates

Whether you are planning a dining room extension, buying a new reclaimed wood dining table or moving into a new home you should work out what space you have to play with before you start planning the build or even look at dining room furniture. Bear in mind the shape of the room to help you choose the basic shape of the table – if your dining room is more of a square shape then you can use a square or round dining table. A round wood dining table will allow you to put things in the corner of the room like a dining room sideboard or plant pot. Of course, if the room is rectangular then a rectangular or oval table is perfect.

Wood dining table with white metal pendant lights and green plants

4 – 6 seater

The most popular dining room tables seat six – which comprises of two down each side and one at each end. The average size for a 6 seater table is generally somewhere between 75 x 150cm and 100cm x 1800cm. The amount of people you manage to comfortably seat around it does also depend on what type of dining chair you will be using with the table. A chair with arms will need a bit more room than a chair with no arms and if you opt for a dining bench then you will need less space and be able to fit more people along the side of the table.

To work out how much space you will actually need for the table and to pull the chairs in and out you should allow an absolute minimum of 70 cm around the table however 100cm+ is much better. Do remember to take into account any other furniture you want to put in your dining space. Ideally, your dining room will be somewhere in the region 3.5m x 4.5m to accommodate a four to six diner table, allow for seating and a sideboard.

Industrial dining table with wooden bench and reclaimed wood chairs

Photo featuring: Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Table & Reclaimed Wood Bench

6-8 seater

A six to eight seater dining table is generally somewhere around 90 x 180cm to 100 x 240cm so your room should be around the 4m x 4.5m size. A dining room does not have to have empty space, in fact, you don’t want your table to look a bit lost in the middle or be unable to create a more intimate atmosphere during dinner parties. If you really don’t want to get a bigger table in a large dining room then you can consider an extending dining table, some have leaves you can add just when you have guests while others will have a handy mechanism with a space to store the extensions within the table.

Large wood dining table with wooden chairs in bright dining room with wooden hanging pendant lights

8-12 seater

If you have a large household or just love to entertain and need a larger table then your table should be a minimum 140x300cm, however, your dining room will have to be in the region of 5m x 5.5m to fit this in. If your living space is open plan you may be able to get away with a little less space for the dining table. The Dorset Large Reclaimed Wood Extendable Trestle Table is perfect for the larger dining space. This rustic dining table will blend in perfectly with reclaimed wood furniture you already have in your kitchen or dining room. The large table can extend to 2.9 metres long, perfect for family nights and large dinner parties. The average width of a leather dining chairs is around 45 cm (without arms) so you could comfortably get 6 down each side, add a dining bench and you can squeeze even more around the table!

Photo featuring: Dorset Large Reclaimed Wood Extendable Trestle Table

A rags to riches home renovation

Women in white dress standing in front of large rustic console table with round mirror on wall

If you lust after the classic American colonial style you are going to fall head over heels for this light-filled and gorgeous home.

When Sarah saw the outside of her home, she instantly fell in love with its colonial style and proportions, but it was in need of some serious modernisation. What followed was a major home renovation project that turned the outdated interior and exterior into an exquisite home that looks straight out of the Hamptons. We were lucky enough to catch-up with Sarah to speak to her about renovations, colonial style and reclaimed wood.

HOUSE AT A GLANCE

Who lives here: Sarah and Tobin along with their daughter aged 5 and Tobin’s children aged 15 and 13.

Type of property: Detached colonial style home

Size: 5 bedrooms and 4 bathroom

THE RENOVATION

Where did you start?

The first thing we decided to do was open up the kitchen/dining space to create an open plan living, which works for our family. We lived with my parents during this part of the renovation as everything was being ripped out, the walls were being knocked down and it was not the place for a toddler! Once the kitchen was liveable we moved in and started on all the other rooms, the main bathroom being our next biggy! It was again a complete refurb and everything but the beautiful colonial style arches (a favourite feature of mine) were replaced!

What took the most time?

A major part of our renovation was waiting on planning permission for a separate garage with above living space and taking on this new build. I did lots of research on colonial homes and pinned lots on Pinterest, we really wanted to keep the colonial style of the house and had to make sure the garage was going to complement our existing property. A fun part of the process for me!

What’s your favourite room in the house?

My favourite room is our kitchen/dining space. It’s where we spend lots of family time and entertain with friends as it has plenty of space and beautiful views out of the back of the house – it’s also where I like to sit and enjoy my morning coffee before the chaos of the day starts!

What advice would you give to someone thinking about a home renovation?

My advice to anyone starting a renovation would be to live in the house for a few months before ripping things out, you might come to love them. Also, be true to your own style and not get caught up with the latest trends. I feel like I’ve found my style now, but it’s taken a few years to really get it right!

View of a bedroom with wooden bed frame and dark wood dressing table

Would you do anything differently?

I wouldn’t be so hasty with trying to get rooms finished, and buying pieces that I later realised weren’t working well.

We love your rustic dining table! What other reclaimed wood pieces do you have?

Over the years I have collected a few pieces of reclaimed wood furniture, from a large wine rack, butcher block table and various chopping boards. I love pairing rustic furniture with more modern pieces; it brings warmth to a space. I chose upholstered dining chairs and a solid wooden bench to go with our refectory style rustic dining table as I liked the contrast of elegance and simplicity. To add cosiness to the dining bench, I bring in soft textures, such as throws or a sheepskin rug.

For a similar style wood dining table our Serenity Reclaimed Wood Dining Table both feature decorative pillar style table legs in a classic design. Check out all of our reclaimed wood dining tables and rustic dining tables here.

See more of Sarah’s gorgeous home and style at @inside_number_5_

All images Sarah Jane Rogers @inside_number_5_