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

How to choose the right pendant light for your home

Large Woodchip Pendant Light above dining table

Choosing a pendant light that dazzles with style but is also functional can be tough, especially when there are so many on the market. As lighting styles go, there is nothing better for accenting your reclaimed wood furniture than a pendant light but how do you go about choosing one that fits right in with your dining room or over the kitchen island?

What’s the purpose of the pendant light?

The thing about pendant lights is that they can be both a stylish feature with an added note of ambient lighting or they can be practical lighting solutions over the kitchen island. In this sense, the light you choose to hang over the reclaimed wood dining table will be different from a kitchen pendant light.

What style of pendant light will work best?

Style is important. You’ll need kitchen pendant lighting to be uber practical whereas you can afford a light with a little more flourish over the dining table. A wicker pendant light ticks many boxes and suits most interior design styles.

How many pendant lights would you opt for?

From one pendant light in the dining room to several clustered over the kitchen island, when it comes to how many, only space and budget limit your final choice. It is not uncommon for customers to opt for one statement pendant light over the dining table – why not opt for large pendant lighting to really make a statement? – and to opt for more above the kitchen island. It’s your choice whether you opt for even numbers or odd numbers of lights, although there are some clustered pendant lights that hang as one fitting but with three shades.

What about the size?

You want the light to add to the room but not detract from it and that means getting the sizing right. Too small and it won’t have an impact but too big, and it will swallow space in the eyeline of the room making it feel smaller and more cluttered than it is. The same is true for the style and detailing of the shade or light itself. A bamboo light is perfect for adding a hint of detail – bamboo pendant lights fit in with a number of styles of décor, but a statement pendant light can add a big note of interest, forming a focal point in the room too.

How tall is the ceiling?

What you don’t want is having to duck or bend around the pendant light because it hangs too low from a ceiling that is also low. But what makes this style of lighting different from others is the fact that it usually hangs lower than normal ceiling lights or fittings. It is possible to adjust the length of the fitting on some pendant lights but not others. If you have low ceilings, consider a wicker pendant light that has a smaller shade or presence in the room too.

How will the pendant light style fit with your décor?

Whether you have a modern kitchen or a rustic-inspired dining room, there is a pendant light to suit. A black wicker pendant light would be perfect for the rustic style dining room or woodchip shaded lighting would work well in the Scandi-inspired kitchen.

The beauty of pendant lighting is that there is something for every style and every budget.

New, hanging lights you will love this season

Here at Modish Living we too are concerned about making sure that everything we do doesn’t harm the environment. From packaging to sustainable transport, we are doing our best to make the small changes that make a difference in slowing climate change. We’ve long looked at products that are sustainable – the fact that we sell reclaimed wood furniture gives a very big clue – but now we are turning our attention to lighting.

And it’s for this reason that we are proud to launch our new range of eco lights. Not only are they super energy efficient but they too, like our reclaimed wood furniture pieces, are made, in part, from natural materials.

On top of this, they are some of the most stylish eco lights on the market today.

Rock light

Rock is not a material that you would naturally associate with lighting but that’s exactly what the rock pendant light is made from! Or, to be precise, volcanic rock, a dense but light material that is relatively easy for craftspeople to work with.

As a rustic or even Scandinavian style kitchen pendant lighting, the rock pendant light is just superb. It would also suit the industrial style kitchen or living room too… available in large and small, these are a great intro to the rest of the new lighting range.

Bamboo Manta Triple Pendant Light

Bamboo is a fabulous sustainable material. Fast-growing, bamboo is naturally tough when it is dried. Responsibly sourced bamboo is even better because you know that the farmer and the community have received a fair wage for their work.

The cluster of three bamboo pendant light would be perfect hung above the farmhouse table or even in the minimal, yet warm Scandinavian style kitchen diner. With coordinating patterns on the shade, this 3 light pendant is effortless when slipping into your kitchen or diner.

Large Woodchip Pendant Light

At first glance, the shades on this pendant light could be flecked plastic but what you wouldn’t expect it to be would be compressed wood chip – but that’s exactly what it is!

As a hanging light, the delightful shape to this shaded light is ideal in many rooms. If you want a hint of style in the hallway without compromising on the luminosity of the light, then this is just perfect. They have a great look to them which again makes them perfect for the Scandinavian and rustic style but we also think that if you have an edgy, modern taste, then these make a statement too.

Bamboo Orbital Pendant Light

These bamboo pendant lights would look great anywhere and because they come in three colours, there is an option for every room. In the living room, a black pendant light would be ideal adding a flick of colour without being overly oppressive. It would look brilliant in the dining room too, especially where you have dark wood furniture and a generous hint of 1920s glamour.

The white and neutral bamboo pendant lights would be ideal in the Scandinavia kitchen or dining room as both add a warm, neutral tone of colour. Clearly, this would work for the rustic style too, where colour is also kept within the range of creamy, warm shades.

Opting for eco lighting is not just great for the environment but for you too. The inner glow of satisfaction that you are being proactive in protecting the environment can’t be underestimated.

10 steps to decluttering your home office

Struggling to fit everything onto the oak bookcase in your home office? Or maybe the top of your reclaimed wood furniture hasn’t seen the light of day for some time with all the papers and paraphernalia strewn across it. If this sounds familiar, you need these 10 decluttering tips.

1. The drastic but quick solution

Remove everything from the drawers and cupboards of your reclaimed wood desk, put it in a box and carry on working. As you need something, go an get it. Eventually, over time, you’ll have the things you need and a pile of things you don’t need in a box ready to be recycled.

2. Need vs. want

The home office is or should be, a place of productivity and creativity. There are certain things you need around you but there are other things you may want on your home office desk and shelving. However, some of these things could be cramping your work output. So start with things you need, and then consider carefully what other things you want in the space.

3. Storage, storage, storage

The right storage that is accessible is key to keep any room tidy and uncluttered. The same is true in the home office. Opt for home office furniture that gives you the storage you need, such as an oak bookcase for books and files and a desk with storage for smaller items.

4. Sort the cables

It’s not uncommon to find the home office desk strewn with cables across it or hanging down behind it. There are various cable tidy solutions you can buy. Once they are grouped together and tidy, you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.

5. Take photos

There’s a saying – not being able to see the wood for the trees – and this can apply to when it comes to decluttering your home office desk and space. So take photos – you’ll be amazed at how much more you can see from a photo than when you’re standing in it.

6. Think vertically

The home office can have all kinds of items in it and finding the right kind of storage can be tough. Think vertically by adding tall industrial shelving for extra space either across one wall or arranging it around your desk so you get instant access to items.

7. Get storage savvy

Thinks don’t have to be on display. You can hide a myriad of stuff in boxes neatly lined up on the industrial shelving we’ve talked about in the previous point.

8. EVERYTHING in your office should have a defined space

When you add something to your home office, it needs to be allotted storage space right from the start. Clutter builds when things are ‘just left’ or put down on a bookcase or filing cabinet.

9. Tidy up every day after work

Clearing your home office desk when you’ve finished for the day is a great way for you to start your next working day. Cups and glasses need to be returned to the kitchen, papers need to be filed or recycled, and so on.

10. Don’t get obsessive!

And finally, we end on a light-hearted note. It’s easy to get obsessive about clutter and become too streamlined, throwing everything away that we feel doesn’t fit only to find we need and have to buy another one. Just relax with it and enjoy your stylish home office!

Why dining benches are this season’s seat sensation

As the heat of summer starts to fade, our attention turns to making the interior of our homes warm and snug for winter. Autumn is a beautiful season – the colours are vivid but the chill of the evenings remind us that winter is coming. There is the fun of Hallowe’en to enjoy, the delights of Bonfire Night to look forward too and then a few weeks respite before the festive season begins.
How do you prepare your home for the winter festivities? One aspect you may be considering updating this year is the seating in the dining room and the kitchen to make them ready for the season of parties and social events you’ll host.
And this is where a kitchen table with bench comes into its own.

Why opt for a dining bench?

Bums on seats is a common phrase, but when it comes to social events, finding enough comfortable seating to go round your reclaimed wood extending dining table is a challenge. Diners balancing on footstools, children sat on the floor… it’s not the best way to entertain or make a good impression!.
A dining bench (or more than one!) solves a myriad of seating issues and as you will see, there are various dining bench styles to suit your design scheme.

Basic. Functional. Stylish.

A wooden dining bench with a strong allure of the industrial style is simple yet effective in the dining room, in the hallway, in the kitchen, on the patio… the list is endless.
With its square set metal legs, this reclaimed dining bench has so many uses that it is one of those pieces of furniture you’ll invest in that no matter how many times you redecorate or how many times you move home, your dining set with bench will fit right in.

A rustic wooden bench

There is no need to leave your style hat at the door when it comes to choosing a dining bench because, as with all reclaimed wood furniture, this beautiful rustic wooden dining bench has it all sewn up.

Every reclaimed wood item of furniture is unique. The wood used has a story to tell and although it may have functioned as something else for many years, it has lost none of its strength. It is this romance and functionality that many people love about a reclaimed wood dining bench.
Again, it sits well with your reclaimed wood dining table or in the hallway to muster together all the hats, gloves and coats that your guests will arrive in to buffer the chill of autumn. Easy to keep clean, it will be a vertical piece with use in your home for years to come.

Decadent, unapologetic luxury with a leather upholstered dining bench

As useful as the wooden dining benches we have shown you so far are, the dining bench with back blows away all doubt that every bench is hard and uncomfortable – and not for grown-ups.

The dining bench with back is ideal for any home (just like the others) and because it is available in a range of lengths, it is ideal with a reclaimed wood dining table.
So, which of these dining benches will you opt for?

Round dining tables that won’t cramp your kitchen

Wycombe Oak Round Dining Table and Chairs

The round dining table is perfect for any kitchen but when you are short on space, it comes into its own. Allowing you to move easily around the space, a small round dining table offers diners plenty of space. Bid goodbye to the awkward banging of elbows with these three ideas for the small kitchen dining area.

Make a statement with an oak round dining table

Just because space is tight, it doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t make a design or style statement with your chosen round kitchen table. This is exactly what this oak dining table delivers – a statement, without sucking space. The central pedestal leg with its four splayed feet adds to its beauty, as do your choice of dining chairs. Brown, faux leather dining chairs are ideal with this oak round dining table, don’t you think?

Sleek Scandinavian round dining table

In the smaller space, too much detail simply adds clutter, and this means paring back on the detail to create an unfussy, yet welcoming space. This can be hard to do, especially if you are not a fan of the stark, minimal look.

Breathe life into a smaller space with the Scandinavian style, characterised by light woods with a smooth finish and rounded edges. There is a warmth and elegance to this style that makes it perfect in so many settings

For the smaller kitchen, it is more than ideal.

A small round dining table in the smaller kitchen makes sense – it offers the same dining space without swallowing floor space – and with the minimal, yet warm tones of the Scandinavian style, the softer corners and lithe legs also contribute to this lighter look.

Team this table with beautifully crafted wooden dining chairs to create a sense of cohesion and symmetry.

A round dining table that grows when you need it too!

A round extendable dining table is surely one of the best investments anyone can make. We all know there are times when the reclaimed wood dining table needs to be much bigger than what it is. The same is true of the dining table in the small kitchen.

Round dining tables are popular for many reasons – many people, for example, admire its curves and lack of sharp angles. Others opt for a round table for one reason and one alone: it’s a social table.

There is no ‘head of the table’ seat. Every diner is equal to the next and no matter where you sit, you can see everyone else.

But we think this round extendable dining table is just amazing. In its ‘smaller’ format, it is the ideal round dining table for 4. But start to crank it open – and you really do! – this small round dining table starts to grow, become a beautiful elliptical shape for your next dinner party.

Perfect as the extendable round dining table may be, you need dining chairs to match. Add yet more layers of detail with grey upholstered dining chairs with just enough detail that doesn’t crowd or cramp the space.

Decorating your office space for success

Oldman Reclaimed Wood Boardroom Table and Leather Chairs

The environment in which we work is important – get it right, and your productivity and employee happiness levels rise significantly. If the office décor hasn’t enjoyed an update in some time, now is the time to up the style stakes – but it doesn’t just mean putting in some industrial shelving and a few new desks – there are plenty of other things to consider.

Let there be lots of the right light

Sunshine flooding in through the windows is uplifting BUT, working in harsh light means lots of glare and discomfort. Make the most of natural light with the right window dressings that allow for shade. And when natural light is lacking, opt for LED lighting that doesn’t give off heat and is cheaper to run too.

Add texture with rugs

We can hear ‘what about health and safety?’ but with rugs and rug stoppers (use special carpet tape), rugs in the office can be a thing. And they are wonderful for adding colour, pattern and texture. You can also use rugs to zone an area, such as a rug in the easy seating area, along with sumptuous sofas, and oak bookcase and side tables.

Talking of informal seating…

More small businesses are realising that ‘play areas’ or informal areas are not just for large companies but are a welcome addition to their office spaces too. Seating areas with sofas and armchairs are ideal for short breaks and meetings. They are also great for adding pops of colour too. Colourful armchairs such as a canary yellow armchair nestled alongside a brown leather sofa certainly add plenty of zing. There is a raft of other colours to choose from too.

Update the working area

Who wouldn’t enjoy an updated working space? If you want to keep a certain style, opt for a reclaimed wood desk from the same range. The Oldman industrial style desk is a functional and utilitarian piece of reclaimed wood furniture, perfect for small businesses as they can be made to bespoke sizes. Likewise, updating the seating with the ergonomic and stylish leather office chair is also a way of adding style to an office space.

Give the meeting room a new lease of life

From rugs to wall art – why not seek out local art talent? – the meeting room shouldn’t be a dreary space. Investing in a large conference table will never be wasted. It will be used time and again for meetings as well as sit down lunches with your crew.

Encourage personal touches

When people make the decision to come to work for you, you want their personalities and characters to shine through. All too often we hear of companies ‘banning’ personal items from desks, afraid of the clutter and perceived health and safety risks that they bring. In a small business, you can let these stuffy attitudes go and encourage people (within reason) to add personal touches to their desks.

Appeal to all the senses

Visually, you want an office that is appealing. You also want it to welcome employees and support them in their daily work in other ways too. And that means appealing to their sense of smell. Either the best scented candles or diffusers, the delicate scent of which hang gently in the air, are perfect for creating a pleasant perfumed aroma around the office.

How to be an Airbnb host with the most

Florence Upholstered Dining Chairs and Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Whether you are renting out a whole property or your spare room, being the host with the most ensures you not only get rave reviews but people come back time and again to your Airbnb property. But when it comes to the kitchen, what will your visitors expect?

You beautiful rustic kitchen will attract a lot of attention. The rustic dining table will be the scene of many happy meals for travellers from across the globe. But what will make you stand out above all others?

The basics offered with style and luxury

It may only be a fruit bowl full of fruit, but it’s stylish, like the pepper and salt mills, the dining table with beautifully crafted wooden dining chairs… you get the picture. Make sure you offer all the basics but do so with a little extra twist of luxury and style. A kitchen sideboard, well decorated, can provide a lovely welcoming feel.

A superbly equipped kitchen (and property)

Many travellers book Airbnb because they get the best of all worlds. They get home from home with added luxury as well as recommendations from local people about where to eat, where to visit and so on. A superbly equipped kitchen is therefore essential so you’ll need to be at the top of your game for making sure your kitchen is Airbnb ready. Of course, it goes without saying that styling the kitchen should be top of your list too, with the same happening for all the rooms in your Airbnb rental. A great touch would be placing local items of interest in a folder on the rustic sideboard.

Be aware of who your traveller is

Leisure travellers will have different needs than the business traveller who may only require a small kitchen table etc, which is why Airbnb itself has recognised this with a ‘business traveller standard’ for people wanting to offer their properties exclusively to those travelling for business. As well as a stylish kitchen, you’ll need to make sure that there are plenty of charging points for phones and laptops, along with valuable information on the area such as maps, where to park and so on.

Make it personal

Airbnb is unique in so many ways but what sets it apart from travelling and staying in hotels, for example, is the personal touch. Travellers will expect personality (but not your stuff all over the property or room!). Welcome them with a personalised pack of what’s on, where to go and if you can, greet and bid farewell to your guests in person but consider how this affects the appeal of your rental too. For example, upholstered dining chairs, a high-quality reclaimed wood dining table.

The little things matter

Something as pleasant as setting the table for their first breakfast in your kitchen, complete with white napkins and a beautiful linen table runner with cutlery set out ready and ingredients in the fridge will make all the difference.

Be responsive

Another tip that other successful Airbnb give is to be responsive to guests’ needs. And that means understanding who your guests are before they arrive and what their needs may be. This forethought means a lot to your guests and so kitchen basics is just way of getting it right. But travellers and hosts agree, going beyond the basics is key to being the Airbnb host with the most!

Clever style tips for a welcoming home office

The home office is not always a place you work in isolation. At some point, you may welcome clients into your home office space and that means giving it a facelift so it looks appealing, stylish and professional. You can’t get away with a stark home office desk with not much décor – and why would you want to – even if it is only you that will see it!

Add texture with soft furnishings and office rugs

You may not have thought to add an abundance of soft furnishings such as scatter cushions or a large grey rug to the sofa or small armchair in your office, but, trust us, it will instantly lift the space by adding texture. There is a sumptuous luxury associated with fabrics, especially in a productive and creative space such as the home office.

Don’t forget scent

Another factor that lifts the room and makes it a welcoming, inviting space is the scent. From fresh flowers for a visually appealing addition to the gentle perfume of diffusers and premium, luxury candles, adding an understated scent to a space will add an instant welcoming note.

Make the most of the space with informal seating

If you can’t fit an upholstered sofa into your home office, take a look at adding two small armchairs and a reclaimed wood coffee table opposite your reclaimed wood desk to make an informal meeting space. If you don’t want to add swathes of colour, opt for the neutral but warm tones of a leather armchair or two. If there is one material that oozes sophistication it is leather.

Place sculptural forms on reclaimed wood furniture

Storage in the home office is essential because it means you have on display only the things you want people to see and admire. Reclaimed wood furniture is beautiful in any room and in the home office, it brings the perfect stylistic notes that you are looking for. Crown this glory with beautiful sculptural objects that emphasise your good taste to your clients.

Create a statement art wall

There is nothing more understated than an expanse of clear, painted wall but if you are not overly keen on being too minimal, then creating a ‘wall of art’ is the ideal solution. Choose pieces of artwork that have connections either in style or colour. Using different sizes of frame and mixing and matching artwork, create a wall of art that your clients will enjoy looking at and admiring.

Be organised & deal with clutter!

It may be that for the majority of the time, you work alone in your home office with client meetings being only an occasional occurrence – or it could be the opposite. Either way, clients will form an impression as soon as they enter your home office, so you need to be sure that it is sending the right signals. And that means being organised. Deal with clutter and make sure there are plenty of storage solutions that keep the office tidy.

Frame office furniture in the room

Just like in other rooms in your home, for the office to look balanced and symmetrical, reclaimed wood office furniture needs to be framed. At its simplest, this means grouping items together in a way that makes sense. For example, a rug, two small armchairs, a coffee table or side table with a lamp will instantly appeal to your client, as will a tidy desk and a stylish focal point in the room.

Guest friendly round dining tables

Standford Round Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Leather Chairs

The round dining table is a joy, is it not? From everyday family meals to more formal occasions, the round dining table is perfect every time. But why else do we really love it?

Social dining at its best

You may not have noticed but at a large rectangular table, some guests are ‘in the shadow’. The angular nature of the shape means that no one person has a true view of the table and its guests. But not with the round dining table. Even a 6-seater dining table circular in shape will see every guest is able to connect no matter where they sit.

There’s no head-of-the-table

It was – and still is in some settings – the dominant position. Whoever sat at the head of the table was in charge, whether that is the dining table or the conference table. Today, in the boardroom of forward-thinking business, there is a round conference table. If you want to emulate the same in your dining room or kitchen, then a round kitchen tableis perfect (and there’s one to fit every style too!).

Extendable too

Are you stuck for space but still want the versatility of a table that expands when guests arrive for lunch or dinner? Like other shapes, the circular table can extend. In fact, when it comes to versatility in the dining room or kitchen, the extendable round dining table has it all. Shrinking and growing when needed, it is perfection and ideal when space is limited.

Allows flow in a space

Whether you have plenty of space to walk around the perimeter of your dining table or not, the small round dining table is certainly better for encouraging flow in the room. It is the curves of the table that allow this to happen but if you think this means it won’t make an impact, think again. To make a statement, choose a statement dining table such as the beauty and warmth of an oak dining table.

Welcomes guests without awkward banging of the knees

There is nothing worse than inviting guests for dinner only to have your diners squashed around the dining table, knees banging awkwardly on the table legs. A round dining table and chairs, especially one with a pedestal leg, is versatile and means that the table is easy to sit at, no matter how many diners sit around its perimeter – but you’ll need a large round dining table if you plan on hosting a big group.

Family-friendly

With no angles and sharp edges, there are no dangers posed to children head height with the dining table – no bumps and bruises. There is also something extraordinary appealing about the function of a round dining table in the family home. Match this is with the right style for you – how about an industrial round dining table, for example? – and you have the ideal dining table that will last for years and years.

These are just a few reasons why we love the round dining table. It can be dressed up – just look at it with upholstered dining chairs! – along with linen napkins and a tablecloth just as it can be a functional, family dining table that covers all bases.