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

Why choose rattan outdoor furniture

Marden PE Rattan Garden Sofa Set with Armchair

We’ve been subjected to a very mild spring – including unsettling record temperatures of summer proportions – and it has many thinking of getting their garden ready for summer. Top of the list is to replace the wobbly plastic chairs and old dining table, opting for outdoor rattan furniture. But why choose rattan garden furniture?

1 Environmentally friendly and sustainable

Rattan is a natural material. A fast-growing plant that enjoys the heat and humidity of the tropics, as quick as you cut the long, woody stems down, it sprouts new growth.

The bendy wooden stems are left to dry in the heat. The stringy outer bark is stripped away to reveal the inner strands, long and willow. When weaved together in certain patterns, it creates an incredibly strong material.

With very little in the way of a carbon footprint, it is no wonder that outdoor rattan furniture is popular not just in the UK but across the globe. Like some coffee plantations, there are rattan farmers being supported on some plantations to produce rattan and be paid a fair price for it.

2 Long-lasting and superbly easy to maintain

The problem with wooden outdoor furniture is unless you buy hardwood pieces – not always the cheapest nor the most eco-friendly – it will wither and rot away eventually. Metal furniture tends to rust unless it too is painted, likes its wooden cousin.

However, rattan chairs and the outdoor sofa set are not only super easy to keep clean, but they are also long-lasting and robust too.

No need to paint your rattan garden sofa set, just brush it down or give it a wash with warm water if it needs reviving after the long winter, leave it to dry in the gentle warm breeze of summer and that’s it – your rattan sofa set is good to go.

3 Rattan outdoor furniture is stunning

From high-backed fanned rattan chairs for the conservatory to the beautiful rattan outdoor sofas and chairs, it is a material that is used to create beautiful pieces.

From straight weaved patterns to more intricate patterns and weaves, the results are beautiful. With a modern twist of scatter cushions and throws, outdoor rattan furniture is a joy to the eye.

It can be used to create all kinds of pieces from the large, L-shaped outdoor sofa to the two rattan garden chairs and coffee table sets. Colours tend to be subdued, to mirror the gentle nature of rattan furniture because not everything needs to shout or compete with the brightly coloured blooms in your garden.

Grey rattan furniture is modern chic, with black rattan adding drama or stick with the variations in its natural colour of tan, brown and beige.

4 Any garden, anywhere, any size

Whether you have acres of garden space or a bijou courtyard or a balcony in a high rise block, there is a piece of rattan garden furniture to suit.

For the smaller space, opt for low backed rattan chairs with complementing coffee table for informal seating or for cubed rattan dining sets in which the chairs are pushed beneath the table canopy when not in use, allowing a streamlined, less cluttered feel to the smaller space.

For lounging in the garden, consider an outdoor rattan sofa, perfect for long summer days that seamlessly flow into evenings gathered around the fire pit. Or wine and dine friends and family around larger rattan outdoor dining sets, complete with comfortable chairs.

How do I choose the right size sofa for a small room?

Just how do you choose a sofa for a small room that doesn’t dominate or impose, that doesn’t look and feel like a giant, shoehorned into a room that is clearly too small? We have some suggestions…

How will the rest of the room be styled and furnished?

There are all kinds of hints and tips that can help a room to feel bigger, but when it comes to physical space, you must consider what else you plan on adding to the room along the sofa.

As a rule of thumb – and it is by no means set in stone – you need to consider leaving a pathway of at leads one metre in width around furniture. When we don’t create pathways that are easy to move through, the room feels cluttered and overbearing.

And so, before you consider your sofa options such as whether a two-seater sofa or 3 seater sofa will fit in the room, consider what other reclaimed wood furniture you need in the space.

You still need to frame the sofa

When dealing with smaller rooms, it is easy to throw out the styling rule book, assuming it doesn’t apply. Surely, you think, framing the 3 seater leather sofa with a rug, reclaimed wood large coffee table or even a nest of side tables is reserved for those with huge living rooms? The answer is no, your chosen sofa, no matter what shape, style or size still needs to be framed within the space.

Framing it means it has a boundary, a setting within which it looks like it should be there. A well-chosen rug in terms of size and colour is helpful in making the room feel bigger and choosing a reclaimed wood coffee table that is smaller than the sofa creates a point of reference within the room’s finished layout.

A large coffee table may be practical but if it contributes to the room feeling cluttered, it’s time to opt for a smaller one.

Tip – consider using a round reclaimed wood coffee table in a smaller room to encourage ease of movement.

Choosing the right pieces – material

Reclaimed wood furniture is a sheer delight no matter what room it resides in. in the smaller room, reclaimed wood is the ideal choice for many reasons. It allows you, for example, to bring a uniqueness to the space because no two pieces of reclaimed wood furniture are the same.

The warmth and natural beauty of reclaimed wood are also perfect for the bijou space, with the romance of its past life certainly adding something different to the space.

Versatile, it also lends itself to any style too. In the industrial style, the fusion of reclaimed wood with metal is not only expected but essential. Within the rustic and farmhouse styles, reclaimed wood furniture is also an expectation, as well as being the perfect foil for any sofa you choose, be it a comfortable brown leather sofa, or something more striking.

Be practical

Be realistic and practical about what fits in the smaller room but also what is functional. And don’t forget to measure the door to make sure your chosen sofa, small armchair and reclaimed wood furniture can actually fit…

How to choose a leather armchair for a rustic space

The rustic style is a popular choice. Bringing comfort and style to a room, there is a bold familiarity to it that makes a rustic living room a delightful space. Supporting rustic notes and details is the reclaimed wood furniture, and the armchair, which is an important piece. Just how do you get the right shape, style and colour to enhance the rustic look?

Think nature and natural for material and colour

The rustic look is based heavily on what materials and colours were available to furnish and accessorise a home. The modern rustic style has barely moved away from this and so opting for colours and materials found in nature is the right stylistic step to take.

Ditch modern ‘plastics’ and other highly processed materials, instead opting for leather and wool. The Cerato leather armchair has the charm, colour and shape that is ideal for the rustic living room. Its traditional styling bears the hallmarks of its pedigree and with such beautiful supple leather, its no wonder that for anyone creating a rustic styled room, this is the go-to small armchair.

If you want a simpler style – and sometimes, with the rustic style, simpler is better – remove the detailing with the streamlined appeal of the Barkby leather armchair. Unpretentious, the simple styling of this piece makes it ideal for sitting alongside your 3-seater sofa and other reclaimed wood furniture in the living room.

Dimensions

The rustic look may have a raw edge to it, a slightly less refined finish than that of the farmhouse or even the industrial style but that doesn’t mean it has to be brash and unfinished. Essentially, the dimensions of the items used need to be in keeping with the space that is allocated to them.

The original rustic style of old would have been bespoke and so its no wonder with ready-built items it can be tough finding furniture that ‘fits’. Simpler and smaller can be the successful way forward thus if you are grappling with a smaller living room, you need an armchair that is less imposing, more present.

Combining the sublime warmth and quality of wool and the cool touch of leather, the Granby wool and leather armchair has presence but its smaller dimensions and shallower height means it doesn’t smother the space you have.

Of course, if you have space – don’t forget you need a pathway around the front of the armchair and other items close by of at least one metre (around three feet) – then opting for the very traditional wingback armchair would fit perfectly within any rustic living room.

Again, we chose to combine two natural materials – leather and wool – in the Kensington wingback armchair. The height of the back and the larger ‘wings’ make this one of the most recognisable shaped armchairs, not unlike the pleasing rolls and curves of the Chesterfield armchair.

The practical lessons

It looks fabulous in the showroom, but will the must-have brown leather armchair of your dream fit into your home? And when we say fit, we mean manoeuvred through the doors?

We’re one step ahead. Most of our armchairs, including those with a rustic leaning, have legs which can be removed making it a much easier task to fit through doorways. Easily assembled, however, you’ll have the perfect armchair in situ within minutes.

Tips for mixing metals in the dining room

Industrial Oak Extendable Dining Table and Green Velvet Dining Chairs

The metallic finish in a room’s décor is nothing new. In fact, there are some interior designers who suggest that no room is complete without a metallic finish to frame the space. How we use a metallic finish as an accessory and detail has changed. But can you overdo the shiny finish? How do you work with metal so that the overall finish is stylish and chic? Do you mix gold upholstered dining chairs with silver accessories? Will it all go with your reclaimed wood dining table? And can you throw in a gold rug for good measure? Here, we take you through some ideas on how to mix metals with the best effect.

Metals in décor

We are accustomed to seeing metallic finishes in a room in detailing such as door furniture, cabinet and sideboard door handles, kitchen cabinet handles and more. To a certain extent, these metal handles and hinges are inevitable. When we decorate a room, we decide on the finish and colour – would you opt for brass door handles or chrome? Would you opt for a brushed, matte finish or a shiny, mirrored and highly polished effect?

But today, it isn’t just these small details that are metal in any given room but in other accessories too, such as the base of lamps and the frames of reclaimed wood furniture. But how can you welcome metallic finish into a room? Can you mix metals?

Our tips for mixing metals

Metals in the dining room bring light, shimmer and opulence – things we are all in favour off. The recent fusion of Hollywood glamour with the industrial style has created a platform for the confident use of more than one metal in a room. to get it right, follow these tips that are proven to work.

1 Choose a dominant metal type or colour

Just like using more than one colour in a room, you need to decide which is the dominant metal type. Will it be a mirrored gold colour such as in the Blackbone Collection or will it be brushed chrome?

Making your choice of one main metallic finish or colour such as centring the room around a dining table with grey dining chairs means that you can use other metal finishes or colours in a supporting role if you intend on introducing more than one metal to a space.

#2 Three metallic finishes

Limiting your choice to three metallic finishes in a room prevents the glaring, mish-mash effect that is anything by elegant and chic.

With your dominant metal making the first all-important impression, you need to bring other metals into play. There are no hard and fast rules about which metals can or can’t be used with each other. It is a case of experimenting to determine if you like the overall effect and finish.

There is no denying that using similar colours work wells. For example, the black steeliness of the industrial style works surprisingly well with both polished and matte chrome. Likewise, the golden shimmer of a brass effect finish will fuse well with the yellower shade of gold and black steel.

#3 Work metals with your colour palette

No matter what colour you choose for the walls and the rug of the dining room, the metallic finish needs to match and contrast with your chosen hue.

For drama, the depth of black steel sits well with navy as it does with very dark earthy green or even the orange glow of terracotta. For glamour, add polished metal, such as chrome or the brass colour finish.

Against lighter colours, lighter metallic finishes work well. The beauty of mirrored chrome is no lost against a powdered pink or other pastel and chalky shades.

Effortless integration

From the chrome or brass legs of your 6-seater dining table and fabric dining chairs to the frame of the display unit in the dining room, metals are simply perfect. But which would be your choice?

Style an L-Shaped Living Room with reclaimed wood

Is it an awkward-shaped room or a stylistic challenge that allows you to play with detailing, colour and textures? Sometimes, the best course of action is not to fight against the shape of the room, but to embrace it, perhaps even to emphasise the quirkiness of it.

1 Focus on the key features

An L-shaped room can afford you two or more key features. It could be an expanse of a wall around the corner into the nook in the room and the sweeping window into the garden or the large fireplace and so on.

Look for the positives in the room and work with these, taking care not to make them competing focal points.

2 Identify the ‘obstacles’

The power points in the ‘wrong’ place, a door that opens the ‘wrong’ way, the eave that drops into the corner… every room has them but for some reason, in shaped rooms like an L-shaped dining and living room, they can become more of an obstacle as they dictate what we can and can’t so in some instances.

Change what you can and work with what you can’t. Moving an electric socket, for example, may be too expensive but instead of a stand out white plastic plug face, change it for a more stylish option that melts from your vision.

3 Storage is key

Before you start shopping for your statement velvet sofa flanked by a matching small armchair and side table, you need to consider what storage options the L-shaped room afford you.

If ceiling height isn’t an issue, a large, tall oak bookcase with matching smaller units are a great start. If you are concerned this will hem in the space, opt for slimline storage units including a slimline console table with a small, slender sideboard that gives you versatile storage solutions.

Rather than trying to choose reclaimed wood furniture with the exact dimensions, choose items that frame the room – for example, a coffee table with storage that frames the sofa by being smaller than it or a sideboard that frames a wall by sitting within its centre.

4 Use rugs to zone the space

Fighting against the L-shaped room won’t yield results. Sometimes, defining the use of areas within the L-shape space is the best move in terms of not just style but maximising the use of the space too.

Clearly, different furniture items will contribute to this. For example, a stylish reclaimed wood dining table flanked by dining chairs and a dining bench says, ‘this is the place to eat’ and the sofa in front of the fire says, ‘this is the place to relax’.

Emphasise this note change with rugs. Choosing similar colours and patterns, opt for the correct size of rug for the spaces they will furnish and then step back, and watch the room be instantly transformed with colour and texture.

5 Adjust the lighting

Lighting brings ambience to a room. It helps to set the atmosphere. It brings comfort to a room or area – especially softer, golden lighting – just as it brings functionality – think bright, white light for food preparation areas. Just like rugs, use layers of light to add function and style to the L-shaped room.

A dark corner doesn’t have to stay dark. In fact, with a floor lamp, a comfy small armchair, and a small display unit, would it make a fantastic reading nook?

Styling a small dining room with reclaimed furniture

There is no reason why the bijou dimensions of a small dining room cannot be stylish and beautiful and contain a reclaimed wood dining table– and all without compromising on functionality either. However, it is a pragmatic move to make the most of the space, no matter how little there is, as well as emphasise the space within the room. To do this, you need clever alchemy between colour, texture and detail.

Floor space

When it comes to maximising the feeling of how big a room is, there needs to fewer ‘ends and boundaries’. Surprisingly, this starts with the floor. If the eye can see the edge of the room, the room feels bigger.

Thus, if you opt for a small sideboard that sits flush to the floor, it instantly chops a chunk of space from being visible to the eye. If you opt for a sideboard with hairpin legs, however, you can see more of the floor. Combined with clever detailing across the rest of the room and an extendable dining table and chairs the smaller dining room will feel bigger.

Colour scheme with accents of gold

We know that lighter colours work better in a smaller room but that doesn’t mean white, beige or magnolia. It can mean pale blue and green, with twists of emerald green with shimmers of gold coloured accessories for detail without the clutter.

It can mean a statement wall with pretty patterned wallpaper – stick with smaller pattern shape for a clever play on maximising the space you have available – or even a glorious pale yellow colour palette with hints of warm golden accessories.

Subtle changes in texture

Any room, irrespective of how large or small it may be, needs a change in texture to lift it from being ‘flat’. Ditch the heavy, shag pile rugs and scatter cushions along with fussy drapes, in favour of more subtle changes in texture.

Alongside the utilitarian dining bench by the 6 seater dining table, opt for leather dining chairs. Both are smooth and cool to the touch but the note change between the hardest of wood is foiled by the softness of the leather. Keep the detailing minimal and the shape too – the simple, yet stylish elegance of brown leather dining chairs are not be underestimated.

If you prefer the warmth of upholstered dining chairs, there is no reason why the smaller dining room cannot accommodate them. Perfect for introducing texture, choose the focus on the dining chair and stick with it. For example, upholstered dining chairs with a strong colour or opt to make the most of the stylish shape of the dining chairs – the Daley dining chair, for example, has shape and detailing, as well as beautiful legs.

Or let your fabric choice sing such as this slimline, beautiful velvet upholstered dining chair.

Minimising the edges

When we talked of floor space, we mentioned edges and how blurring the full stops in a room helps the flow and feeling of space within it. The same is true where walls meet the ceiling. Choose a light wall colour and continue it onto the ceiling too, minimise the note change between wall and ceiling colour. If you feel this is too monotonous, use artwork clustered on the walls to break the sequence.

What tips do you have for maximising the feeling of space in a small dining room?

How to mix gold and velvet furniture in a workspace

Belfort Dining Table and Green Velvet Chairs

There is no reason why your boardroom, complete with conference table, can’t be a stylish, creative space. In fact, forward-thinking companies are realising that a stylish work environment is an important consideration in productivity and employee happiness too.

There is no denying the sublime fusion of a gold finish with the opulence of velvet. And it has its place in the boardroom too.

Working with strong players and accents

Colour is an accent and a statement as too is the use of materials such as velvet. They are not easily siding lined – and they shouldn’t be – but creating a seamless, stylish fusion between the strong characters that are gold and velvet can be a tall order, even for those with a clear vision and a stylistic eye for detail.

It isn’t a case of determining which one will sing the loudest, but how to create connection and cohesion between each. Opt for items from one collection, such as the Blackbone range, whilst also attempting to keep the shade of the gold finish the same. Flecks of colour will work, opting for variations in the shade of one colour. Don’t be too light in your colour choices as the danger is it will look insipid against the dramatic backdrop of the dark furniture.

Black, gold and velvet

Using colour in any design is always welcome and for the work environment, it brings a welcome note of the change. Getting the right combination is key and if you are looking for opulence and a sense of luxury, then the fusion of black and gold is simply perfect.

And that’s why so many business clients opt for items from our Blackbone Collection, where black industrial oak marries perfectly with the gold coloured finish.

Better still, all the items are ideal for the workplace, including the boardroom as well as staff and client areas.

The extendable dining table, for example, would make a superb boardroom table with leather or velvet upholstered boardroom chairs to match. Sitting alongside it the drinks cabinet would make an ideal storage unit and a large bookcase as a display unit would be a versatile addition to the meeting room too. You could even throw in a velvet armchair or two if you have the space.

Work and social space

Many more business clients are creating social spaces within the workplace. How we work has changed beyond all recognition and that means the workplace is no longer row upon row of desks or cubicles that isolate colleagues from one another.

Creating breakout areas or social areas is defined by what is used. Just as you would create a welcoming, comfortable informal space at home, you would do the same at work.

Build from the floor upwards, opting for a gold rug that brings a warm, happy tone to the space. For a neutral base, consider using a grey rug to allow the metallic gold finish of the items to glow and shimmer.

Against the backdrop of the dark drama of the Blackbone Collection, lighter shades can look too insignificant. Thus adding yet more colour with earthier shades on the colour spectrum if a failsafe way of combining and contrasting colours.

The terracotta orange shade of the Chestey velvet sofa is fast-becoming one of our most coveted sofas. For the home, it adds depth. For the workplace, it adds comfort and style too.

Is this a landscape you could see working in your boardroom?

How much space do you need around a conference table?

Oldman Reclaimed Wood Conference Table with Brown Leather Chairs

Considering the magnitude of some of the decisions taken around the conference table, it is no wonder that as a business, you need to pay attention to the styling and comfort of the boardroom. Just how do you create both a stylish and comfortable space, that is functional and practical?

The size of the boardroom table and seating

First, you need to determine the size of the meeting table that suits your needs. Clearly, it needs to be big enough to seat the number of people who will regularly gather around its perimeter. However, you may be limited by the dimensions of the room and you will also need other boardroom furniture too.

Seating around the table

You will need enough space for people to sit comfortably around the conference table. The rule of thumb is to allow 3 feet or around one metre of clearance between the back of the boardroom chairs when someone is seated on them to the nearest wall or object.

In other words, you need a pathway measuring 3 feet in width around the industrial table, allowing for ease of access and movement around the room. Clearly, placing a large sideboard could eat into this minimum corridor space so you will need to consider carefully where you place additional meeting room furniture such as the small display cabinet, console table and so on.

There is also a suggestion that at each short end of the boardroom tables, a clearance of 4 feet is left. As well as being practical, this also contributes to the setting of the boardroom.

TIP – with these dimensions in mind, mark out the minimum clearance ‘corridor’ around the edge of the room. You can now calculate the maximum dimensions of the table and boardroom chairs you opt for. This will also help in deciding the best shape of boardroom table too. The options include oval, round and rectangular.

What else is needed in the boardroom?

If you use the room regularly for internal and client meetings, there will be items you need on hand thus stylish furniture is a must, whether you choose reclaimed wood furniture or something different.

Reclaimed wood furniture is suitable for both domestic and business use, adding both style and versatile storage option for the boardroom.

Why not consider…?

A small display cabinet or unit for awards or displaying products, as well as stylish accessories?
Keeping technology and IT equipment stored for safe use in a sideboard? Opt for a large sideboard as a cupboard or one that has a combination of cupboard and drawer space. A sideboard is also ideal for stationery items too.

A board room trolley or a slimline console table? Both are perfect as a refreshment station for teas, coffees and food too, great for meetings that last for some time.

Extra Chairs

As well as these extra items, you will also need to consider extra board room seating too. For many businesses, the realisation of the importance of workplace design means that a cohesive style is important. When you invest in boardroom chairs for around the table, consider opting for a few extra chairs too.

What are the best office chairs for a home office desk?

Is there anyone who has not known the shortcomings of an office chair? It is an integral part of the home office furniture set up and yet, we spend little time considering what we really need from a home office chair. Guided by price, we choose one that looks the part and yet, spend more than a few minutes sitting in it, and the lower back starts to grumble and we start to feel the first few aches of discomfort.

The truth is you can have a stylish office chair that offers support and comfort.

Height

An adjustable office chair is simply essential. Sitting at your home office desk at the right height stops you hunching your shoulders or placing an uncomfortable strain on your lower back.

The need for an adjustable home office chair is needed because we are all different in terms of our height, as well as finding the right position that is comfortable for us.

Adjustable and on castors for easy maneuverability, it is no wonder the Standford Grey Faux Leather Office Chair is one of our most popular in terms of sales.

Depth

How do you prefer to work – perched on the edge of your seat or sitting back into the depths of a chair? Again, it is about comfort but also supporting your skeleton as you work.

As well as standing and stretching from time to time, a deep seat to an office chair is critical for some people who perfect different tasks at the home office desk.

Material

In terms of style, the material is important but it is also important in terms of longevity. Once you’ve found your perfect office chair, it’s hard to let go.

There are options when it comes to the office chair, from the upholstered swivel office chair to the beauty and robustness of leather. And then there is faux leather, a synthetic equivalent of the real thing that offers even more robustness and longevity.

A leather office chair brings a style statement, as well as being perfect for those of us who buy once and enjoy for a lifetime.