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

A Merry Christmas from the Modish Living team

There is something so magical about Christmas and the glitz and glamour of Christmas decorations is no exception. We would love to see your creativity and the fun you’ve had decorating for Christmas this year.

How you decorate your home for Christmas is totally personal, and that’s part of the fun. Perhaps you get crafty by making handmade items? Perhaps your children bring home trinkets from school which you hang proudly on the Christmas tree? Or perhaps you love modern, industrial decorations and keep decorations to a minimum?

A new piece of furniture creates the perfect opportunity to try out something completely new with your decorations. So if you’ve bought a new reclaimed wood dining table from us this year which is spending your first Christmas in your home at the centre of your festivities, you’ve decked out your rustic coffee table, or some of our upholstered dining chairs ready for those Christmas plans, we would love to see what you’ve come up with.

We’ve shared plenty of decoration tips and ideas to get the most out of our reclaimed furniture over the past year including lots of Christmas ideas of the past few weeks. Maybe you’ve used one of our ideas, or come up with something totally unique! You could even give us an insight into your family’s favourite Christmas tradition.

From all the team at Modish Living, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2018!

Starting as a team of just one just under 5 years ago, the Modish Living team, headed up by husband and wife team Chris and Hellen Barlow, has grown tremendously, with an influx of new team members over the past 12 months. Modish is now run from a gorgeous Sussex Coast barn, which is also a studio for some of the most stunning pieces in the collection. In the last year, Modish has also picked up a Best of Houzz Design award and has been recognised as a ‘highly commended website’ by the Good Web Guide – two awards we are very proud of.

It’s safe to say that 2017 has been a fantastic year for Modish Living. But it isn’t just our team who have helped Modish Living to thrive. We couldn’t have done it without our customers and followers who like, share and comment on our posts and blogs so thank you!

Our most read blog posts of the year

The aim of our blog is simple – to give you ideas on how to create the style and finish you want in your home. And it seems that our articles and posts are hitting the right notes.

With this in mind, we took a look back at the three most popular blogs. And what they tell us is interesting…

5 Interior Design Styles

Take a moment to read any interior design or lifestyle blog, and you will see it talks about various trends and must-have styles. But the problem is that even though the photos look appealing and you decide a certain style will work for you, it is often impossible to recreate the style in your own home.

This blog looked at the basics of five of the most popular interior design styles, from rustic to industrial. It included key elements that made an interior style rustic or farmhouse, or what materials need to combine to give the industrial looking edge to your home or the mid-20^th Century modern that so many of us enjoy. Well worth another look!

Read the blog here.

Welcoming Spring with the Farmhouse Style

There is something comforting, yet elegantly stylish and unfussy about the farmhouse look that makes for it being so popular. It is practical without every element of detail or design being eliminated. It came as no surprise to find that the second most popular blog from this year was this piece of how to create the farmhouse style in your home.

We know it can be hard to reproduce the style across the home, so with this blog, we took a room by room approach. It looked at how to use open shelving – great for the studio, study or living room – as well as other farmhouse furniture staples work well to create the style.

It examined how to create a cohesive farmhouse style in the kitchen and the dining room, as well as a look at which accessories work well with the style. Take another look at how to create the farmhouse style in your home, no matter what time of year.

How to Choose the Perfect Wood Dining Table

It is an item of furniture that lasts for years and years. Rarely replaced, the dining table needs to be universally stylish. Choosing the right dining room sets can take a long time, especially with so much choice.

Wood is the favoured material as it ‘fits’ all design styles, from the rustic to the industrial style, as well as the uber-modern. But which shape? Which design? What style? What about dining chairs – upholstered or leather? Or is a dining bench a better option?

With so many questions that need answering, many people turned to a popular blog we published in the summer. This was our third most popular blog – and is still racking up visitors – and no wonder because choosing a wooden dining table that offers everything you need is a tough decision!

Take a look at the blog again for help to choose the best wood dining table for your home.

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed providing inspiration through our blog this year – what would you like to see us cover next?

Modish Living celebrates the end of the year

Beam Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Chairs

Well, would you believe it? 2017 is almost behind us and what a year it’s been. As we take a look back on the last 12 months, it seems only right that we reminisce over the beginnings of what is now a thriving business, and how we’ve grown over time.

From humble beginnings…

It was actually only a little less than 5 short years ago that Modish was formed. Husband Chris and wife Hellen Barlow’s dream of a business offering stunning yet sustainable pieces that would look fabulous in every home came to fruition from the combination of Hellen’s extensive e-commerce experience with Chris’ logistics and operational background.

Both Hellen and Chris, have a deep love for all that is sustainable, particularly reclaimed wood furniture, and through extensive work with some of the finest British craftsmen in the country, Modish’s collection of industrial inspired pieces, along with those that nod to Scandinavian design techniques offer something special to every room in the home, from the reclaimed wood desk to the most stunning dining tables. This is something that has seen Modish become quite a name in interiors, and as such, business has steadily grown.

To expansion

While it was Hellen who began Modish, working tirelessly to bring a business that took sustainability seriously to the market, the addition of Chris to the business has helped to allow Modish to offer the service most of our clients know us for today. Smooth delivery and a wide stock range has been made possible by Chris’ focus on building sustainable partnerships with businesses across the country and overseas. The husband and wife team and their dogs Lily and Macy run Modish from a 1000 foot Sussex Coast Barn, which also acts as a studio for some of the most beautiful pieces in the collection.

The addition of Charlotte, an editor with a passion for research and perfectionist nature, and Christa, who works relentlessly on social media to grow our brand, only served to build Modish a content driven base online that would lead to further growth. It is obviously working, as Modish has had an influx of new staff even over the past 12 months. Edwina, who manages online marketing with aplomb, Jo, an editor whose work you will see on many of our blogs, and Fiona, who has the busy task of dealing with both customer support and finance joined the team over the last year and have brought fresh ideas and talent to the company. Through this expansion of the team, our customers have always been our main focus, and as living proof of this, we have recently taken on mum of two and customer service extraordinaire Nina to allow Fiona some much needed assistance!

To you….

Of course, it isn’t just our team that we have invested in to help Modish Living thrive. Our studio, recently re-opened with a new office space is now more spacious and has enjoyed a revival with new décor and new items, including the first tan leather sofa (The Bretby sofa in crystal tan leather if you’re wondering!). If you’re in the area, we’d love to show you around! On top of this, we’ve sourced some beautiful new collections, such as the Barclay, and Aviator collections and our foray into bespoke furniture hand made for the office has been extremely well-received, with bespoke desks from Oldman and our range of boardroom tables.

Of course, we couldn’t do all we do without you. We’re proud to have raised our social profile, and our sales considerably this year, and we couldn’t have done it without your input and likes, comments and shares.

We look forward to what 2018 brings, and will continue to source, supply and inspire you with all the latest trends in sustainable furniture and interior design! Cheers!

Our best sellers of the year

Have you noticed how, as we get to the end of the year, everyone from retailers to TV shows chart the year in what was amazing, funny, sad and popular? We decided to take a look back at which items from our collections were popular, from the farmhouse table to the most popular chairs…

The Standford Industrial Reclaimed Table

In the top spot is this impressive industrial dining table. Mixing the elegant with the practical, customers loved the dining sets with bench, as well as the extendable dining surface that makes it ideal for any busy home. It is robust and yet not devoid of style, brought about, we think, by the reclaimed wood top. With reclaimed wood, you can bask in the warmth of knowing that the item you have purchased is completely unique. Every grain and blemish hints at its past, just one reason why this is one of our best sellers.

The Luxe Kensington Dining Table

Just as popular is this pleasing mix of styles, the rustic dining table with a reclaimed wood top and the elegant metal work legs. As well as the larger, rectangle dining table, there is also the round Luxe dining table, with the exquisite metal legwork column that sets it apart from all others. There is a rawness to this table top that really makes it stand out. Perfect for when you want something different, but without compromising on the ideals of the industrial or rustic styles.

English Beam Table

The simplicity of the English Beam dining table in a ‘medium finish’ is probably the main feature that makes this a popular seller this year – and we don’t expect its rising star to wane anytime soon. It has the industrial look to it that easily fits a home, the perfect table for friends to gather round. The other factor that we know makes this a popular item is that you can order it in custom sizes too. So, no need for a table that is too big or too small.

Allegro Chairs

Fourth on our list are dining chairs that we always knew would be a hit – and we weren’t proved wrong. The Allegro chairs in Cerato leather are the ideal teammates to any of our rustic or industrial styled dining tables. Cerato is a herb that when correctly prepared and administered, helps people to realise their individuality and we think this is a fitting name for our leather dining chairs. Available with wooden and metal legs, which would you choose?

Florence Chairs

Whereas the Allegro dining chair oozes a deceptive simplicity, the upholstered dining chairs from the Florence range offer exquisite detail that brings sophistication to a dining room. Light in colour, the robust fabric is soft to the touch, it is the stud work and the added detail of the ring metal handle on the back of the chair that gives it the edge. Available in natural and white, it is no wonder these dining chairs are popular with our discerning customers.

Did you purchase one of our best sellers this year, or are you looking for inspiration for next year? Either way, we’d be glad to hear what you think of our best sellers!

Need last minute party ideas for New Year?

With two weeks left of 2017, there’s just enough time to make plans for New Year’s Eve if you haven’t already. Here are a few of our favourite ideas of what you could get up to, and food you could serve up.

Stay in the Warm

Of course, there is nothing wrong with spending New Year’s Eve curled up on a comfy sofa to fit in one more Christmas film in 2017 or huddled around a rustic coffee table to play some games. If you want to make it a cosy New Years Eve party with all your family, bring together all the comfy chairs you can find, along with plenty of scatter cushions and throws for a cosy evening in.

If you want to make it into a date night, and spend time just the two of you, light some candles, mix up a couple of cocktails (or pop open a bottle of champagne) and simply enjoy each others company. New Year’s Eve doesn’t need to be expensive, or spent with anyone else at all!

With Kids

If you’re planning on staying in try and come up with ideas to keep your kids entertained. There are plenty of ‘hour by hour’ activity bags ideas to be found on the internet but the idea is to create bags with things to do for every hour until midnight. Easy, inexpensive ideas include supplies to make party hats, clues for a treasure hunt with a new game to play at the end of the trail, balloons to decorate for the big countdown, snacks, party poppers or party blowouts and a drink for a midnight toast.

You could even put the activities inside balloons and pop one every hour to reveal what they’ll be getting up to.

Alternatively, look to see if there is something going on in your local area. There are sometimes New Year’s Eve fireworks to be seen. Why not get wrapped up warm and go to see them with another family?

Host a New Year’s Party

There’s nothing like a New Year’s Eve party to bring in the New Year. Invite friends, family, neighbours or whoever you please to finish the year in style.

Make it easy in terms of food with a finger food buffet. Sandwiches, giant pizzas, quiches etc. are fantastically easy if you’re hosting for lots of people, meaning you can spend time with your guests rather than slaving over the stove. Alternatively, don’t cook at all – get your guests to come over after dinner! Whatever works best for you.

If you want to get everyone involved in a game, there are plenty of New Year’s Eve inspired games. Here are a few of our favourites.

Two resolutions and a lie: based on the popular icebreaker ‘two truths a lie’, guests have to try and figure out what resolutions people really want to achieve in 2018, and which one is a complete lie!

Race to the toast: players must race to fill their champagne glasses using only a teaspoon, transporting the champagne from a bowl into the glass. The winner is the first person to fill the glass and tap the glass with a spoon. You could even get the winner to give a toast to the New Year!

Beer/prosecco pong: depending on your guests, why not play this classic. Line the plastic glasses up like skittles at each end of the table (a glass topped one is a good idea for easy clean up), and split into two teams. Aim a ping pong ball at the glass and drink each time in lands in one. The first team to drink all their glasses is the winner. Its a great way to start a bit of competition, and an easy way to break the ice if you’re hosting people who don’t know each other.

How are you spending New Year’s Eve this year? Let us know.

Comic Christmas jumpers are a must for Christmas Jumper day

There is no denying that the festive season can bring out the ‘bah-humbug’ in us.

We may love the twinkling fairy lights but only once we have wrestled them free of their many tangles.

We love the real Christmas tree but hate vacuuming the dropped needles.

We love seeing family and friends – but it is an effort when all you want to do is curl up with a good book.

And this is why the modern tradition of Ugly Christmas Jumper Day is such a sweet invention.

Handmade Gifts

Many people still hand-make gifts for family and friends which is, of course, nothing new. As children, you were probably bribed to wear the itchy hand knitted jumper that Grandma or someone else had knitted. Once Christmas day had passed, the jumper was banished, never to be seen again, along with the horrendous knitted bed socks…

But it has made a comeback and when it comes to festivities at your workplace, there is nothing better than Ugly Christmas Jumper Day.

Better still, when you wear your Christmas jumper to work on 15^th December 2017, ugly or otherwise, you can add a few pounds to the charity box, knowing that you, along with your esteemed colleagues, are supporting Save the Children in their important work.

Comic, ugly or overly ‘busy’ Christmas jumpers are a must, perfect for showing the lighter side of your work colleagues sitting around at boardroom tables. And it is not just small business getting involved, but large businesses too.

Recycling: The Parent of Ugly Sweater Fever

No one seems to know why, why, where, when or how the current craze for ugly Christmas sweaters began. A book on the subject noted that there was an upswing from 2001 onwards. Although it can’t be confidentially attributed to the movement of recycling and upcycling, the early examples of ugly Christmas jumpers were charity shop finds.

And this is how it continued for many years until major retailers spotting a demand issue in the market, started to create their own versions of ugly Christmas jumpers, which is why you’ll see them at almost every desk and chair in the office these days.

What Makes an Ugly Christmas Jumper?

What is stylish to one person, will be atrocious to another. So, what makes Millie sat at her corner office desk love the flashing nose of Rudolph on her Christmas jumper, but detest the Santa festooned jumper of Robert, sat at his bespoke wooden desk?

Frankly, anything goes and the bigger, bolder, brasher and more colourful, the better. And there is no doubt that the best ugly Christmas jumpers are those with 3D adornments, flashing lights and an abundance of bright, festive colours. From magenta pink to glow of gold accessories, the more the jumper has on it, the better.

Not Just Humans, But Dogs Too!

The other aspect that has started to emerge to this trend is the penchant of dog owners to dress up their pooches. Why should Fido miss out on the festive season? There are all kinds of superb Christmas dog jumpers, jackets and hats that make taking your dog to work so much more exciting.

Fashion faux pas or otherwise, the ugly Christmas jumper is a fun way of raising money for a worthwhile charity – or donate to another of your choice – and kicking back and having ‘silly’ fun with your work colleagues.

How to style: dining set or mix and match chairs?

The dining table is an important piece of furniture so it’s no surprise that customers take time to consider all their options. From considering which shape will work best, to which style will suit their home, there is also the question of whether a dining set which gives a cohesive style to the dining room is the way to go or whether choosing chairs separately, so you can have your own unique take is the best step forward.

No one can make this decision alone, so we asked our Houzz and Instagram followers what they thought.

We showed them the Wycombe, one of our oak dining sets, complete with chairs and dining bench…

And we showed them the Maddox industrial dining table…

And we asked which do you prefer? Are dining sets still on-trend or is creating your own dining table styles with mix and match chairs the way to go?

What YOU Said

It was a close-run thing but there was a clear push for the Maddox industrial table with mix and match chairs. But why?

There was no doubting that for many, the contemporary style and fresh feeling of the Maddox industrial table with mix and match chairs were appealing. But why?

The table itself is perfection when it comes to the industrial style. The combination of raw, not overly processed reclaimed wood with the stark, cool contrast of metal is perfect. But the edginess and angles of the industrial style are softened by the lower backed velvet dining chairs with wooden legs but, more importantly, the colour of the chairs and the plush fabric adds texture and warmth. In fact, this was one comment about the Maddox dining table; the great colours and the soft look were exactly what many people wanted.

But the winning comment must surely be that the mix and match effect ‘offers so many possibilities’. If you are looking to create a unique look to your dining room that is on-trend but warm, genuine and stylish there is no doubt that the Maddox table and mix and match chairs is the style path for you.

Dining Sets – Not as Old Fashioned as You Think

But that doesn’t mean the Wycombe dining set missed out on its admirers.

Chic, modern and with a Scandinavian style, there is an understated simplicity about the Wycombe dining set. Our dining room sets come in a range of options: in this case, you can opt for four chairs, or dining benches or a combination thereof.

An oak extending dining table is, of course, also worth its weight in gold in a busy; the extending section works well with the dining bench as there is more room for guests in an instant.

Oak dining sets are also practical, something that many of our voters on Houzz and Instagram were keen to point out. There were many comments about the Wycombe set being infinitely practical but there were also clear preferences for it because of its versatility in the home.

Even though there was a clear winner – the Maddox industrial dining table with mix and match chairs – there was a respect and a big nod of approval for the Wycombe dining set too, for all that it offers. Which is your favourite?

How to: gift wrapping on a budget

There is nothing more exciting than receiving a gift and when that gift is wrapped beautifully, it shows even more thought and love. The good news is, that elaborate gift wrapping needn’t be complicated nor expensive. With these crafty tips of gift wrapping, you can delightfully wrap all kinds of gifts, sitting on your upholstered dining chairs at your table without spending a penny on wrapping paper.

Many of these suggestions use items that you already have to hand and also re-use wrapping paper, tissue paper, string, ribbon etc. that you have kept from previous birthday and Christmas gifts. So what do we suggest?

Take a Walk!

When the rain stops, and the wind is no longer howling, step outside and enjoy the crisp winter air and everything this season has to offer. We may associate winter with sparseness and hibernation, but many shrubs and trees drop their seeds to the ground in readiness for spring growth.

Fir cones along with a few small sprigs of an evergreen pine or holly bush make for a simple, yet effective adornment alongside homemade gift wrap.

Sitting in the warmth of your home at a wood dining table, loop string or twine (or old ribbon if you have any) around the centre of the gift many times, with a gift tag looped in, and tie securely at the back. Insert the spring of greenery and use string looped over the base of the fir cone to securely anchor it to the gift.

Homemade Gift Wrap Style

As well as buying gift wrap, you can make your own by recycling wrapping paper and tissue from previous gifts you have received.

For your own unique touch, wrap the gift in a block colour paper – a lot cheaper than festive paper – adding your own layer of colour and detail over the top.

For example, this black tissue paper base entirely coverts the gift but the star-festooned tissue paper is recycled, with a small band covering the top of the wrapped gift. Again, use natural elements to complete the look such as twine or craft string.

For a fantastic display, wrap gifts in similar colours, using the same natural adornments and cluster them together under the Christmas tree or hide them in plain view in the glass cabinet.

Newspaper Chic

Save a few of your broadsheets to create your own bespoke wrapping paper. Use twine to hold it all together, tying a spring of cinnamon and a parcel tag to give it not only a festive look but a festive smell too.

Ribbon Perfection

Adding decoration to a wrapper gift is the ideal way of adding a little bit of the wow factor to it. Ribbon is used not just on gifts, but on clothing and other bought products. Keep all these for the Christmas wrapping season, matching your ribbon to recycled tissue paper, or use with newspaper too to give it an extra bit of chic. There are some great online sites that will show you how to tie elaborate bows too, great for adding even more detail.

Other material can be recycled too, especially if you make your own hampers. If it doesn’t look festive enough, why not spray it with glitter paint for added sparkle?

Map It

Frankly, maps are a little old hat, especially with Satnavs and smartphone apps taking over. Reuse the pages of old atlases and maps for wrapping paper. Use ribbon and string to add detail, just like in all the other examples.

Creating your own gift wrap is about a little bit of imagination, and plenty of reusable wrapping materials.

How to impress your dinner guests with no effort

It’s great having family and friends over for Christmas dinner but it can be so much work and effort that you are too tired to enjoy it. From chasing perfection from the dinner table settings to the food itself, inviting dinner guests over can be a situation that balloons to nightmarish proportions.

But not with this guide as to how to impress your dinner guests, without too much effort.

The Table

There is a saying, we eat with our eyes first and our bellies second. As well as presenting the food nicely on plates and in bowls, the table also needs to look the part.

And frankly, when it comes to table setting trends and fashions, we say leave them behind! The festive season is all about twinkling lights, anything that sparkles, as well as colour combinations such as red and green with a dash of gold or silver.

For something ‘different’, nip outside with your secateurs and bring in some cutting of ever-green fronds from your fir trees, holly bush (even better if there are red berries too!) or any other evergreen leaf. Along with pine cones, cluster the foliage along the length of the rustic dining table. To finish, sprinkle with glitter or colourful beads, adding tea lights in pretty holders too, to add pretty twinkling lights.

Top tip – we love the battery-operated lights that are available online and in high street stores. Simply intertwine these around the foliage, hiding the battery compartment under it. Switch on and let them work their magic.

Table Settings

No one has unlimited matching plates, cups, and cutlery lurking in their cupboards and, so it comes as no surprise that when you have many dinner guests for Christmas dinner that there is a range of plates and glasses. We think it makes the occasion.

Remember, perfect table settings are not your goal: making memories and having a great time is. So, bring a range of chairs to nestle against your statement fabric dining chairs and enjoy the fact that your dining room is full of fun and laughter.

Top tip – table full throughout the year with guests? Why not consider investing in a dining bench, a great alternative to different chairs and great for accommodating more people.

However, using matching key plates can lift the table and so it is worth investing in some key items. We think that…

Matching or complimenting oven to tableware – as well as having plenty of cutlery to go around, why not invest in a cluster of oven to tableware dishes? These present a sense of cohesion and providing that all your ‘mismatch’ plates and bowls share the same colour palette, it won’t look too chaotic.
Handmade, designed and created plates – clustering bowls and plates is a way of showing off your ‘best’ tableware too. We love the idea of opting for something different but one that is timeless and elegant. Tableware, from serving plates to dinner plates, are items that over the years, you will come to amass in your cupboards. And so, you need timeless, elegant pieces that look as fresh today as they will in years to come.

Planning Ahead

Impressing your guests can place you on a collision course with festive season stress, a condition that can see you become fixated on smaller details that really don’t have bearing on the wonderful meal you are about to cook.

What do we suggest? Planning ahead is the solution, along with getting as much done as you possibly can before the main event. And we have some useful tips too:

Don’t battle through Christmas shoppers for your groceries and other essential – shop online! Get as much as you can beforehand, making the best use of pre-prepared foods and put in the freezer.
Shop local – local suppliers, such as butchers and grocers, will often have affordable hampers in the run-up to the festive season. As well as supporting local businesses, you will also be getting quality produce that tastes delicious.
Set the table the night before – for many of us, creating a fantastic looking table is the fun part but it can take longer than you think to create the ultimate dining table setting! Make it your ‘night before’ task or even a day or two beforehand. Enjoy a few dinners off your lap as a treat!
Nothing wrong with ready meals – we are not suggesting you serve a ready meal for Christmas dinner but with so much going on, be kind to yourself and invest in high-quality ready meals for you and your family. Again, local grocery stores and food suppliers have some great pre-packed products.

Choose Dishes Carefully

Chose dishes that can be prepared beforehand and then simply finished off before you serve them. The best course to do this with is dessert and this Festive Pavlova is ideal.

You will need:

6 large free-range egg whites
350g caster sugar
1tsp white wine vinegar
1tsp cornflour

For the filling;

600 ml double cream
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
50g sifted icing sugar
900g of fresh fruit – any combination, such as raspberries and blueberries
50g pomegranate seed
A few mint leaves

Method:

Preheat the oven to 160°, Gas 3 and line a large baking tray with greaseproof paper. Draw around a large dinner plate as use this as your guide.
Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl until soft peaks then gradually add the sugar slowly until stiff and glossy.
Mix the vinegar and cornflour and stir into the egg whites
Heap the mixture onto the greaseproof paper, shaping it into a ring, leaving a gap in the middle
Place in the oven reducing the temperature to 140° to gas 2 for an hour or until the meringue is hard on the outside but soft on the inside.
Allow the meringue to cool – it will keep well in the fridge!
Just before serving, whip the cream with the vanilla paste and icing sugar and spread generously on top of the ring of meringue. Pile the fruit on top, finish with the jewel-like pomegranate seeds and decorate with mint leaves. Serve with a sprinkling of icing sugar or edible glitter dust.

Impressing Christmas dinner guests is just as much about the company, the laughter and the stories as it is about the ‘right’ decorations on your dining room furniture or the ‘correct’ festive inspired sculptures in your small display cabinet. And don’t forget – enjoy it too!