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

3 ways to incorporate the faux fur trend in your home

When I think of cosy, winter living rooms and bedrooms, the first thing that springs to mind is faux fur rugs, paired with throws and an abundance of decorative cushions – all perfect for adding texture.

On the 1st December its ‘faux fur day’ so there’s no better time to embrace this trend than now. Faux fur is perfect for most rooms in your home; add a grey sheepskin rug to a children’s room or nursery, as it’s easy to maintain, especially with kids around. Use a light grey rug to create a reading nook by the window or create a cozy space for your pet – whatever you choose to do, it is bound to add glamour and sophistication.

A large sheepskin rug looks simply superb beside your bed, and you’ll be thankful every cold winter morning that you have something warm and cosy to sink your toes into. Alternatively, if you have a lot of floorspace, either in a larger bedroom or in your living room where the centre of the room is often empty, a faux fur sheepskin rug can look just as stunning.

If you have light oak bedroom furniture, a darker colour is perfect for adding contrast and drama. Our quad sheepskin rug in black is the perfect choice if you are looking to make a statement. Alternatively, for something a little softer, a chocolate brown sheepskin rug is a great choice because it is easy to pair with any decor, whether is simple Scandinavian, classic farmhouse or ultra contemporary.

To really make the most of the trend, add other faux fur items such as cushions and throws to create a gorgeous cosy, log-cabin inspired look to your home. Add Scandinavian furniture with simple decor pieces like a rattan log basket full of logs and hang a large mirror with a golden frame above the fireplace, or underneath a large piece of furniture like a sofa or sideboard, to finish the look perfectly.

How else would you use sumptuous sheepskin rugs in your home and what is your option: real or faux fur?

How do you decorate: with metal or wood accessories?

We posed yet another tough styling question to our social media followers. We really had no idea which way people would vote but unlike some of our other polls, the answer is quite definitive.

So, which do you prefer to accessorise your home with? Metal or wooden sculptures, objects and accessories?

The majority of our voters on Houzz opted for metal – twice as popular as wood – and our Instagram followers also opted for metal, again a choice that was twice as popular as wood.

But this doesn’t mean that wooden sculptures and accessories have had their day. The popularity of metal accessories is an indication of the current trend of interior design styles but with the right look, wood accessories can bring out the delight of wooden furniture, no matter what style you are aiming for.

Metal accessories

Another factor that may affect people choices is the time of year.

The festive season – as well as autumn and winter – are associated with sparkling items that reflect light around the home. With the night’s drawing in – by Christmas, sunlight fades by 3.30pm in most parts of Britain – we want accessories that maximise light in the home.

And, of course, anything shiny or sparkly fits right in with the Christmas theme and so this magnificent metal antler stag head, perfect for wall mounting in any room, is the ideal choice.

This stag head also fits well with both the rustic and farmhouse styles, two themes you may have assumed would only welcome wooden accessories into its folds. However, both are themes that embrace the outdoors and so anything that alludes to nature and wildlife is welcome.

This metallic bison head is a modern twist on something commonly associated with the deep west. It brings something different, raises a smile and certainly fits with many of the interior design styles popular today.

Wood Accessories

Wood is a beautiful material, no matter from what tree the timber derives.

But our reclaimed wooden furniture gives off a different vibe entirely. The scuff marks and blemishes, the undulations and the grain all give off a small flavour of its past, something that we think should never be lost or hidden.

Many interior design styles embrace wood as a component part of its theme, including the industrial style. Surprising, you may think, as when we think of ‘industry’, we think of metal and bricks, cement and tough solid features. But wood had its place in industry and thus, this rather fetching circular wooden accessory is the perfect antithesis to industrial furniture. Imagine it on an industrial coffee table or maybe a modern console table.

Of course, there is no doubt that wooden accessories fit with the rustic and the farmhouse theme (and be easily slipped into a modern style too!) but all that wood, you may think, can look too uniform.

The trick is to use various shades and timbers, as well as painted furniture. Imagine the rustic appeal of this gorgeous wooden horse against a painted sideboard in the dining room?

Even though there was a clear winner, do you think wooden and metal accessories could work in your home?

Why choose a round dining table for your home?

The dining table is the essential element of the dining room or space in your home. But why opt for a round table? What are the advantages and drawbacks?

1 Room Dynamic

Every room in your home has a mood or an ambience about it. In the dining room, you want it to be stylish and welcoming. Some people find that a rectangle table is more accommodating and yet, there is something magical about a round farmhouse dining table that seems to draw everything else around it to it. Maybe it is the softly, curving lines of the round farmhouse table that is the key?

2 More Inclusive

For this point, we need heat out of the kitchen and into the boardroom. The rectangle table has two long sides and two shorter sides and at one end, the boss would sit; the person with the power and control. The head of the house would also occupy this space at the dining table but with a round dining table, there is no ‘head’. Everyone is on the same level so to speak thus, the roundness of the table is perfect for making sure that everyone is included.

3 Perfect for Parties

And this means the inclusivity of a round table makes it an ideal choice if you entertain too, whether that is a formal dinner party or an informal gathering of friends and family. Everyone can see each other, connect and interact.

4 Bunch up!

The best gatherings are those that are impromptu. The ones where someone calls as you are dishing up tea or the number of guests at your party seems to have swollen beyond the guest list. The best parties are those where people sit on mismatched chairs, footstools or balance on a beach ball. With a round dining table, it is easier for people to join in, bunch up so to speak, and enjoy time together.

5 But they extend too…

It is not just rectangular tables that extend, you know. The round table can add a middle section, changing it from round to elliptical. Better still, this is offered in all kinds of styles too such as the Scandinavian design. Who wouldn’t love the extending Scandinavian dining table in their home?

6 Consume Less Space

A round table is perfect for the large dining room, just as it is for the smaller dining room too. Because there are no sharp edges and angles, as pleasing as they may be, the roundness of the table allows for easier flow, essential for the smaller dining room remaining accessible, functional and stylish too.

7 Understated Glamour

Maybe it is the soft curving nature of the round dining table that makes it so attractive but we think there is something else. The supporting legs of the table don’t need to occupy the ‘four corners’ because there are none. And this means a pedestal leg.

A glorious column of loveliness that makes squeezing around the table so much easier and pain-free – no knocking knees against table legs! Just look at the statement the legs of the Colette reclaimed dining table make…

Is a round dining table your favourite?

Organise your bottles with a rustic wine rack

Buffets and sideboards make a wonderful addition to any dining room. A reclaimed wood sideboard cabinet will not only add rustic style and elegance to your room, but it will also add invaluable storage space, perfect for housing dinnerware and glassware.

One fantastic feature in any sideboard, which is sometimes overlooked, is a space for storing wine bottles. Often we have bottle storage in our kitchens, but extra storage in your dining room never hurts, especially given the upcoming party season of Christmas and New Year.

If you are looking for a large sideboard, the Riya Reclaimed Wood Sideboard may be the perfect investment. With gorgeous colours running through the wood, the sideboard will bring any room to life but is also enviably easy to pair with reclaimed wood furniture. Complete with plenty of cupboard storage, three drawers and room for 10 bottles, the Riya Sideboard is the perfect, showstopping sideboard.

Our bestselling Cotswold Reclaimed Wood Sideboard is another beauty. With space for housing an impressive wine collection, storing up to 28 bottles, plus a mix of drawer and cupboard space, this would make the perfect addition to any rustic dining room. Simple, elegant and practical – what’s not to love?!

Alternatively, if you’d prefer a lighter wood option without compromising on bottle storage, the Chedworth Natural Wine Rack is gorgeous. This rustic sideboard is the perfect spot for storing wine in style, and also comes finished with two good sized drawers, perfect for keeping dining room accessories like bottle openers, stoppers and napkins within handy reach. Complete with stylish nickel cup handles, the wine rack would look just as at home in a modern space as it would in a cosy country kitchen.

View the sideboards collection at Modish Living. For any enquiries, please get in touch with one of our team members.

Great ideas on how to use a sheepskin rug

With its slightly deeper pile and more relaxed appearance, the sheepskin rug is an all-natural product that adds texture and warmth to a room. A commonly-used accessory in the Scandinavian interior design style, the sheepskin rug is a versatile addition to your home decor.

The Bedroom

Everything about the bedroom should ooze restfulness and calmness. Furnishings should be soft, deep and sumptuous. It comes as no surprise that the sheepskin rug belongs in the bedroom. Use it to frame the room too; use the large Icelandic sheepskin rug under the oak dressing table stool or enjoy the sensuous experience of your bare feet nestling in its long, warm fibres as you leave your bed in the morning or sink into its welcoming softness of a night time.

The Hallway

The hallways should not be devoid of detail and although the more fragile nature of the sheepskin rug would not marry well with the high foot traffic through the hallway, you can still use it sumptuous delights for colour. The hallway bench, a staple for keeping bags and shoes safe until the next time they are needed, would look divine with a sheepskin elegantly draped over it and would certainly make a pleasant seating point for when you need to wearily pull off your boots at the end of the day. A black rug would look so dashing and elegant in the hallway, don’t you think?

The Living Room

The living room is surely one of the best places for the feathery sheepskin rug to work its magic…

Fireplace essential – a rug in front of the fire has long been an accepted use of a rug and the sheepskin is no different. The warmth of the rug and the heat of the fire complement each other perfectly.
The armchair companion – the armchair is a welcoming fold of leather or upholstery but again, a downy rug of this kind allows you to sink into its softness. Softly drape it over the brown leather armchair to act as a warm layer beneath you, or enjoy its long fibres underfoot.
The coffee table and the rug – not a title of a book but a sure-fire winner when it comes to bringing the clean lines of the Scandinavian look to your living room. Soften the angles and edges with soft fabrics, using the larger king-size sheepskin rug as a base under the wood coffee table with a generous border for your feet too.
Rug or blanket – with the winter rain lashing at the window and howling gales menacing, you can always use the rug as a warm blanket for when you watch your favourite soap opera or sink into the pages of a best seller.

The Dining Room

There is room for the sheepskin in the dining room too, and not just on the floor. Why not use it as a soft landing for your derriere on the oak bar stools, for example? Or use it to add a layer of warmth to the dining bench.

Where else and how else would you use sumptuous sheepskin rugs?

What’s your top choice for a sofa?

We asked, and you told us! When it comes to sofas, there is often a choice between a fabric upholstered one and a leather one, or its synthetic equivalent.

We wanted to know what our audience thought and, so we showed three sofas, asking you which one you thought made the perfect addition to a living room.

The choice was tough as the two contenders were:

The Napier Harris Tweed sofa is simply stunning. Beautifully soft and robust, it has a charm all of its own.
Hot on its heels is the iconic shape of the Bretby leather Chesterfield sofa, a soft grey leather sofa that has a timeless elegance all of its own.

But which did you prefer – an upholstered sofa or the leather sofa? Did the best of both worlds hold water with those who were undecided?

But then we really put the cat among the pigeons by showing you the best of both worlds: the Regal Sofa, a mix of Harris tweed and leather, complete with the elbow-patch cushions.

What You Told Us…

It was a close-run thing. Our Houzz followers were split right down the middle, with half opting for leather, the other for an upholstered sofa. Our Instagram followers, never shy in coming forward, also presented a more or less even split although it has to be said there were a few more votes for the Harris Tweed Napier upholstered, just pipping the leather Bretby sofa into second position.

A Custom Choice

We think that our leather and fabric sofa does go some way in answering the dilemma that many people have when it comes to choosing a sofa. On one hand, leather is elegant and easy to keep clean but there is something warm and appealing about fabric sofas.

This is why we offer a custom service when it comes to some of our sofas. And the Regal sofa is perfect for those who have a foot in both the leather and fabric camp. Opt for a leather ‘carcass’ to your sofa, choosing to compliment fabric for the cushions and seating – just ‘click to customise’ to see how easy it is.

Or, if you know which material works best, you can customise that too in terms of colours and for some fabrics, pattern too.

Essentially, you want the sofa to set the tone of the room. Needless to say, it should also walk hand in hand with the style of your home too. Leather and fabric work well with all styles, from the homeliness of the farmhouse style to the beautiful brashness of the industrial look.

The reason is simple: we use natural materials. Moon wool, a description of high-quality wool fabric used for interior applications such as sofas and armchairs, and leather are natural products that offer so much in the way of warmth, style and practicality.

And so, in some ways, you don’t have to choose between the two. Both fit just as well with any style, including those of us in love with the Scandinavian style of clean lines and natural materials and fabrics.

Which do you prefer, the coolness, timeless appeal of leather, or the warm embrace of an upholstered sofa?

What is your number one option: Real or Faux?

With Faux Fur Day on 1st December, we thought we would look at our customers home decor preferences: real or faux materials.

Many years ago, wearing real fur was a sign of class, elegance and money. Today, the wearing of animal skin and fur is a contentious issue. And yet, people who denounce the wearing of real fur do so whilst wearing leather shoes, enjoying the warmth of leather sofas and dining chairs…

It is an interesting debate and, so we decided to stoke the flames, asking you, our customers, which you preferred in the home: real or faux fabrics?

As always, you smashed our expectations, showing there is a delicate balance between what is acceptable and what isn’t.

Real or Faux Leather?

Leather and its synthetic equivalent are popular materials. Easy to care for and wipe clean, both leather and vinyl are able to withstand the rigours of everyday use. With this in mind, we asked you to choose between faux leather dining chairs and real, brown leather dining chairs.

On the face it, both look the same and act the same, with only a small difference in price. So what were the results? Your response was divided: our Instagram followers opted for faux leather but our Houzz audience opted for real leather.

Leather is a by-product of the beef industry, a way of using as much of the carcass as possible. Whereas once it was very expensive, it is now within reach of most budgets. But, at the same time, manufacturing techniques of PU (or ‘poly’, meaning ‘made’) leather have improved enormously and this means that all the properties of leather, including a realistic grain effect, makes it a popular option.

That said, we have noticed a considerable increase in customers buying leather-clad items, from an Italian leather sofa to dining chairs. Maybe the robustness and warmth of leather are coveted, after all?

Real or Faux Fur?

The properties of fur are well-known and yet, when we wear it, people frown upon it. But we live in an age in which we are returning to natural fabrics.

Wool, for example, has anti-allergic properties, it keeps us cool in summer and toasty warm in winter. It too, like leather, is a by-product of the meat industry. Sheep and other ‘woolly’ animals are shorn in the spring, with their wool used in a range of products from wool duvets and bedding to items of clothing.

In the home, real fur, such as sheepskin rugs, are becoming popular because they are robust and long-lasting. With high-quality, well-manufactured large sheepskin rugs, shedding is minimal and that means it stays looking superb, for longer.

But what did our poll tell us? The majority opted for faux fur, with only a small number opting for real fur. And yet, the wool industry in the UK is gathering in popularity with many of us realising that natural materials do – and always have – offer us what we need. Our sheepskin rugs, for example, all made from real wool (it is treated to straighten the fibres and make the pile even more luxurious).

Is one better than the other? Each material, real or synthetic, have their pros and cons but as with anything in your home, it comes down to your preference.

It’s almost time! Order now to get it in time for Christmas

Order before 20^th November to get any item from our English Beam Collection in time for Christmas.

The festive season is nearly upon us. From counting down the sleeps to the night Santa comes with the children to lamenting how, once again, you are running out of time to get everything done, there are some things that need to be ordered well in advance of the big day.

For any item from the Beam Collection, the last day for orders guaranteed for Christmas delivery is November 20^th. With this in mind, we thought we would take a look at this exquisite collection of reclaimed wood furniture, made from the finest beams and reclaimed wood.

The Dining Table

Christmas revolves are the dining table. It is the place where family and friends gather. We have a few examples of fantastic dining tables and sets to choose from, but this extendable reclaimed wood dining table is superb, not just for Christmas but all year round.

Team it with any of our dining chairs – leather or upholstered – for an elegant finish to the dining room. If you regularly entertain, how about a reclaimed wood dining bench? Soften it with throws or a luxuriously deep pile sheepskin rug for a comfortable and warm base.

In the Living Room

There are so many items that are essential in the living room that it is hard to know where to start. But gathering around the TV to watch the latest blockbuster or the end result of a soap opera’s Christmas storyline, our reclaimed wood TV unit is ideal no matter how large or small your TV.

Then there is the coffee table, an essential piece of kit for anything from magazines to coffee mugs, to champagne flutes and nibbles are your Christmas get-together. As you would expect, we have an amazing range of coffee table, with the Beam Collection not disappointing either.

We are all for mixing charm and practicality which is why reclaimed wood blanket and toy box works well – doubling as a coffee table, all you need is a cluster of pretty accessories and this practical piece of rustic furniture shines.

And don’t forget, our units and reclaimed wood shelves are ideal for showing off accessories and sculptures, adding atmosphere and ambience to the living room.

The Bedroom

The place we retreat to at the end of a busy day and the place we collapse after yet another evening of partying and socialising! You need it to be a haven of calm and tranquillity throughout the year which is why the solidness and robustness of the Lazy Days high backed reclaimed wooden bed from the collection is the ideal choice.

But Don’t be Disappointed…

There are many more items in the English Beam Collection that will add grandeur and elegance to your home. But they are not off-the-shelf pieces – they are unique with each piece having their own story to tell. At it is this uniqueness that makes it a popular collection.

But if you want it for Christmas, you must order before 20^th November. Don’t leave it too late!

Embrace the velvet trend in your dining room

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Madison Chair

Velvet… without a doubt the most sumptuous of fabrics, perfect for injecting glamour and luxurious style into any room. A velvet armchair or dining chair will take centre stage in your living room or dining room, and will wonderfully highlight the beauty of other pieces. Here are a few of our ideas of how you can embrace the velvet trend in your home (and a few of our favourite pieces from our website!).

If you are looking to add unrivalled glamour to your rustic dining table, velvet dining chairs are wonderful. These luxury dining room chairs are beautifully unique, with the tub-style seat and gorgeous quilted detailing to the back, perfect for adding a fantastic style statement around your dining room table.

Another pair of dining chairs which would look simply superb with any wood table are these gorgeous velvet dining chairs (a gorgeous new addition to our studio, if you’re interested in taking a look at it in real life). With their simple padded seat with elegant button detailing, contrasted against the sleek, metal base, these dining chairs would look stunning with any reclaimed wood or oak dining table.

For something similar, the opulent blue upholstery of these sublime velvet dining chairs would make a stunning modern addition.

And what about how to style velvet?

A vibrant coloured velvet like blue, green or pink will certainly make a statement on its own, so let it do all the talking. Tone down the rest of your decor, with neutral reclaimed or oak furniture and stick to just a few simple accessories, to ensure your decor doesn’t look too much. With more neutral colours, like grey, black or beige, you can get a little more creative. A pop of a jewel-toned colour in the pink or purple family will only add to the opulent feel of the velvet.

When it comes to accessories, a large mirror will bring light to any room, opening up the space and will allow you to play around with colour. Keep other accessories to a minimum, using glass and metallic finishes to keep the room bright. A statement glass vase on your sideboard and a serving dish, or fruit bowl on the table will add elegant style, without adding too much ‘clutter’.

Have a look at the velvet dining chairs collection available at Modish Living or customise your favourite one with your preferred colour of velvet.