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

Our contemporary approach on the classic farmhouse table

Hoxton Oak White Farmhouse Dining Table and Chairs

As you would expect, the farmhouse style contains many nods towards the farmhouse of old. The milk churns, the wire baskets, the summery yellow and the hint of floral charm on soft furnishings and window dressings.

Farmhouse or Classic Farmhouse – Is There a Difference?

There is detail, but there is also a more than a hint of the practical, simply because it needs to be. After a hard day tilling the land and tending flocks, no farmer nor their family wants to return to a home that is devoid of function or warmth.

But if the quaintness of the style doesn’t quite sit easy, there is an alternative. It retains much of the farmhouse charm but there is a refined elegance in the classic style within the confines of the farmhouse style. Slightly sleeker but nowhere near minimalist, there is a welcome dose of the modern, hence it is the ideal choice for many a home.

The Heart of the Home

The kitchen in any home is the heart of the home but in the farmhouse, it was the ‘main’ living area, probably because it was the warmest. But this doesn’t mean the modern farmhouse table has to be huge and overbearing.

Choose a modern dining table that pays homage to the farmhouse style – the painted white legs, the wood top – and you won’t be disappointed. The Hoxton oak dining table is ideal or for a little more detail and panache, why not opt for the ample proportions of the rustic trestle table?

The farmhouse kitchen of old was the place family and friends gathered, and was the venue for many a social event and get together. Your kitchen is likely to be the same, with friends and family welcome at any time. This can mean that even the biggest of farmhouse table is under pressure in terms of space for diners. Thus, the extendable farmhouse table is the solution.

Of course, seating is important too and again, there is a practical element to the farmhouse style. For example, dining benches are often used, doubling up as storage space too in many a busy kitchen.

Then there is the iconic farmhouse style chair, with wooden spindle backs. But this doesn’t mean you cannot add a hint of texture with upholstered dining chairs. To give fabric dining chairs the best chance of effortlessly taking their place at the table, keep colours neutral and the fabrics natural. The off-white linen effect of these delicately detailed upholstered dining chairs is perfect with the class style farmhouse table. Or, if you want to bring the look right up to date with colour, then you can’t go wrong with grey dining chairs.

Complete the Look

The display cabinet – as a classic piece of farmhouse furniture – is as synonymous with the farmhouse kitchen as the large dining table is. The white display cabinet still has its place and its uses, bringing both grandeur and practicality to any busy kitchen. Opt for the statuesque, single white display cabinet or, if space allows, the double display cabinet, with glass doors and pristine white exterior won’t go amiss. Or, if space is pressing, the white painted sideboard is the ideal addition that doesn’t consume space.

The farmhouse style is a charming style. Robust yet heart-warmingly charming, it will work in any home, including yours.

How do you prefer a display cabinet: with or without glass?

It was a big question. But we asked it. And you answered.

It was a dead heat. Half of you who responded to the question “how do you prefer your display cabinet, with or without glass?” said with glass and the other half were clear in their conviction: the only way forward is without glass.

With this in mind, we examine the pros and cons of glass display cabinets with those without glass.

With Glass

There is something undeniably beautiful about glass, whether it is as a glass door on a display unit or a shelf. Why do we love glass display cabinets so much?

Reflective – glass is a reflective material and so in any room, large or small, it allows natural and ambient light to play.
Elegant – this reflective ability means it adds a sense of elegance to any space or any interior design scheme.
Versatile – glass fits any interior design scheme. There is the traditional appeal of the farmhouse style display unit or the non-fussy finish to the modern style.
Protective – glass doors (any doors from any material) mean an extra layer of protection to the items inside. This is why most farmhouse or rustic style cabinets and dressers will have at least one section with glass doors.

The Con

We struggled to think of any, but we did come up with one…

The Glass Cleaning Dilemma – the smears, the annoying bits of dust and fibres left behind, the sticky finger marks… we could go on, but this is the only real bug we have about glass. And yet, it is not a ‘real’ one, is it? As well as homemade glass cleaning remedies (warm water with white vinegar, a lint-free cloth) or high-quality shop bought glass cleaners, keeping the glass doors of the display sparkling takes no more than a few minutes, if that.

Without Glass

Of course, we recognise that there are times when a cabinet without doors is the order of the day but what pros do these open display cabinets bring to a room?

Functional – there is a pleasing sense of utilitarianism about an open display cabinet. You can see its structure, the skeleton of the pieces that is just as beautiful as the reclaimed wood shelves of the industrial-style cabinet.
Openness – for many, it is the openness of the shelving that is appealing. Items are not hidden away behind door frames and glass but allowed to shine in their own right. In some ways, this is a testament to the history hidden in reclaimed wood furniture. Why wouldn’t you want to see it and admire it?
Easy to Access – and for many, it is the fact that when you need something, you can grab it off the shelf. No need to open doors and shut them again; a case of ‘grab and go’, perfect for when you need things quickly and frequently.

The Con

Again, we struggled because it is a personal question of style, likes and dislikes…

Look too bare? – depending on your style, likes and dislikes, the utilitarian feel can be too much. It lacks character, some might say but we think that in the right setting, with accessories to bring it out of its shell, the open shelving of a display unit come to life.

The Answer?

It depends on your style and what statement you want your display cabinet to make because with or without glass doors, both types pack a stylish punch.

The bright alternative of the classic rustic

The rustic style is a popular one. And no wonder, there is a welcome simplicity and warmth to the style that works in every room in the home.

Essentially, the key element of the rustic style is sweet wedded bliss between wood and other ‘raw’ or natural materials. Think stone, instead of brick, slate instead of tile. Think exposed beams and a colour palette that is neutral: warm creams and beige, offset by the beautiful patina of the wood. When colour is added, it takes on earthy tones – rustic greens and blues, maybe a pop of golden yellow or deep orange.

There is a sweetness and a charm to the rustic style but sometimes, we want something different. But here’s the rub: we want something different, but within the confines of the rules. It can be tough, but we have the solution: the Whiteleaf Collection.

A Collection for Across the Home

Continuing elements of the rustic style throughout the home means a welcome cohesion, a chance to wave clutter and fussiness goodbye and when it comes to the Whiteleaf Collection, the same is true…

In the Bedroom

A beautiful piece of reclaimed furniture, the hand finish to the Whiteleaf white bed frame is simply exquisite. Finished in India, the detailing on the headboard means that there is potential for uniqueness but without the hefty price tag. The wood is still a thing of beauty, sitting well within the rustic style without detracting too much from the key elements.

The Whiteleaf reclaimed wood wardrobe is a thing of beauty too, especially when used alongside the chest of drawers from the collection, of which there are two sizes.

In the Living Room

The main gathering space in the house can be full of love, laughter, hustle and bustle. As such, the style needs to be practical, without being bland, it needs to be charming without being fussy. And that is why so many of us love the rustic feel but ring the changes with the white TV cabinet. With handy shelving space and two smaller cupboards on either side, there is something pleasing about the detail that fits perfectly in any busy home.

Add a white blanket box too, to serve as a coffee table, ideal for hiding clutter when unexpected guests arrive…

In the Dining Room

The dining table is the place around which we gather – we entertain guests and we laugh, listen and console our loved ones – and so it is no surprise that we take so much time to choose the right one.

The White Wash inlay reclaimed wood dining table is elegantly simple, ideal for a busy home that has no time nor need for clutter, fuss and unnecessary detail. You can always add detail with a pretty table centrepiece and candles.

For the kitchen/diner or the large dining room is the Hoxton white dining table. The contrast between the painted white legs and the smooth, wood table top is divine. Reclaimed wood furniture has a charm all of its own so there is no need to cover it and fuss over it; let it tell its own story.

And so, within the confines of the rustic style rulebook, you can create your own version of this simple, elegant and charming style.

The best restaurants to try in London

Eating Out Week encourages us to sample the culinary delights of cafes, restaurants, pizzerias and eateries, and so now is the time to turn our attention to the finer things in life – and that means looking at some of the best restaurants to try in London. There may only be three restaurants on our list – we are sure you can add many more – but we think we have all tastes covered with these choices.

Top End Luxury – Food and Surroundings

The area of Vauxhall in London was centuries past, the place where people went to be seen. It was the place you went for enjoyment, listening to the music at the bandstand and the colour in the gardens. It was also a place where suitors staked their claims to young ladies and gentlemen showed their wealth with their latest purchase and ladies admired the fashions.

Brunswick House describes itself as ‘crumbling splendour’ although there is nothing crumbling about it. Surrounded by the grandeur of yesteryear, you can enjoy a bespoke dining experience at the elegant wood dining table and sumptuously upholstered dining chairs, marvelling at what it must have been like all those centuries ago. Who knows, maybe your ancestors met here?

A Taste of the Orient

London is a mix of cultures, meaning there is a vast range of culinary delights from across the globe. If you want to try ‘something different’, enjoying a cacophony of taste experiences on the tongue, look no further than The Begging Bowl.

Serving Thai dishes for lunch and dinner, this quaint restaurant has a backdrop that is more than delightful. It embraces the ‘communal’ feel in which diners are encouraged to sit at larger, communal tables because, as we know, food brings people together. It is a bright white space with colourful reclaimed wood slat on the walls and pretty patterned china bowls for the sticky rice dishes and stir-fries. Why not wash it down with a cocktail or two?

Pizza Anyone?

There are times, however, when eating out needs to be a less complicated and fussy affair. Luckily, we have the solution in the shape of Pizza East, a pizzeria on Portobello Road.

Of course, Eating Out Week is not just about dinner, but any meal. And guess what? Pizza east serve breakfast! Pop in for smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, or enjoy the delights of brunch. Enjoy ‘mac’n’cheese’ out of the wood oven or stick with pizza, choosing for all kinds of toppings to make a bespoke pizza experience that is all yours.

With a rustic style, the interior of this eatery is awash with ideas of how reclaimed furniture can be used, breathing new life into a space that everyone gets to enjoy.

Your Recommendations

Of course, these are just our ideas, catering to our tastes. We love fine dining, as much as we love stretching the dough and layering pizza topping combinations that are unique to us. Where have you eaten in London? Which stylish restaurants have you come across?

Take advantage of our Limited Edition collection

Are you looking for a truly unique addition to your home? Our stunning collection of limited edition furniture will only be available until the end of the year, so act fast to get your hands on these truly beautiful designs. Here are a few of my favourite pieces from the collection.

Solid oak furniture is the perfect choice to add an elegant, timeless style to your home. Create the perfect centrepiece in your dining room with the gorgeous Hoxton Oak Normandy A Frame Dining Table. The natural wooden markings of the oak dining table are complemented beautifully by the chunky, A-shaped base creating a style perfect for pairing with rustic oak furniture.

To add personality to your kitchen or dining room, a reclaimed wood dining table is a fantastic choice. The Abbey Round Reclaimed Wood Dining Table is a gorgeous take on the classic reclaimed wood table, with the rounded shape and truly unique base. The statement base has been given a fresh white finish, perfect for creating a glamorous, rustic finish in any dining room which is perfectly contrasted against the natural markings of the table top.

Alternatively, take advantage of the hugely-popular industrial furniture trend by investing in a wonderfully unique industrial dining table. The Hoxton Industrial Double Cross Oak Dining Table features a gorgeous solid oak table top which creates a charming, rustic look. Contrasted against the solid steel base with a unique double cross design, the industrial table has been given a sophisticated twist which will look fantastic in any contemporary or rustic home.

The collection also features a fantastic array of dining room storage. The Windsor Large White Sideboard has a stylish and elegant finish which would work wonderfully in any dining room or kitchen. Complete with two double cupboards, and four good sized drawers, the sideboard also offers plenty of storage space.

Alternatively, the Windsor Large White Glass Cabinet will create an opulent finish in your dining room, giving you extra storage behind the stylish painted glass doors.

Have any of these pieces caught your eye? View the Limited Edition collection here.

Our top 3 best coffee shops in London

A recent survey suggested that Britons eat out twice a week and with Eating Out Week celebrating the best of British cuisine from November 18^th onwards, we thought we would take a look at the best coffee shops in London. But rather than just assessing on their menus alone, we thought we would add our own twist – we’ve chosen city-based coffee shops that are using reclaimed wood throughout their establishment. And we think this responsibly sourced backdrop adds beauty and ambience to any space, as well as supporting great menus and delicious drinks.

It was tough, but we whittled it down to three choices. The next time you are in the capital, why not pay these guys a visit?

Lumberjack, 70 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8QZ

Good coffee is more than just about grounding beans and dousing with hot water. Flavour is developed in how the coffee plant is grown and cared for, but also how the community is cared for too. And that’s why Lumberjack’s, with its well-designed reclaimed wood interior, is on our list.

Lumberjack is all about the 3 C’s – coffee, craftsmanship and community, three things that we love too. It is a business that invests in people too, helping young people with employment opportunities whilst honing craftsmanship skills too. Who would have thought that buying a coffee could make such a difference?

Brew92

Brew92 is a specialist roastery and coffee company based in Saudi Arabia but with coffee shops opening in the UK, it is easy to understand the appeal. Liquidesign created the interior space and there is something appealing, not only about the speciality beans and coffees on offer but the mix of reclaimed wood with raw materials too. In effect, this is the industrial style at its best – functional and pragmatic, with brickwork meeting steel, with reclaimed wood softening the edges.

Artisan Coffee

And finally, we have Artisan Coffee who have four popular coffee shops in London – they can be found in Stamford Bridge, Putney, Ealing and East Sheen.

Alongside delicious sweet treats, the ingredients of which are sourced as locally as possible, this coffee ‘chain’ uses a single-source coffee bean that makes a delicious coffee, smooth and mellow, perfect for any time of day. But again, like the other two coffee shops, it is not just about the coffee, it is about the vibe.

As well as selecting playlists for the day, the people of Artisan Coffee also understand the importance of creating the right backdrop – and that flat-pack furniture is just not going to cut it. Enjoy the delights of reclaimed wood and detailed craftsmanship, as you enjoy a smooth and mellow coffee.

We’d Love to Hear From You!

There are amazing coffee shops serving a wide range of teas, coffees and beverages all across the UK, all with a fantastic backdrop of reclaimed wood and other materials. If you know of some, we’d love to hear from you. Tell us what makes their coffee good and why the reclaimed wood and materials are part and parcel of the vibe.

Rugs in home decor: how to get the best out of one

Louis de Poortere Atlantic Ocean Blue Waves Rug

Rugs have been a staple of interior design for centuries. They supply depth and texture to a space and add a welcome zing of colour.

But getting it right can prove tricky. Add too much colour and elements in the room jar against each other, but choose the wrong shade or hue, and the impact of the rug is lost.

If you want to add a bold-coloured rug to any room, this is the guide you need.

Start with the Rug

If you are redecorating a room, buy the coloured rug first and work the rest of the room around it. This means you will spend less time trying to make a rug work with the painted or papered walls – nigh on impossible – but it is much easier to mix paint to match a new bold green or red modern rugs.

Size IS Everything

When it comes to rugs, getting the right size means having the correct sense of dimension in a room – in other words, it means the rug looks like it belongs in the room.

A small rug can work in a space, it just depends on what you want it to do.

If you are using the rug as a central feature, it needs to make a statement. As well as bold design and colour, size plays a part too. Use it to frame furniture such as being the centrepiece between two sofas on which the coffee table sits. Or, if you are opting for a very large rug, it shouldn’t cover the whole room but leave a gap around the edge; this frames the room.

For patches of colour and interest, why not use a small rug under a side table? Small rugs also work well to bring an armchair and side table together. Again, this is because a rug frames the space.

ALWAYS measure the space so that when you order a rug, it is neither too big nor too small.

Material

There is no doubting that a rug is an investment and when you get the right investment – colour, size and material – it will last a long time.

Wool rugs are some of the most robust rugs money can buy, perfect for any busy home and ideal for the living room, hallway runners, bedrooms and more. It will take some quite serious use over many, many years before a wool rug looks jaded and tired.

For luxury and decadence, for the bedroom consider the soft pile of a sheepskin rug.

Pattern

Colour doesn’t have to be added with a plain block colour. Consider adding detail with a pattern such as this delightful striped blue rug or this vibrant, but lightly patterned red rug.

You may be wary of adding too much detail because you feel it limits your future redecoration choices but this isn’t always the case. With a clever pattern and bold colours, vintage rugs are simply stunning, and certainly versatile to work with a range of interior design styles and colours.

Be Different

Rugs are floor coverings, but they can make stunning wall effects too. Why not be different and hang a beautiful ornate rug on the wall, adding more detail and a dashing focal point to your room?

Get the look: Create a bright dining room with painted furniture

The above dining room is simply delightful. Everything compliments and contrasts perfectly. There is an ambience to the room, created by the items within it and the colour palette used. It is palatial without being ostentatious. So how do you get the look?

The Dining Table

The Abbey oval dining table is the undisputed centrepiece of this dining room, helped by the single, bulbous pedestal leg. You would think it would swamp the piece, but it is the perfect balancing act. The eye is drawn to the white ball leg, contrasting perfectly with the wood table top. There is something mysterious about a reclaimed wood dining table: the stories it could tell, but chooses not to.

The Dining Chairs

To supplement the beautiful table you need beautiful dining chairs and these Luxe upholstered grey dining chairs, seen here in the photograph in cream, do not disappoint. They have detail – the elegant stud work and the ‘door knocker’ handle on the back – and yet somehow, they are not fussy or swamping the space. The eye remains drawn to the stunning reclaimed wood table, with the detail on the dining chairs appreciated too.

The Sideboard

The white painted sideboard to the rear of the dining table is a practical addition to the dining room, the ideal space for holding elegant crockery and utensils for the next dinner party. It also allows accessories to be shown off and there is no doubting the ambience created by the mesmerising flicker of candlelight. Again, the wood top and painted base give a pleasing, rustic feel to the room.

The Display Cabinet

The Kingbridge large display glass cabinet also complements the space perfectly. Display cabinets can often look imposing and unwieldy and yet, in this space, it doesn’t. This is a question of balancing dimensions. In this case, the three main furniture items – the grand dining table, the stylish sideboard and the statuesque display cabinet – all pull together in perfect harmony.

The Artwork

Artwork should add detail and not detract from the rest of the room. Perfectly placed, it adds depth and texture too. Consider the subject carefully – what would appeal in a dining room styled along rustic lines? Nature at its quirky finest, we think.

Kitchen/Diner Perfection

Not every home is blessed with a separate dining room and if you are not, you can still get this great look. The furniture is not prissy or spindly, there is a satisfying robustness about it that makes it the perfect style for the kitchen/diner and everyday use.

Maybe you would prefer a change of dining chair, such as the lower backed Jacky fabric dining chairs? Or why not really push the boat out and create something unique, something that fits you and your style exactly? Customised dining chairs are not out of your price range, you know.

But what we think really works about this dining room is that it can be an everyday dining space but, with a dimming of the lights and a beautifully set table, it can be the perfect dinner party setting.

How to host a fun and warm Bonfire Night party

It’s that time of year again when we bring family and friends together to enjoy Bonfire Night. From a small firework display to sparklers, to apple bobbing and great food, there usually isn’t much of an excuse needed to get people together. And we have some great ideas for a fun and warm Bonfire Night party.

Wrap Up Warm

Hopefully, it won’t be raining on Bonfire Night but even then, it is not enough to dampen the spirits. Even though it is November and the dark evenings are with us, there is no need to stay indoors.

You may have put your garden furniture in storage but bring it out for one final airing before its winter hiatus and get the gazebo out too. Enjoying the outside is easier when you are protected from the elements but there is no need to be cold.

More and more of us are enjoying the winter garden more, wrapped in a super-warm throw. Opt for natural materials as far as your budget will allow as wool, for example, has superior thermal properties, perfect for snuggling on the garden lounger or sofa whilst you watch the flames flicker in the fire pit.

Tip Top – add plenty of solar lights to the garden to add extra visibility. Choose solar light posts for the borders as well as pretty, colourful outdoor string lights.

Come Inside

But when the chill really begins to bite, the party will need to come inside and again, your home needs to have plenty of seating options that entice people to stay just a little longer.

A real fire is perfect and if you have one, make sure the log holder is stacked to the brim so as the fire dies away, anyone can toss another log on the fire.

Get your hosting sorted too;

Warming food – the best dishes are those that are cooked beforehand and the flavours allowed to develop and meld together. From cockle-warming chilli to baked spuds dripping in butter, there are all kinds of warming dishes you can make beforehand. Place them on the farmhouse kitchen table for guests to help themselves when they want.
Create a cosy centre – the modern sofa is ideal for get-togethers in so many ways, but adding extra cushions and soft, chunky knit throws give it extra appeal.
Protect your furniture – ring marks on your prized decorative ladder are not going to go down well the next morning, so make sure you protect your furniture with plenty of well-placed coasters – and make them obvious!
Make space for coats and boots – in winter, guests will arrive with coats, brollies, wellington boots etc. and when you come in from the garden, you don’t want mud all over the house. Create a corner where coats can be hung and muddy or wet shoes stored for an hour or two. Switch the underfloor heating up high or encourage guests to bring warm slipper or change of footwear.

And finally, …

Be safe. If you are having a firework display, make sure you take all necessary precautions. And don’t forget, although candles are romantic, adding atmosphere to a room or outdoor space, they too pose a hazard so make sure they are in a lantern holder and placed on a firm surface.