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

How to choose the perfect armchair

A good quality armchair can be a statement piece as well as another place to sit. There are some fabulous designs available that are eye catching and original and can add a quirky or luxurious touch to a room. Armchairs don’t need to be confined to living room sets. Consider a cosy reading spot on a landing, bedroom or even bathroom, wherever you have space.

Fabric

Fabric armchairs are soft and often available in a variety of interesting colours. Experiment with hues but be aware that dark coloured fabrics on a fabric armchair can fade if they are placed in direct sunlight and very pale colours can collect grubby marks. Shades of grey are good at hiding dust and marks.

Leather or faux leather remains a popular choice for armchairs. Leather is a sumptuous, natural fabric that can improve and soften with age. It is also wipe clean which is a benefit. Faux leather furniture is treated to look like leather but isn’t quite as durable.

Colour

If you are adding a new armchair to a room that you have already perfected, try to choose a colour or design that harmonises with your existing décor. For example, if you choose an armchair with wooden legs, match the colour of the wood to other wooden pieces in the room such as a coffee table or bookcase. Choosing a modern style for a contemporary room or a traditional shape for a rustic theme also makes sense. If you have a patterned sofa you may like to pick out a dominant colour and use that for your armchair. Alternatively, a more daring but eye-catching option is to contrast bright, statement colours.

Style

Before choosing a style that you think is beautiful and befitting of your room, consider your measurements as this may impact on your decision. Consider the height of a chair, both from the point of view of comfort as well as coordination with the rest of your furniture. Bear in mind that many of the armchairs at Modish are bespoke so if you don’t spot it in your preferred fabric or colour, it may still be possible to order your ideal combination.

A wingback armchair is high backed with flared wings on either side. Check out our grey studded chair for a modern, elegant interpretation of this classic style. Our Carson retrosit leather armchair is reminiscent of a barrel back armchair and offers a retro feel with a curving edge and cool metal frame design. Or for more traditional feel you might choose a club chair which is low slung and heavily padded. A comfy armchair that stands the test of time. Our Harris Tweed fabric version is made of wool and offers a warm welcome as you sink into it.

With true French elegance, the Bergere armchair is built with an ornate wooden frame and covered with opulent upholstery. Our version of this luxurious statement piece is the Cream Studded Stella armchair which offers the same opulent upholstery and padding but with modern armchair styling and simple lines. Today’s contemporary styles demand sleekness and simplicity whilst drawing from more traditional styles. We think the Vienna grey spoke edged tub chair is the ultimate modern head turner.

We’re delighted to offer you a wide selection of high quality armchairs that will fulfil your style needs as well meeting all your requirements for comfort.

Browse our collection of armchairs and get in touch with us for bespoke armchair options.

Get festive for National Grandparents Day

Founded in 1979 by Marian McQuade of West Virginia, National Grandparents Day is celebrated this year on 1^st October (or the first Sunday after labour day if you are in the US). Unlike so many celebrations of its ilk it is not a “hallmark” day, that’s to say one that is designed to see you buying gifts and cards, but rather a day to get together with your grandparents and spend time together as a family.

You don’t need to spend lots of money, you don’t even need to make fancy plans for the day, just gather everyone together and spend quality time as a family; it’s the perfect occasion to get together.

Family Reunion

Nowadays it’s all too common for families to live all over the country rather than close by, make National Grandparents Day the perfect excuse to get everyone together in one place with a family reunion. It’s a good idea to start planning straight away though if everyone needs time to make travel arrangements.

One of the main principles behind the celebration is to give grandparents the opportunity to show love not just for their own children but also for their children’s children. Coming together as a family can have so many benefits for all generations of the family, youngsters benefit enormously from being around older people and vice versa.

The Perfect Table

Of course, no big family reunion could possibly be complete without a meal, and it is worth considering that there is more to a meal than just the food; the ambience and the atmosphere, and even the fabric dining chairs all play a huge part in creating a good meal.

When it comes to a big family meal, you want the conversation to flow, with everyone being able to join in, after all the whole point of a reunion is to get everyone together. An oval or round extendable dining table such as this Victorian distressed white extending oval dining table is the perfect choice for your dining room, and an extending table gives you the flexibility to seat even more people.

If you are worried about getting the conversation flowing, and it can happen when people haven’t seen each other for a while and don’t know what to say then why not set a few nibbles in serving dishes out for people to help themselves; food can always help to get the conversation started. We love this Bramble Flower Candy Dip dish, it won’t look out of place in either a contemporary dining room or something that is more traditional in style. Place it on a glass cabinet in the corner of the room and watch people head over to dip their hands in!

Activities

And when the meal is over why not carry on the celebration with a few activities to bring the generations even closer. Board games are a perfect example of something you could do together, and something you don’t need to rely in good weather for. Why not organise a chess challenge between the grandparents and the nephews?

If you are fortunate enough to have one of those lovely warm October days then get the whole family outside, you could have a game of football or even just take a leisurely walk in the local countryside.

However, you choose to celebrate National Grandparents Day, spend it with the people you care about because spending time together is so important.

How to create a rustic retreat in your guest bedroom

Nilsson Rustica Reclaimed Wood Dressing Table

Rustic furniture is a fantastic choice for guest bedrooms. The beautiful, natural markings of the wood create a cosy feeling which is perfect for making your guests feel at home.

Depending on the size of your guest bedroom, you may only have limited space for furniture. But of course, a good bed is a staple in any guest bedroom. It’s World Dream Day on 25th September so make sure your guests have a luxurious bed, they can snuggle up and get comfortable in. Dress your bed with crisp, white bedding and add chunky throws and extra cushions to create a cosy retreat for your guests.

Alternatively, place a wooden blanket box at the end of the bed with extra bedding, cushions and throws so guests don’t feel like they have to bother you if they are cold.

At each side of the bed, bedside tables are a staple for any bedroom, giving guests a spot for the cup of tea whilst they rewind. Keep the tables simple with table lights or perhaps a bunch of fresh flowers to create a welcoming feel. For the ultimate guest bedroom, you could also leave a selection of books and magazines to read.

Then comes storage. If you have guests for extended periods of time and you have the storage space so your guests don’t have to live out of a suitcase for the duration of their stay is a great idea. A small wardrobe with hanging space is a great idea, giving guests to hang up dresses and suits they don’t want to get creased.

Finish the room off with simple accessories. A large rug will add understated style to your guest bedroom and tie any colour scheme together perfectly. A rug is also fantastic under the bed for cold winter mornings when your guests get out of bed.

A rustic mirror is another essential piece so that your guests can get ready comfortably. You could even go one step further and create a dressing area with a beautiful wooden dressing table and a comfortable upholstered chair if you have the space.

To find the perfect reclaimed wood furniture for your guest bedroom to achieve a luxury, rustic look, take a look at our beds, wardrobes and chest of drawers collections or get in touch with one of our team members for any enquiries for bespoke bedroom furniture.

Why choose a table with white base in the kitchen?

Dorset Reclaimed Wood Dining Set with Chairs and Bench

The kitchen is much more than a space to cook and store food, it is often the beating heart of the home. The place where family and friends come to meet, eat, talk and mingle. It is often the best place to entertain, where the chef can cook whilst chatting to guests. Family life takes place in the kitchen. It is a place to grab snacks, eat as a family, complete homework and put the world to rights. The centrepiece of all this action is the kitchen table.

Whether you favour a traditional style rustic cucina or a contemporary Scandinavian style space, we think a centrepiece rustic dining table looks great with a white base. Our beautifully crafted reclaimed wood tabletops are perfectly complemented by a white base which adds a bright and fresh modern touch to the furniture.

Get the farmhouse look

If you’re keen to recreate farmhouse living in your kitchen, think about a beautifully tiled or wooden floor but keep walls light for a more up to date feel. Think vintage with reclaimed or salvage finds, maybe a chunky butchers block or of course, a reclaimed wood table. Big copper or cast iron pots serve to add character as does a range cooker or Aga, should space allow. A beautiful big light fitting can hang as a spotlight over your centrepiece table.

Our Dorset reclaimed wood extendable trestle table is a perfect example of the way that a rustic design can add character to a kitchen. The distressed base gives the table a vintage quality that puts it right at home in a traditional style setting.

Alternatively, the reclaimed wood Provence extendable dining table adds a touch of elegance and French charm to a rustic style kitchen. We love the fact that using reclaimed wood means you own a truly unique piece of furniture as every one is slightly different due to the individuality of the patterns in the wood.

For a smaller kitchen, the Savannah reclaimed wood round kitchen table enables you to achieve this look even where space is limited. This light and fresh style will complement your room no matter what your choice of décor. Another fresh and funky space saving option is the Dorset kitchen bar table. This solid and welcoming piece of furniture offers a distressed base for a lived in, well loved look.

Scandi style you’ll love

Scandi style dictates an ergonomic, functional and natural style, all of which are fulfilled by the Nottingham extending Scandinavian dining table. This robust table offers clean lines, typical of Scandinavian furniture and handily extends to welcome more guests.

If you’d like to add some more Scandinavian touches to your modern kitchen furniture, think gentle curves, natural materials and light colours. Keep your decoration functional yet stylish. White and bright wood are a key Scandi look. For interest, add a splash of bold, vibrant colour or some eccentric details including some canvas art prints. Plants and greenery are also a welcome addition.

Whether you have a traditional period home or sleek and modern pad, here at Modish, we can offer you the perfect statement table for your kitchen – whatever your taste.

5 ways to creatively decorate your hallway

Your hallway is the first room anyone sees when they enter your home, yet its a room often forgotten when it comes to decorating. However, as a room you don’t spend too much time in, your hallway is the perfect opportunity to experiment and get creative with colour and statement decor you might be worried about using elsewhere.

Here are a few of our favourite hallway decorating ideas.

Embrace the industrial

If you have an old building, there are always features you can make the most of when it comes to decor. Make the most of old wood or industrial features like old bricks in your home for a chic, urban finish that will create a beautiful contrast against sleek, contemporary furniture.

Create a gallery

Your hallway is a fantastic space to display your favourite piece of art. From large canvases to ultra contemporary wall art, a selection of your favourite pieces will add large amounts of personality for relatively little effort. You could even mix in family photos both old and new.

For a thought out, coordinated look, go for a colour scheme. Monochrome is great for a glamorous finish which looks truly magical paired with simple white furniture and greenery. Or alternatively, work with more vibrant colours like blues or greens to bring a simple room to life.

Add mirrors

Mirrors are a great way of creating the illusion of more space and bringing light. This is a great trick for small or narrow hallways. A floor length mirror is especially great for this trick and can almost make the space seem double the size.

Even a large hallway mirror hung above your hallway console table can work wonders. Go for mirrors with ultra slim frames or no frames or those with light or metallic frames to maximise the effect.

Add bold accents with furniture

Vibrant, colourful accents are fantastic if you have a small or dark hallway to bring interest without adding too much clutter and taking up floor space.

Colourful chairs will instantly bring life to your hallway. Go for an armchair with a slim design but high back to create drama without taking up unnecessary space. Jewel tones like amethyst, sapphire or jade are sure to attract endless compliments. Alternatively, a painted console table or display unit will add a vintage-inspired finish to any room which will be beautifully complemented by glamorous accessories and greenery.

Turn your hallway into a library

Books can also make for great decor pieces and don’t take up too much space. Adding slim bookcases on one or both sides of the hallway means you can fill the space up with your favourite books and create a room with plenty of personality too. For a sleeker, coordinated look, you could place your books in colour order.

Make the most of your space with this small hallway ideas. Let us know what you did.

Spoil your loved ones on Working Parents Day

It’s the toughest job in the world. It is a 24 hour, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year commitment that never ends.

Being a parent is challenging but rewarding. Working Parents Day, celebrated annually on September 16^th, is a chance to say thank you to all those hard-working parents. But unlike other celebratory days of the year, this is not about buying a card or sending a gift. It is about spending quality time together as a family but how?

With our ideas, you won’t need a whopping budget, just an afternoon or a full day to get the family together.

Family Activities

There are hundreds of ideas in which you can spend the day together, enjoying some quality family time;

Get Outdoors

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy the outdoors – the back garden will do! The great British weather permitting, enjoy an afternoon soaking up the sun, enjoying silly ‘party games’ or outdoor board games, finishing the day with a delicious BBQ.

Indoor Fun

Unfortunately, the weather isn’t always reliable and so if Working Parents day dawns grey and gloomy, you will need to hold the family get together inside.

Ghost stories

There is nothing better for getting people to snuggle up close that a hair-raising, goose-bump-inducing story about the paranormal. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there are some strange goings on that just cannot be explained. Why do doors open on their own or why is there that strange sound that happens at the same time every day…?

Set the scene by bringing out the lovely snuggly throws from the wooden blanket box and rely on flickering candlelight to really set the mood. Or, our mains powered fairy light lamps and lanterns are great too for creating a gentle ambience to a room. A large sheepskin rug can be the perfect place to sit if you can’t fit on the same couch – after all, you need to be close enough to grab each other if you’re getting a little nervy!

Family stories

With everyone in situ and the living room decadently decked out in reclaimed furniture that could tell a story or two, why not bring out the family photo albums and share stories of family events and gatherings from the past? A great way to keep memories alive. Hot chocolate and marshmallows on the wooden side table, and reminiscing on great times can really give everyone a feel good glow.

Board Games and Card Games

Living in a digital age, we are sometimes remiss a keeping some traditions going and this is the perfect excuse to teach younger members of the family how to play traditional board games and card games too. No matter how beautiful the kids bedroom furniture is, you don’t want them to be spending too much time on their own. Tempt them out with the offer of tasty nibbles and treats on a serving tray, complete with refreshments for all players.

Special Time Together

There is no substitute for spending time together and as busy working parents, you are very much aware of the sacrifices made. Getting the balance between work and family life is hard but spending time relaxing together is one way of getting the balance right.

How about a family spa day? Or a family day enjoying local museums or stately homes, followed by afternoon tea? Or why not try your hand at go karting or a new activity such as fly fishing?

What ideas do you have for spending quality time together as a family, celebrating Working Parents Day?

All you need to know about choosing a bed and mattress

With National Make Your Bed Day looming large on 11^th September, it is a timely reminder just how important the mattress and bed is. The right bed frame and mattress can make the difference between getting a great night’s sleep or waking full of aches and pains, with a headache too.

Sleep Matters

It is the body’s way of rejuvenating the physical and the emotional, which is why sleep matters. Thus, getting the right mattress is essential to a good night’s sleep and of course the bed frame, as well as supporting the mattress, also adds a dash of style to the room too, just as well as painted bedroom furniture can.

1. Size

There are, of course, a range of mattress and bed frame sizes from single, to small double, double, king and super king. There is also the possibility of having a bespoke mattress and frame made (but you will need bespoke bed linen too if you are opting for bigger than king size), as well as round mattresses.

Choose the right size bed for you and your budget.

Recycle your old mattress – as far as materials go, there are many components of the mattress that can be reused and repurposed. There are various schemes that will gladly accept your old mattress for recycling.

2. Style

In effect, there are two main styles of bed frame:

Divan base – which is a box like base
Bed frame – which is what it says: a frame with a footboard (although not always) and a headboard.

Both offer great support but many customers opt for the bed frame as it gives more scope for setting a style to a bedroom. For example, contemporary beds are ideal when the style is modern, as is creating and customising your own bed frame.

Another popular choice is reclaimed wood bedroom furniture which offers warmth, familiarity and the sense of the unique, complete with bedroom sets of reclaimed wood furniture to match or contrast.

3 Health Issues

The mattress should be the soft, luxurious platform you sink into at the end of a busy day that affords you ample support and a great night’s sleep. Or it can be the too squishy or too hard a sleeping platform that makes for a poor night’s sleep.

The mattress should support the three natural curves in your back – the neck, the middle and the lower back – and not force your spine straight, an unnatural and pain-inducing position for the spine, the neck and other joints too.

4. Which mattress?

There are various types of mattresses, from memory foam to pocket sprung. Essentially, as well as budget, you need to consider the support that the mattress offers. With a pocket sprung mattress, for example, the coils are encased in individual fabric pouches so they stay exactly where they should be. And the more coils and springs the mattress has, the comfier it should be…

5. Testing, Testing…

Of course, all this support of support and mattresses leads to one logical conclusion; you need to test it.

That doesn’t mean spending the night in the show room, but more about lying on the mattress to see how much support it offers your tired limbs and body…

Once you’ve found the right bed and mattress for you, you should reap the benefits of a great night’s sleep every night.

How to make your bed like a pro

National Make Your Bed Day is celebrated annually on September 11^th. And if you think this is yet another fad, think again. Research shows that making your bed every morning is critical.

It makes your bedroom more appealing – perfect for when you slump into bed after yet another busy day – it helps to keep your room tidy, and it is known that making your bed has an important psychological impact on your stress and mood levels.

But if you do nothing more than fling the covers back on the bed, you are missing a trick. And that means you need this guide on making your bed look delightfully sumptuous and luxurious.

Start with the Basics – The Bed Sheet

Picture of the Onslow Reclaimed Wood Bed

Picture, if you will, your bed and mattress in front of you with no sheets or duvets on it. This guide starts building from the mattress up.

Once you have protected your mattress with a good quality protector, you need the bed sheet. For ease, opt for a fitted sheet or if you want super luxury, opt for a flat sheet. However, the flat sheet will soon come undone if you don’t perfect the skill and art of ‘Hospital Corners’. Watch this minute long ‘How to’ clip and say hello to fantastic corners that never come undone.

Top Tip – the better-quality bed linen, the more comfortable a night sleep you will have and the better they will wash. Look for high-count cotton sheets and pillowcases to get the best.

The Duvet

For a super-sumptuous look, the bigger, the fluffier the duvet the better. Each morning, give it a quick ‘fluff’ by giving a shake or two, watching not to knock off your coveted bedside table lamps, books and so on!

Top Tip – in European countries, it is not uncommon to hang the duvet out of the window for a good airing for an hour or two. Great for keeping mould and creepy crawlies at bay, the air circulating through the fibres keeps the duvet light and fluffy.

Pillows – and Lots of them!

You may only sleep with one pillow but that doesn’t stop you having several pillows piled stylishly at the top end of the bed.

Place the base pillows upright against the headboard and then the other pillows piled against it. Finish the bed with decorative cushions.

But Don’t Forget the Rest of the Room

The bedroom should be a haven of peace and tranquillity, which can be hard to carry off if it is full of clutter and ‘stuff’.

If bed side tables are not quite cutting it, then consider substituting a tall chest of drawers for extra storage space.

Table lamps help to add more light in a room, as well as being the softer lighting option for bed time reading.

Don’t forget, the small details help the reclaimed wood or solid wood furniture in the bedroom stand out, like the throws and the rugs. And keep walls plain so that fantastic canvas art stands out.

Choose accessories that support the main style of your room but always follow the colour rule: two main colours and a third accent.

Do you make your bed every morning?

How to style an awkwardly shaped living room

Leather and Harris Tweed Sofa and Armchair

From L-shaped rooms to large, cavernous open spaces, there are times when dressing a room can be difficult.

But, there are solutions and these tips show you how:

The L Shaped Room

Part dining room, part living room is can be tough space to dress;

Use a moveable room partition for when you want to close off part of the space but open up the other.
Move seating away from the wall to give more of a conversation zone.
Use rugs to create different zones too, such as under the dining table.
Add height with taller display units and wooden shelving, than half-height side boards.

‘Dull & Boring’

On one hand, straight walls and angles are a dream but if you feel the style of the room is dull and more than a little predictable, ring the changes with these tips;

Create a walk way around the edges of the room of at least 36 inches but again, pull the comfy sofa and fabric armchairs away from walls.
Offset the angle of the furniture against the angles of the room. In other words, instead of the rug being laid parallel to the walls, offset it at a jauntier angle.
Use a corner as a study nook, if you have the space but place the desk at an angle across the corner.

The Open Living Space with No Focus

A vast room can seem like a dream but without some stylish tweaks, it can feel like the furniture is lost and that there is little cohesion;

Go large with rugs (the bigger, the better) and use as a platform for the seating area and another for the dining area – the sofa, armchairs and coffee table should fit comfortably on the rug, the same with the dining furniture too.
Use an appropriately sized console table or living room sideboard behind the sofa to help ‘frame’ the space and use a table lamp to help define the space with light.
Add more definition by adding a side table to each armchair too, as well as a wood coffee table as an island in the conversation area.

Nooks and Crannies

They may add character, but nooks, crannies and alcoves can be a nightmare to dress and become wasted space;

Create vertical lines by ‘filling’ nooks and crannies, but not necessarily all of them. However, consider bespoke furniture that fits the space exactly otherwise gaps between wall and furniture gives for an ill-fitting look.
Use curves to soften the angles too e.g. a round coffee table and round-edged wooden TV unit that has few harsh angles but a softer, curvier appeal

Long & Narrow

Long and narrow rooms can look like corridors and so again, you need to shake up the feeling of everything being in its predictable place.

Zone the room, for example, add a quiet reading corner complete with fabric armchairs and a small wood coffee table.
Again, pull reclaimed furniture from walls and create a zone that fills the void in the centre of the room.
Use a rug to pull the sofa, armchairs and reclaimed wood table together but make sure you create a pathway around the room so that it doesn’t look jumbled.

Which of these tips will you try?