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

Scandinavian design hallway in easy steps

If you like clean, simple lines, light muted colours with flecks of texture and depth, the Scandinavian design style for home interiors is the ideal interior design choice.

The hallway of any home needs to be uber-functional and practical. It is the place everyone passes through as they enter and leave your home, it is used for storage and it is the transient part of the home that conveys people from one room or one level to the next. It is like a huge interior traffic island!

This doesn’t mean that the weight of practicality must outbalance style and with the Scandinavian look, you will get the best of both worlds.

To get the low down on the basics of the Scandinavian design style and how to apply to your hallway, read on…

1 Hard flooring

The base layer of Scandinavian design. Forget wall-to-wall carpets and opt instead for hard flooring, preferably wood or as close to the natural wood product as you can.

2 Light, muted colours

Leave the colour charts next to the fizzy coloured paints and opt for white, very light creams and beige muted tones. If you must have colour, stick with barely-there grey and blues for the walls. Scandinavian design is all about setting a minimal backdrop to allow furnishings to deliver impact.

3 Wood

Natural materials are an important part of the Scandinavian design, with wood being the most important. Keep wood as much in its natural form as you can. Reclaimed wood and oak furniture work well as entryway furniture in a Scandinavian interior. This oak console table with single drawer, for example, looks perfect and is perfect for storing keys or mail.

4 Clean lines

Clean lines with minimal fuss are key to many Scandinavian design interiors and it is certainly true. Think of hallway furniture with clean lines but without harsh angles and corners. This simple, yet striking elegant console table would be the perfect choice for Scandinavian furniture.

5 Uncluttered spaces

This can be a tough ask of a hallway in a busy home but it can be done. It means choosing accessories that fit the space whilst providing a purpose. A chair in a hallway, for example, is the ideal addition. Somewhere to sit to pull on or take off your shoes, and a handy platform for dropping your bag on the way in. A pair of simply-styled Scandinavian chairs made from oak work great or for added texture, consider the contemporary jute seating pad of these elegant Scandinavian chairs.

6 Simple accents

Minimal fuss is the order of the day and so accessorising the space can be a tough call. With its raw finish, this wooden ladder accessory can be left as it is or you could paint it to add character. A great piece of furniture for the hallway, you can hang anything from dogs leads to pretty lights.

7 Maximise light

The Scandinavian design style makes the best use of light, important in a part of the world where darkness falls quickly and early in the day too, during the winter months. In the hallway, light can be in short supply – keep window treatments to a minimum and ambient light bright but not stark.

Mirrors are standard hallway furniture. Opt for a wall-hanging wood framed mirror or this floor-standing, leaning wood framed mirror for elegance and practicality too.

With fantastic pieces perfect for the hallway, which will you choose?

How to choose the TV cabinet of your dreams

We all enjoy a night in front of the TV at times, but your evening can be utterly wonderful if you choose a modern TV stand that matches your dreams. There are a number of styles to choose from, so whether you have a contemporary living room or you favourite rustic living room furniture, Modish Living have the perfect piece to add elegance to any quiet night in.

It’s important to measure the TV and other items, and perhaps to map out your project with sheets of newspaper before placing an order. Decide upon the location by placing newspapers on the floor to measure the space you have available if you would have to move around. You don’t want your sofa or footstool to be in the way when someone needs to go in front of the TV.

On the other hand, you don’t want your TV too close to your sofa, so by placing newspapers, you can simulate the location of your TV unit and how things will flow around it. Also, it will help you to determine the length and height of your TV unit, especially if you need a bespoke size for your living room.

You should also consider the need for storage space and shelving, perhaps to hold DVD players, satellite boxes and a veritable spaghetti junction of wiring. If you’re choosing a bespoke item such as the iconic Beam One Door Reclaimed Wood TV Stand, you can be flexible with size options.

Choose a size, choose a style… then choose a night in

The beautiful Beam Cube Reclaimed Wood TV Stand offers eye-catching design and a sumptuous finish. Reclaimed furniture has a style all of its own, and this is an example of solid wood furniture at its very best and full of character.

There has been a noticeable increase in the popularity of industrial furniture in recent years, in part because it allows for unique home designs that enable owners to put their own personal stamp on the design. The sublime Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood TV Cabinet is an excellent example, with its clean lines and its use of solid steel legs to complement the reclaimed wood top.

If you’re looking for a wide cabinet with unique natural design, the Derby Reclaimed Wood TV Unit could be the one for your large living room. Farmhouse furniture is always popular, and the stunning Dorset Reclaimed Wood TV Stand is a particular favourite thanks to its distressed paint finish. Alternatively, why not explore the beauty of the new Soho Reclaimed Wooden TV Cabinet instead?

There’s so much choice, so by measuring your space and deciding on a style, you can take your TV viewing experience on to a whole new level.

Bring urban furniture into your living room and set a modern mood

Set a cool living room mood with urban furniture / Bring urban furniture into your living room and set a modern mood

The urban modern interior style is a fusion of contradictory, yet complementary design elements with a cosmopolitan and sophisticated heart set in a loft living cityscape. It’s an interior trend that transcends styles and with the right urban furniture you can create the same feel in your living room, whether you live in a contemporary apartment or a traditional house. Here, we take a look at the best type of urban living room furniture to help you bring this scheme to life.

Low sofa and Modern armchair combo

Minimalist with glamorous chic, this style has an edgy, experimental feel to its urban living room furniture. Expect large items of urban furniture dominating the living room landscape, but with a delightful low profile. Choose a low sofa and modern armchair that have a hint of the iconic Chesterfield but with sharp lines, metal detailing and a modern twist.

Create a sophisticated atmosphere with lighting

In any room, atmosphere is created first by lighting and then by decoration. Not forgetting that urban modern living is about adding a touch of glamour as much as it is about experimenting with something different. Why not pair urban furniture, such as an eye-catching mango wood side table with brass inlays and slim metal legs with a hanging pendant light or modern table lamp to add a touch of chic and elegance.

Another pendant light that will add appeal is a frame pendant, complete with decorative glass infills or for added impact, cluster pendant lights together. Floor lamps can also be used as practical embellishments to urban furniture. Think big and let your creative expression flow.

The best flooring solutions for urban living room furniture

For practical and budgetary reasons, most original loft living apartments styled the space with chic urban furniture on an original hard floor surface. Wall-to-wall carpets is not usually seen in this design, instead wooden, concrete or resin floors underfoot is favoured here. To soften a hard floor without losing its urban edge, add modern rugs to add tone and depth.

Choosing a rug in the right shape and size is important in any design scheme. For the chic modern living feel, choose a rug that throws the accent onto the urban furniture. Or, use it to add the edgy statement we mentioned earlier. Sticking with a muted colour palette, add a rug that makes a statement.

Embellishment and Accessories

Alongside the low sofa, the lighting and the rug, you need some practical urban furniture additions to make your modern living room both comfortable and joyous, such as a modern coffee table. Adopting natural materials is key – this industrial coffee table is the perfect urban living room furniture to bring the scheme together.

Fabrics, textures and throws should be used with caution – this type of space favours minimalism. However, these final touches are important in bringing any design together, especially when it comes to loft spaces filled with urban furniture. To prevent the living room feeling like a void or faceless space add a few accent cushions or barely there fabrics on the windows along with reclaimed wood furniture full of character and personality.

How to make a shared office space design work

Oldman industrial reclaimed wood bespoke desks for home

Since the pandemic, a shared home office space with our partner, friends or flatmates was a thing many of us had to get used to. Couples, friends or flatmates who work together from home may face the occasional extra stress or strain on their relationship or friendship at times, but it also provides an opportunity to become more synchronised and harmonious. Usually, the key to successful co-working lies in the working environment itself, so creating the perfect shared office space design is of paramount importance.

There are key questions to be asked from the earliest stage, such as whether to face each other, whether to be back to back or side by side. There’s also how best to come to an agreement on the optimum working temperature, together with how to put up with their choice of music! Here at Modish Living, we have a range of exquisite home office furniture that can make your home office design the perfect spot for productivity.

Reclaimed wood furniture lends itself perfectly to a shared office space design, and the beautiful Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wooden Desk is always a good choice. This good-looking piece is ideal for both large and small rooms and with two handy drawers, it offers essential storage. A couple of these reclaimed wood desks will be perfect for working couples, especially when paired with the extra comfy and chic Standford Faux Leather Office Chair in either grey or brown. Home office furniture can look wonderful and feel practical at the same time, after all.

Take a well-earned break and relax

Office design usually includes rest areas or break-out zones these days, and your shared office space design in the home can do just the same. Unwinding in style on the sumptuous Triumph Cerato Brown Leather Armchair is a must at times, in part because a leather armchair will help you regain your energy. When accompanied by either the Spitfire Cerato Brown Leather Footstool or the luxurious Leather Storage Footstool, you can relax like never before.

Whether you choose a rustic wood desk or an ultra-modern contemporary desk, you will want to think about the rest of the home office design. Storage can be a major issue, because the last thing you want is to face a mountain of clutter every morning, especially when there is two of you and double the clutter. Thankfully, beautiful solutions can be found, such as the elegant Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Tall Bookcase, a must for those who want to remain organised.

Beautiful artwork has the power to inspire in any office environment, whether that’s at home or at work. No matter if your choice is quirky or more serious it should be something that you both enjoy to look at.

Once your shared office space design is complete, be sure to reward yourself with a break in the rest area. Settle back on your comfy armchair with a satisfied smile on your face, a cup of coffee and a wonderful sense of achievement in the air. Your home office design may just end up becoming your favourite room in the whole house.

Reception Room Ideas – Revamp Time!

Kensal Round Marble Coffee Table for reception area

For any business, front-of-house is critical in creating an impression of your business that is favourable. For hostels and other hospitality businesses, the reception area is the first step people take into your business and we’ve got lots of reception room ideas to make sure your customers are excited to be with you.

Waiting Room Chairs & Seating

The reception area is when customers sign in and may need to sit to wait. With this in mind, your waiting room chairs & seating becomes so important. Leather Sofas and chairs are a popular and practical choice, you may also decide to invest in some small tables to complete the look. However, if your business is more industrial or perhaps more modern, a more urban seating area may be appropriate so keep it in mind the branding of your business when choosing office reception furniture.

Reception Area Furniture

For people who are waiting or for patrons who want to relax, sofas and armchairs are essential.

Consider an arrangement of two-seater sofas interspersed with statement piece armchairs. The classic sofa shape, complete with sumptuous cushions are inviting at the end of a long journey for most people. Choose fabrics wisely so that they can withstand more frequent use. A leather sofa works well, as does treated upholstered luxury sofas.

Shop Chester Club Leather Armchair

Team with furniture that supports the waiting area, again choosing material carefully. Wooden furniture adds warmth, whilst metal framed furniture can add a sense of the contemporary to a space. For the most perfect reception furniture collection, add an oak and concrete contemporary coffee table or go for sublime marble with this Kensal Circular Coffee Table.

Atmosphere = Lighting and Décor

The reception area should be light and airy, neutral in tone but not devoid of warmth nor welcome. There must be splashes of colour – fresh flowers add colour, and scent too – and the use of glass is fantastic for reflecting light, ambient and natural, around the space.

A glossy floor also creates an appealing feature to the room. It is streamlined and contemporary, but not devoid of character. Scatter cushions and the drapes add texture and form too.

With these reception room ideas, done right the impression of the space is nothing short of wow – exactly what you’re hoping to impress upon your visitors.

How to style your black Chesterfield sofa

Aviator Coffee Table styled with black chesterfield sofa in living room

What makes this such an appealing and pleasant living room?

The Chesterfield sofa is an iconic shape, a sign of decadence and luxury. The matching sideboard and coffee table fit perfectly within the scheme. The TV, although large, is not the centrepiece of the room. The armchair with lush, deep green upholstery adds another note of sophistication, the black lampshades and silver-edged accessories, including the mirror pulling the whole scheme together. Although the red flowers are the only red items in the room, the eye is not drawn to them immediately but to the gold-effect Roman numerals of the wall clock.

All in all, a pleasing effect, simple enough to recreate. But most of us struggle to make a space that is as harmonious and cohesive in design and appearance as this room.

So how do you get this glamorous, sophisticated look? We’ll show you how.

Black Leather Sofa

The centrepiece of the above living room is the brown leather chesterfield sofa. We are going to substitute it for an Italian leather sofa or, for added flair and glamour, the crushed velvet living room sofa from our range.

Both have an iconic, recognisable shape and delicious curves – let this shape sing in the room!

Black is a great colour to work with, mainly because it dovetails well with any other colour. However, bear in mind black accentuates other colours so a moderately bright pink cushion will be a very bright pink cushion. Dark colours will take on new depths, and pastel colours will look stronger too.

The Armchair

The armchair is this photo is a distinct colour to the sofa, great for breaking up the monotony of a colour scheme.

Depending on your colour scheme, you may want to choose a statement piece like this Cropwell Bartello Leather Jasper Wool Chair. Don’t be frightened to mix materials – this chair goes well with both the leather and brushed velvet sofa. Design your own armchair, by customizing mixing wool and leather of different colours.

Shop Cropwell Bartello Leather Jasper Wool Chair

For practicality and style, add this impossibly glamorous reclaimed wood round side table or for the industrial look, this reclaimed wood with metal frame side table is ideal. Reclaimed wood furniture works wonderfully in this setting.

Shop Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Round Nest of Tables

If you don’t want to take the chance of introducing a coloured armchair for fear it will date, furniture such as this contemporary coffee table will surprise you with its versatility for sitting within any design scheme. The mirrored effect of this aviator-themed coffee table certainly adds glamour and appeal.

Lighting

The atmosphere in a room is important and it starts with the lighting, supported in its endeavours by the final choice of wall colour.

Don’t be frightened to add a mix of furniture accessories. This brass-based Martino table lamp works well with all contemporary living room furniture. Pendant lighting following similar lines and shape will also add atmosphere to a room.

Accessories and Colour

Once you have the ‘basics’ in the room, it can be tempting to add all kinds of cushions in various shapes and sizes, elegant and colourful drapes and window dressings, along with a rug or two.

But floor coverings and rugs should be neutral as like a light-coloured ceiling, a light floor helps to open up a room.

A mirror also helps to pull a room together, especially when you use more than one, using them as wall art too.

Creating a cohesive, glamorous space is about placing things together but not being ‘matchy-matchy’. It is about neutral floors and ceilings, lighting and the furniture and finally, wall colour. You too could have a beautiful living room, by just following the plan above, but with a black sofa – so how will you style yours?

Rustic wedding decor at home

Bramble Flower Wooden Salad Bowl with Servers as Wedding Gift

There is no doubt that rustic weddings are more popular than ever these days, and it’s not difficult to see why, rustic wedding decor is just beautiful! We can’t get enough of it. Aside from personal preference, one of the main reasons for the rise in popularity is the fact that such occasions allow greater artistic creativity, in part because they are not prone to the more rigid traditions and obligations of church-based celebrations.

Shop Derby Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table

And while many choose to base their big event in historic large barns, there are some who prefer instead to use their homes. Reclaimed wood furniture such as the sumptuous Derby Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table, accompanied perhaps by the Derby Reclaimed Wood Bench, will provide a spectacular centerpiece on the day, and a natural gathering point for all the guests for your rustic wedding.

As well as a splendid rustic dining table, the overall theme can be underlined further with rustic wedding decor throughout the house. Items such as the Kilburn Scott Natural Glencoe Throw or maybe the Natural Cable Throw can be used to add extra warmth to the look of the place. The combination of luxurious soft fabric and gorgeous wooden furniture can be a powerful one.

Rustic Wedding Seating For All

One of the issues facing planners of home-based weddings is the need for adequate seating, but this can be remedied with stunning rustic wedding furniture from Modish Living. Raw Light Oak Small Stools and Raw Light Oak Tall Stools will not only give everyone a seat, but they will also make the room itself more eye-catching when guests first start to arrive.

When you have a rustic table like the excellent Rustic Inlay Reclaimed Wood Dining Table, it can prove perfect for when guests wish to sit down and eat, or it could conceivably be used instead to hold the wedding gifts. Thanks to the natural beauty of this particular piece, it would look just as good unadorned as it would when covered with a luxurious throw.

If you receive an invitation to a rustic-style wedding, you may want to give a gift that is in keeping with the theme of the big day. The good news for all guests is that there’s a number of high-quality rustic wedding decor options to choose from, including the delightful Bramble Flower Wooden Cheese Board, a wonderful addition to any dinner party. The matching Bramble Flower Wooden Salad Bowl with Servers is also an excellent choice. When you see the beauty of these items, you realise perhaps why more and more weddings are going down the rustic route.

A mirror in your kitchen? Why not! All you need to know about mirrors in kitchens

Celestial Round Silver Mirror for Kitchen

Mirrors are an accessory that we use in every room and space in the home, so why not the kitchen as well? Just like in other rooms, thoughtful and strategic placing of a mirror in a kitchen reflects available light and opens up the space to make it look spacious, light and airy.

So, how do you use mirrors in a kitchen? Are there hard and fast rules to follow?

Strategic Positioning

Thankfully not, but strategic position helps the mirror to pick out the details you want it to.

If you do nothing else, use a mirror in a space that reflects an interesting view. This could be to reflect the striking pendants lights hanging above your reclaimed wood kitchen table, for example.

You also need to consider the best aspects of your kitchen – is it the well-chosen and stylish pieces of kitchen furniture or the bi-folding doors that open out onto your pristine garden?

Practical too

Reflecting light is a happy by-product of mirrors in any space, but they also hold a practical function other than this.

For example, some busy households use the ‘back’ door into the kitchen as their everyday entrance and exit – what better place to hang the Elmer Rustic Window Mirror to check that nothing is out of place before the morning dash to work?

Above the Stove

Feng shui principles dictate that mirrors symbolise water which clashes with fire and that a mirror above a stove is great for the family chef to see who or what is behind them. It is also a way of adding light into what can be a dark space.

However, don’t hang ‘ordinary’ glass nor hang mirrors too low as they may crack with the steam and heat. Depending on your style, this reclaimed wood mirror ties in well with the reclaimed wood kitchen style or the farmhouse kitchen look – two styles that are proving popular this year.

Adding Detail

Many family homes have a combined kitchen and dining area and this gives you even more scope for using mirrors. Don’t think that a mirror must be plain, practical and functional in the kitchen – it can add a pop of delightful detail. Shape can add detail to a space and that why we love this silver, round wall mirror with an elegant Art Deco style for the kitchen.

For an edgy, but not-overly-quirky detail the Skandi Round Mirror adds a level of detail that stops the space looking too utilitarian.

Add More Than One

The benefits of a mirror in the kitchen are many and varied but the one thing we are loving this season in interior design designs is the use of more than one mirror in the space.

We also love the way that the kitchen mirror is taking on a personality all of its own, like this Rowina Large Industrial Window Mirror that brings a certain something to any space that it adorns but, in a kitchen, it will be the talking point of any party…

Why your living room needs a mirror for impact

Golden Pebbles Wall Mirror in Living Room

There are some people who think the primary function of mirrors is nothing more than to provide an opportunity to check their hair or make-up, but of course, there is so much more to them than that. A carefully chosen, thoughtfully positioned and beautifully created reclaimed wood mirror can offer a stunning addition to any room design, so always be sure to select the right one for your needs.

One of the nicest things about mirrors is they can be placed almost anywhere in the room, and they will always enhance the overall look. It’s maybe best to avoid placing them on a wall beside windows, but apart from that you have free rein to go with your heart. Whether you go for a classic wall variety such as the Lily Wall Mirror or perhaps the free-standing Amalfi Mirror is of course entirely up to you.

Mirrors placed above the fireplace in a living room will always provide a focal point for all and will add a touch of class to any contemporary living room furniture collection. In larger rooms, two mirrors will enhance the overall look and will add to the sense of space. The important thing, as always, is to add your own touch to the room, so make it all as individual as you want.

Use your imagination, use your style and use your passion!

There’s nothing wrong with a room that has been laid out along familiar, classic lines, of course, but there’s also nothing wrong with creating a look that chooses to mismatch as a theme if it can be described as that! With so many different styles of a mirror on the market, finding one to match your desires is perhaps easier now than it has ever been.

A classic Chesterfield black sofa, or perhaps a brown leather sofa with matching armchairs, will provide a traditional look, but the rest of the room doesn’t have to reflect this if you’d rather add something a little more quirky. The wonderfully different Golden Pebbles Wall Mirror is attractive, practical and beautiful, and will augment any style of the room.

As with all items of furniture for living room locations, the mirror can make a great deal of impact, depending of course on the style and the placement. If you’re looking to make the room as light as possible, place the wall or free-standing mirror in an area which will reflect the light from windows, and always be ready to try various locations before making a final decision.