dining room Archives - Page 37 of 39

Are dining tables with drawers in or out of fashion?

For those of us with long memories, the dining table complete with almost-hidden drawers were a common sight in the kitchen dining table.

The ‘everyday’ dining table had the ‘everyday’ cutlery stored in the drawer and other odd bits and bobs. But in the dining room table, the drawer was home to the best cutlery. It was almost hallowed ground, a place that only those with permission could go…

Our use of the dining table and the dining room made be different today and far less formal than in years gone by but the dining table complete with drawers is very much back in fashion. Some of us would argue the farmhouse table with drawers never went out of fashion.

The Appeal of the Farmhouse Style

If you think farmhouse furniture means overly chunky, then you take a look at what this painted farmhouse-style reclaimed wood table would give you.

As well as a farmhouse dining table with finesse and style, it is also perfectly practical too:

Extendable – for when guests arrive, you can simply add an extra length to the farmhouse dining table with an extendable ‘flap’, meaning you can enjoy a meal without clashing elbows with your neighbour.
Versatile – this farmhouse kitchen table would work well in any situation, with the chairs and/or bench enhancing its beauty. Team with upholstered dining chairs or mix n’ match with a wooden bench or two.
The drawer – choose from a one or two drawer style and keep your every day or best cutlery close to hand. Also, a great place to keep placemats, napkins and other must-have items at meal times.
Unique – reclaimed wood furniture is fantastic, no two ways about it. This reclaimed wood rustic dining table is beautiful, smooth and with a warmth all of its own, each item is unique because every pattern and grain is unique…

Function and Finesses

People love the farmhouse look for its solid features, curves and the appeal it has to be able to withstand the rigours that family life throws at it.

But you may want a refined look for the ‘best’ dining room. For those of us that enjoy entertaining, we know how important the surroundings of the dining room are. The setting of the table, the flicker of the candles in the table centre, the feel of the smooth linen napkin all help the taste buds to enjoy the food on offer.

The Barclays reclaimed wood dining table packs a punch in terms of style. And like its Earlier mentioned counterpart, has everything that you need;

Drawer space – cleverly disguised as four small drawers, the end of the table actually has one large drawer, ideal for storing place mats, napkins, cutlery and more.
Stylishly unique – again, there is something beautiful about each piece and that is because each piece is unique. Reclaimed wood tells a story, and far from compromising the table, every undulation and blemish adds to its beauty.
Dine in elegance – shine the spotlight on its elegance further with customisable leather and fabric dining chairs.

Too Many Choices?

There are, of course, dining room sets that take the uncertainty of pairing chairs and benches with a dining table to get the right look for you home, making it even easier to have the dining room style you want.

Does a dining table with drawers appeal to you?

The best ideas on how to decorate a small dining room

Any small room can be difficult to decorate, especially as you want to make the most of the space you have available. In a small dining room, decorating and accessorising can be even harder.

This is because you need to introduce a dining table that fits the space both in terms of physical dimension, but also in the way it looks.

Of all the things that you cannot compromise on, it is the dining table, its size, style and appeal. And the good news is, you don’t have to.

Two tone dining room

Use a darker colour between the picture railing and the top of the wall, where it meets the ceiling. Use it alongside a white ceiling and a lighter colour on the walls. Offset the whole look with a dark flooring solution.

Fresh and appealing, this two-tone look – try fresh blues, white and cream – works well with a rustic dining table, complete with duck egg blue striped upholstered dining chairs. Or, opt for neutral tones such as grey upholstered dining chairs.

Add depth of colour with the dining chairs and dining bench

If you worry that upholstered chairs and benches won’t last the test of time at the dining table, as well as choosing the right fabric, you could also opt for a patterned or heavily coloured one to give you a fighting chance between upholstery cleaning.

Adding a darker tone to a room also helps to define it, but in a small space, you don’t want to use too much. Dark wood dining benches, easy to keep clean, add a colour dimension to your dining room.

Richness and warmth

Any dining experience, whether it is your usual weekday evening meal together or a more formal dining occasion with friends needs to have the right setting. And for this, you need the right furniture.

Wood brings warmth and elegance to any space and is not to be underestimated in the dining room. As well as saving space with a dining bench, why not ring the changes with this high backed dining bench that will certainly add a sense of warmth and richness to your dining room? Add cushions and throws for extra texture.

A reclaimed wood dining table needs the chairs and benches to frame it perfectly, which is why these leather dining chairs work well.

Choose additional furniture carefully

In any space, but especially a smaller one, every item needs to have a place and a function. An elegant dresser does everything you need in a dining room and more. With our range of solid, handcrafted reclaimed wood dressers, there is something for every dining room, every style and every budget.

To recap…

In a dining room, for maximum practicality and versatility, consider a dining table with bench as part of your dining furniture
For versatility when it comes to hosting small or large dinner parties, there is no doubt an extending dining table and chair set will be the number one choice.
Rustic and reclaimed wood dining table can be the depth of colour and interest you need in a small dining room, especially with neutral walls.

How will you dress your smaller dining room?

Easy tips on how to style your dining area with art

Your dining room is potentially one of the most social spaces in your home. With dinner parties and big occasions like Christmas often revolving around the dining room, it offers the perfect backdrop for displaying your beautiful art.

Often dining rooms are purely practical and can lack personality. With a dining room having to focus around your dining table, in a small room there can be little room for extra furniture and large decor pieces. This is why art is perfect for making a statement in the dining room.

Dazzle your guests with contemporary art in your dining room whilst you cook up a storm in the kitchen.

Create a gallery wall

A gallery wall is a great way of adding drama and interest to your space, without needing to take up any floor space. A gallery wall lends itself to a more eclectic finish so feel free to get creative with colour for a modern pop. However, you could also match the colour palette to the rest of your room, or even opt for a monochrome look for a more glamorous space.

Becoming a statement in your dining room, you can keep the rest of your decor very simple. Farmhouse furniture tends to be fairly simple in its style, letting the natural character of wood shine through. A light wood rustic farmhouse table with complimentary wooden dining chairs will be the perfect accompaniment to a gallery wall.

When it comes to selecting art, try and find one or two pieces you adore and make them the centrepiece. This will make it easier to arrange the wall, and give you a focal point to work around. The Laughing Donkey Canvas would make a stunning statement on any dining room wall and ties in perfectly with farmhouse and reclaimed wooden furniture.

Don’t hang it

Add some more depth to your walls by not hanging art on the walls. If you have a white dresser or sideboard, layer one or two canvases leaning against the wall for a more modern take on art. Go for a white on white look with the focus being the art. You could even put several pieces of art on the floor, which works especially well with larger pieces.

The light colours of the Grey Hare Canvas is perfect for pairing with white furniture, especially if you opt to have reclaimed wood elements too. Place the art on your sideboard, with a couple of smaller pieces, perhaps in decorative silver frames, to bring the colours together and add chic country style.

Use shape to create contrast

Shape is the best way to create interest in your so if you go for a clean, geometric look with your furniture, a softer, more eclectic finish with your art work looks great. Alternatively, if you have gone for an organised display of art with several pieces all the same size, unique furniture is great. Try to find an oak or reclaimed wood dining table with a unique edge or even base to create an elegant statement.

Use shelves

Large shelving units, or even shelves fixed to the wall are great for creating a living wall of art, where you can change your artwork as you please. You could fill the entire space with canvas and framed pieces, add in new (and old) old family photographs, vintage prints or even mix it up with decor pieces to keep it fresh. You don’t even need to necessarily change the art – a new arrangement of the frames can completely transform the look of your room.

If you find pieces which stick within a colour scheme, you could even tie it in with your furniture. This will create a well thought-out, sleek appearance which also allows you to play around with colour. For example, in a display which uses a lot of blue, place blue chairs around a farmhouse dining table.

Create balance with symmetry

It can be tempting to mimic the shape of your table and placing horizontal artwork on the walls. But to create a statement, portrait or square artwork can look fantastic.

Then, when it comes to chairs, opt for fabric dining chairs for luxurious style which doesn’t mean you have to compromise on comfort. A round club chair design works well. A unique rounded based with a padded seat offers eye-catching design and will make for a statement dining room.

With the rose golden base of the black dining chair, the warm brown tones of the the Stag Canvas works beautifully. You could even select another animal from the collection and place the two next to one another.

Take a look at the full collection of art at Modish Living, or get in touch with one of our team members for more information.

No space for an office? A study nook is the solution

Oldman White Industrial Reclaimed Wood Desk

More and more of us are realising the flexibility of working from home. Great for a business and fantastic for boosting productivity levels, working from the comfort of your own home is the ideal solution in so many ways.

Unless that is, you don’t have a space that can be turned into a small office or study. Working long hours hunched over your laptop on the sofa or curled up on your bed is not the best solution.

But when rooms are occupied, squeezing your home office space in can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Until now.

The solution is the study nook.

What is a ‘Study Nook’?

A small space that effortlessly occupies a small space in your home. It can be the space under the stairs or a small cubicle like space in the corner of the room. It can be the space on the landing that doesn’t have a purpose or a small part of the dining room.

It may be small but it is mighty because not only is it practical and functional, it is stylish too.

The Desk and the Chair

First and foremost, you need to ensure that your working platform is as you need it. In a small space, having a ‘fitted’ desk is ideal and that means ordering a made-to-measure and finished-to-your-specifications desk, such as those in our Oldman Desk range.

A reclaimed wood desk is the ideal choice, especially when matched with an office chair that fits you and the space perfectly. Remember, comfort can walk hand in hand with stylish; those comfy chairs really can be the seating solution you need.

Kit it Out

How do you spend work time? Do you sketch things out or spend all your time crouched at your desk? Do you read, edit, make notes?

In other words, do you always have to be sitting at your desk? Using the lounge is one thing, but there are too many tempting distractions there so stay in your stylish study nook by accessorising and kitting it out with useful and pretty things.

Curl up in a comfy grey armchair the next time you conference call or enjoy the feeling of a wool rug beneath your feet on a grey, cold morning, the Atlantic blue colour complementing the space perfectly, as you set about your day’s work.

Wool rugs are ideal for adding depth and texture to a space, as are other textiles such as cushions and throws. But to complement your wooden desk and other items of reclaimed wood furniture, you need some accessories too.

As well as dealing with storage, you need to create the ideal atmosphere to help your creative spirit.

Why not maximise light, for example, with a mirror, great for adding a flourish of detail too? Candle stick holders are ideal too – pretty when not in use, or for when you want to create an air of calm, burning scented candles is ideal. If you don’t fancy an unguarded naked flame, these delightfully curvaceous tea light holders are beautiful. And in sets of three, they are the designer’s delight!

Designed around you and your work, the study nook is ideal in so many ways. How will your study nook look?

5 of the best dining benches for your urban modern dining

In any functional contemporary home, it is all about striking the right balance between style and practicality. Now with shrinking room sizes, in a room like the dining room, where a lot of us want to fit as many people around the table as possible, it is about finding nifty ways to do this.

The benefits of having a dining table with bench really does come down to the amount of people you can fit around the table. It is easier to squeeze an extra person around the table if you don’t need to contend with so many legs. Also, if you have lots of smaller children in your family, at times like Christmas, a dining bench is great as you may even be able to fit them all on one bench.

But not only are they practical, but a dining bench also looks really luxurious. If you choose a dining bench with a back, it is almost as if you have a sofa in your dining room and will certainly bring some comfort to dinner parties. Alternatively, if you go for simple wooden designs, they will tuck into your table and will create a sleek finish in your space.

If you love modern furniture, the understated style of the Cleo Grey Leather Dining Bench makes it the perfect addition to your home. The bench is designed to accommodate three people with ease and is finished with elegant wooden legs that would pair beautifully with a simple oak dining table. The best thing about this dining bench is that the mix of leather and wood means you can easily blend it with this classic dining chair style for the best of both worlds. The leather dining bench can also be ordered in other leather-like brown to really match your decor scheme.

Leather furniture looks great in any room for a more classic look. The Cleo Grey Faux Leather Corner Dining Table Bench would work to bring a little vintage glamour into an otherwise contemporary room and will bring comfort to the dining table too so you dinner parties can go on for hours.

The simply stunning Cleo Grey Faux Leather Corner Dining Bench offers luxurious dining room seating for midweek meals but is bound to be the centre of attention at any family gathering. The style of the dining bench would look great paired with any modern dining room furniture, with the understated style of curved edges as opposed to arms offering a neater finish.

The Newton Dining Bench is a perfect option for any contemporary home. The shape of the chair is ultra modern, contemporary style and bring a little more personality. The bench would look great with any reclaimed wooden dining table, especially with one with a unique or vintage inspired table leg. Because the bench will span across the entire length of most tables, a trestle style table with just the legs in the middle will work well.

To find the perfect dining bench for your home, take a look at the Modish Living website or get in touch with one of our team members.

How to decorate with round tables in dining and living room

Angles and straight lines are all well and good – they give the dining room and the living room a pleasing order to the eye – but, if it all feels a bit too strict and 90° angles, the time has come to introduced some curves.

Circles and curves are welcoming. When you have guests round the dinner table, the roundness of it is ideal for no one person being ‘in the hot seat’ or at the head of the table.

But as we will show you, introducing curves into your home is not just about round dining room tables…

Invest in a Classic Piece

The dining table is an investment that you will use time and time again over many years and so it pays to make a considered purchase.

Invest wisely, and your round dining table will fit any interior design style but, more importantly, it will be versatile enough to sit with your signature style.

We love…

Dining Tables

Classic white frames and wood table top – great in any design for adding freshness to a dining room. This Elton Round Dining Table works really well in the farmhouse or rustic style dining room or kitchen.

For something a little edgier, the Parquet Round Dining Table is ideal for an ‘industrial’ inspired scheme.

We love the circular base of this small round dining table, complete with reclaimed wood top. Fantastic for when you want to make a statement to your guests. The Kendrick Round Table also extends.

Curves in the Living Room

We love…

Coffee Tables

With no sharp edges to knock your shins against, a curvaceous coffee table or side tables are ideal for helping the ‘traffic’ in a living room to flow.

For a modern and minimal appeal, we love the cool-to-the-touch Kensal marble top coffee table. Choose the leg material – polished stainless steel, brass or matte black – so that it truly complements your living room style.

As well as a round table top, introducing a series of curves into an interior design style brings conviviality to a space too.

This round metal coffee table has a delightful series of interconnecting circles as its base and is very modern.

Side Tables

As well as coffee tables, side tables are ideal for the living room. As well as adding a pleasant note of interest to a room, they are also a handy extra surface that we all need occasionally in the living room.

To keep a sense of cohesion, choose two or three items from the same range. For the industrial look – think exposed brickwork, metal and wood dancing in harmony together – the Oldham range has it all.

For a smaller side table, the reclaimed wood table top can be finished with an optional glass ‘cover’ if you feel it needs it.

But you don’t want the living room cluttered with tables here and there which is why a nest of tables is an ideal choice. However, drag yourself out of the 1970s and ditch the set of 3 nesting tables made from MDF. Instead, opt for the thrill of matte metal bases and the mango wood tops of the Melbury Industrial Nest of Tables.

Curves are friendly, inviting and welcoming – and they sit alongside the straightness and pleasingly formality of angles and straight lines in both the dining room and the living room. Why do you love curves so much?

How to instantly make your old dining room look luxurious

Your dining room is one of the most important rooms in your home.

But getting the right look, style and feel to the dining room can be difficult. The dining table and chairs can look cumbersome, the décor tired and if storage is an issue, it can look cluttered too.

The answer is to revamp the dining room but what about the budget?

The good news is that with small changes that cost very little, you can have the luxurious dining room you crave.

New Chairs, Same Table

The easiest and most affordable way of instantly updating the look of your dining room is to change the chairs.

There are many ways of doing this;

These black velvet dining chairs with lion knocker detail to the back of the chair add a certain elegance to a dining room. Black is a dramatic colour, velvet a sumptuous fabric to feel and the silver bead edging make these black dining chairs ideal focal points in a room.

These grey velvet dining chairs have a subtle feel. There is something beautifully chic about these grey dining chairs. Lower backed, they are no less comfortable. The wooden legs and frame are ideal to match an oak table or similar reclaimed wood dining table.

Smaller dining rooms can feel crowded, especially if you have dining chairs with high backs and armrests. These modern upholstered dining chairs, with their mirrored legs, are ideal for adding a modern feel to a dining room, but the elegant grey coloured fabric of these modern dining chairs adds depth and texture too.

Top tip: look for the smaller details on a dining chair are as well as style, fabric and colour. The lion knocker on the black dining chairs, for example, or the mirrored, classic leg of the armless, upholstered dining chairs mentioned above are the details that add a layer of luxury to a room.

Paint the Walls

Of course, giving the dining room an updated feel is not just about the wood table and great chairs. Any furniture is given a different appeal when the colour of the walls changes.

Keep the drama with a dark coloured ceiling but only if you have the height in a room. For smaller rooms, stick to neutral tones and colours on walls and ceilings.

Using wallpaper in the latest pattern and colours also make a for a great feature wall, an ideal way to pull out focal points in the dining room such as a fireplace.

Or add a focal point with fantastic wall art. Mirrors and other wall accessories work really well too. Large wall clocks, for example, sit well with any interior design style but for a rustic dining set or a solid wood dining table, there is a certain harmony between it and the over-sized roman numerals.

Accessories

As well as dressing the walls, adding small details to existing dining room furniture will also give it a new lease of life. It can be something as simple (and affordable) as clustering tall, elegant candlesticks on a sideboard.

Accessories also add a hint of sparkle and luxury and again, work well with any interior design scheme. If you are nervous about adding ‘permanent’ detail to a room, ornate serving ware is the ideal choice. You can use any piece you choose when you want.

Updating your dining room doesn’t mean buying an expensive dining table and chairs set. What have you got to work with?

What your first dining room must have

dorset trestle table with dining bench and chairs

It is a moment unlike any other. The day you have the keys to your first house dropped into your palm will fill you with equal measure of excitement and dread.

You have what feels like acres of space to fill with furniture and stylish accessories. But with money in short supply, creating a functional and stylish space is a daunting task.

Friends and family will rally round and before you know it, you have more pans and tea towels than you will ever need.

Reclaimed Furniture and Gifts

Re-claimed furniture, along with mismatched wooden dining chairs give your dining room a pleasing stylish look. It may be eclectic, but it is yours.

Don’t refuse all furniture as some of it with sanding down and a coat of furniture paint can actually make a for a stylish stop-gap until you can afford the items you want.

Choose a Style

Important rooms like the dining room look chaotic in style when there is no obvious or overriding style. There are various looks you can opt for but what can work well because they are fresh and versatile are the Scandinavian or the rustic style.

Both use a lot of wood and other natural materials. Rustic furniture is all about texture, the roughness of raw wood, the exposing of brick and other materials.

The Scandinavian style is equally as appealing – use lighter woods with a smooth finish and choose natural fabrics, such as wool, to finish the look.

Creating the Look Without the Price Tag

You want your house to look like a home, your home. And there are ways of getting your hands on stylish pieces of furniture without breaking the bank.

Look for ex-display items for sale! These can be at a great knock down prices. Check for dings, dents and colour bleaching – remember, you are buying ex-display items as seen, so inspect the piece thoroughly before you buy.

A bargain on one piece means you can splurge a little on another. Don’t forget, dining room furniture items are some of the things that will be with you for years to come. This pleasingly solid wishbone chair, for example, could be the piece you pass on to future generations.

It’s Not Just the Dining Furniture

The final look to your dining room is not just down to the Scandinavian dining table or the exquisite ex-display fabric dining chairs – it is about the accessories too.

And here’s the good news – the majority of these items are stylish AND within budget. Better still, they are versatile so when you change your style in a few years, they simply slip into their new place within it.

Wall art – you can opt for ultra-modern pieces or enjoy canvases that look stunning. These animal art canvases are bound to be conversation pieces, especially the ‘Laughing Donkey’.
Mirrors – great for adding light to a space, mirrors make a statement too. Opt for ornate celestial mirrors or for maximum impact, choose full-length mirrors.
Serving pieces – they will be invaluable at your first dinner party and great for adding detail to the dining room. Choose from stylish salad bowls to dip bowls for informal parties.

Choose key features of an interior design style, such as Scandinavian chairs for the dining room, and build the rest of the room around it. And remember, unique furniture is part and parcel of buying your first home…

3 of the best reclaimed wood tables and how to style them

Barclay Reclaimed Wood Dining Table with dining chairs

A reclaimed wood dining table is perfect for any home for its high-quality wood which will bring you years of enjoyment, and the beautiful character of wood in its natural form. A reclaimed wood table will bring a beautiful look in your home, whether it is paired with other reclaimed furniture to create a glamorous countryside appearance, or with modern design elements like steel and glass to add some personality.

Eat in style with the gorgeous Chelwood Large Reclaimed Wood Dining Table. The wood dining table is a fantastic choice to add some colour into a kitchen or dining room to bring it to life and is perfect for family life. A perfect addition to both city homes and as a stylish farmhouse table.

To create the dining room of dreams, pair the dining table with other dining room furniture like one of our reclaimed wooden sideboards. The matching Chelwood Nordic Sideboard would look great for a coordinated look, and the addition of colour running through the wood means you can keep the rest of your room light on decoration for an uncluttered, contemporary space you’ll love entertaining in.

Finish the look with one or two simple accessories like a potted plant on your sideboard, and for dining table chairs, go for metal cafe chairs or modern leather chairs, a style which has been hugely popular in home decor the last couple of years.

If you are looking for a stylish and sophisticated style, look no further than the Derby Reclaimed Wood Extendable Dining Table. The table features a beautiful natural texture and is finished with sleek wooden black painted legs for a contemporary look. This truly stunning wooden dining table will grace any dining room.

To finish the room, add the matching Derby Reclaimed Wood Console Table for the perfect combination of elegant and rustic style and choose a couple of statement accessories, like a large wall clock and an elegant candle holder.

From one of our extremely popular collections, the Standford Large Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table will add glamorous style and practicality to any room. It is the perfect blend of classic styling with contemporary elements with the reclaimed table and bold black legs. As for seating, the Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Bench or the Standford Reclaimed Wood Cushioned Chair is perfect with this style of table.

To get the look, pair the table with the matching Standford Large Reclaimed Wood Industrial Sideboard for plenty of extra storage which blends practicality with beauty, and for dining room accessories, hang a statement wall clock above and choose some beautiful flowers to add some colour when you are entertaining.

To find the perfect dining room furniture for your home, please take a look at the Modish Living website or get in touch with one of our team members.