How to prepare your home for a worry free holiday

The anticipation of your summer holiday is a fantastic feeling. The moment you leave work knowing you are waving goodbye to your desk for a week or two is often one of elation – no matter how much you may enjoy your job.

You have a great few weeks but your return from holiday is a return to reality. In most cases, it comes with an all mighty crash with 101 things to get done between the time you arrive back home and the time you need to be back at your desk.

Knowing you are returning to hard work can cause a dark cloud to hover over the holiday. But we have the solutions to not only a worry-free holiday but to you gliding back into your routine so that the relaxing effect of your holiday lasts for weeks to come yet.

Keys to a Worry Free Holiday

1) Preparation

Preparing your home for an extended vacation, or any holiday can feel like a military-styled operation to get everything ready. But we tend to make this all about clothes shopping and bag-packing.

Although they are obviously essential holiday-planning activities, there are other preparation activities that will serve you well when preparing your home for holidays;

Top tip – if nothing else, empty ALL the bin in your home so that unpleasant smells are eliminated.

In the bedroom – if you get a chance, changing your bed so that you clean sheets await your return is the ideal first night home from your holiday. The smell of clean bed linen also helps to keep the modern bedroom smelling pleasant.
In the dining room – this is the room where items for holiday tend to gather in the weeks and days leading up to a vacation – especially on dining room table sets. Once you have everything packed, make sure the dining room is clean and clear, so that the first meal at home is an effortless affair. Wipe down dining rooms sets and wipe over dining room furniture such as dining room display cabinets to create a pleasant space for your return.
In the kitchen – the kitchen will harbour all kinds of nasty smells if food is left out, uncovered etc. Donate perishable food to food banks or ask your neighbours if they can make use of it. Wipe around the fridge and don’t leave any food out. Even fruit in a bowl on the countertop or other kitchen furniture, such as your chic white display cabinet, will soon attract fruit flies, even with doors and windows shut.
In the lounge – the space where everyone relaxes, you want this to be a haven on your return. Plump the cushions, wipe down the leather sofa with wipes and make sure that all your carpeting, hard floor, wool rugs etc, are well vacuumed before you leave.

Top tip – let a trusted neighbour know you are away and ask them to keep an eye on your property. Make sure they have emergency numbers to contact you if necessary.

On your return

The whole point of any holiday, from a fortnight in the sun to a weekend away is to break the monotony of routine and refresh mind, body and soul. Plunging straight back into routine means you quickly lose the sense of well-being.

Make it last longer by planning your first few days home. You may need to ‘catch up on the washing’ but how about a quick trip to your favourite supermarket or local grocer for local produce, ideal for a lazy, late brunch?

How to choose the perfect wooden dining table

Your dining table and chairs are substantial pieces of furniture. You should choose your wooden dining table with care, thinking about how it will need to adapt in the future, but you’ll also know only too well what you like the look of – so it’s essential to strike a balance between great design and versatile functionality. Here we bring you some tips on what to consider when purchasing your dining table.

The Shape of your wooden dining table

A round dining table or a rectangular table are the two most favored options, but which will work best for you? A small round dining table works well when space is limited as with a little squeezing, you can seat a fair few diners around your table without encroaching on too much space. This rectangular oak wooden dining table and chairs is also ideal for when you want a streamlined, minimal look but without compromising on quality.

Which comes first, the table or the chairs?

Some people prefer to purchase wooden dining room table sets, whereby the table and chairs match perfectly. But, if you want to make a statement, choosing chairs and a dining table separately could be the answer.

Making the wooden dining table the centrepiece of your dining room

There is nothing quite as attractive as a grandiose dining table. No matter what your style, a fantastic dining table really packs a punch. This exquisite example of a reclaimed wood dining table is the perfect example. The distressed look of the wood, full of history and character, works well with the modern gloss of the metal frame. Even the sumptuous upholstered dining chairs cannot detract from its beauty.

Making the chairs the stars of the show

Dining chairs can really add va-va-voom to a dining room. There are almost unlimited options when it comes to upholstered dining chairs, with all shades of colours, as well as a choice between fabric and leather.

Of course, fabric dining chairs don’t work for everybody. A great option are wooden dining chairs. Equally as elegant, wooden chairs are easy to keep clean and suit a range of styles, from farmhouse to rustic

Most of our dining chairs are customisable too, so you can create something truly unique for your home that diners will admire.

Choose your style

Of course, a large factor in your choice of wooden dining table and chairs is your style.

This oak farmhouse table works well in a dining room or kitchen space where you want the pleasing feel of the farmhouse style.

Likewise, opting for the rustic dining table or the industrial dining table style is ideal in a busy home where you don’t want to compromise practicality and function for style.

Adding details

The ‘how and why’ of your wooden dining table are also important considerations.

For example, if you regularly host family dinners and extensive gatherings, an extending dining table with chairs make perfect sense.

But we think that dining furniture is a great way of adding detail without overpowering the space. The legs of the dining table are often forgotten in terms of design which is why we have added details to ours…This reclaimed wood round dining table with the circular, art deco-esque leg adds a wow factor to any dining space. If you want detail but without too much fuss, this rectangular dining table with robust legs is one choice. The circular elements add the right level of detail. And there is something pleasingly ‘chunky’ and firm about the end-of-table column legs on this farmhouse table.

Many pieces in our dining furniture ranges can be customised to suit, giving you even more scope on creating a wooden dining table and chairs that you will love for a long, long time to come.

The myths and marvels of reclaimed wood

Luxe Kensington reclaimed wood dining table with glass

Luxe Kensington reclaimed wood dining table close up sleeper

Reclaimed wood has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. Here at Modish Living we supply some truly exquisite examples; we feel privileged to be working with such an exceptional material and we’re always happy to discuss the merits of reclaimed furniture.

There are a few well-held myths about reclaimed wood, and we feel it’s important to refute many of them, but first it may be useful to clarify the meaning of reclaimed wood in the furniture industry. If you’re buying a reclaimed wood dining table, for example, you’re not buying an original dining table that has simply been restored. Instead, you’re purchasing a brand new piece that’s using reclaimed wood that has then been turned into your table.

Myth number one: Furniture using reclaimed wood is more expensive

This isn’t necessarily true at all, and in fact some pieces may be cheaper. Reclaimed wood contemporary furniture can take a great deal of work, because the wood has to be de-nailed, cleaned and specially treated, so it’s not an easy process. The overall cost of many items, such as a reclaimed wood desk, may be cheaper than you would think.

Myth number two: Reclaimed wood is dirty

All our reclaimed contemporary furniture pieces are thoroughly cleaned by our craftsmen using tried and trusted techniques, and only after they have been deemed suitable does the major work begin. Reclaimed wood is often taken from old houses, so the environment may not be clean, but once the wood has been treated it is more than usable.

Myth number three: Reclaimed wood is not pretty

One look through our website will convince anyone of the sheer beauty of our reclaimed wood items, including our superb choice of living room furniture pieces. The wood that’s been used has a story to tell, and each piece has its own unique character. It may not feature the clean lines and sterile feel of brand new wood, but of course it’s not supposed to. Reclaimed wood is, in our opinion, utterly beautiful.

Myth number four: Reclaimed wood doesn’t need maintenance

Clearly this isn’t true at all. Every item of wooden furniture, including brand new wooden pieces, needs to be maintained. Wood, by its very nature, is strong, robust and can last for a lifetime and beyond, but only if it’s well looked after. Our rustic furniture will always look impressive if it’s maintained properly. If you purchase an English beam table, for example, from Modish Living you will receive information about proper care for the wood.

Myth number five: Reclaimed wood is poor quality

Our craftsmen select only top quality wood before creating heavenly pieces of furniture. Reclaimed wood is more dense than new wood because it has been allowed to grow naturally, and of course using reclaimed wood is better for the environment. It’s solid, dependable and extremely attractive.

Myth number six: Reclaimed wood makes a room look old

Reclaimed wood can be used to create many different styles, so it depends on how it is used. We supply many examples of iconic industrial furniture, for example, which use reclaimed wood to showcase modern styling. Of course, other themes such as rustic and contemporary can be created using reclaimed wood, so it’s worth remembering that it can be used to make rooms look old or new.

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.

How to style a sideboard to look at its best

Medium and large Reclaimed Wood Sideboard for living room

A sideboard really is a staple piece of furniture for dining rooms and living rooms offering both style and valuable storage space for all the items you want to keep tucked away. However, it also provides a perfect surface for the things that you do want on display like lamps and candle holders or for hanging canvas paintings and clocks above.

Which sideboard to choose?

With any large piece of furniture, white works beautifully to keep your space looking bright and open. In terms of colour, a white contemporary sideboard also offers a wonderful blank canvas for creating a contract against colour and other pieces of furniture. Go for all white furniture for a sleek, coordinated look or try a rustic reclaimed wooden sideboard for a more industrial look.

How to style a sideboard

The beauty of a sideboard, particularly a white one, is that it can be paired with whatever contemporary home decor your heart desires. Go for something simple or dramatic – either way, a sideboard is the perfect accompaniment to any room.

For a glamorous finish, add a stylish table lamp with a large luxurious shade. If you are looking for understated style, you can leave it there but you could also add more light by adding candle holders and tea lights.

There are also plenty of options for on the wall above your sideboard. A canvas painting or contemporary large clocks are a great choice to create a focal point in your room. A large wall clock is a great statement piece for any room. If you go for a white sideboard, a dark grey or black metal frame will create a stunning contrast and is bound to be a talking point – the perfect blend of classic and contemporary, industrial style.

Alternatively, a gorgeous canvas will look fantastic for a more classic look. Our collection of canvases come in a range of style and would look fantastic in any colour scheme. With a large sideboard, you could even place two smaller canvases side by side.

To find the perfect white sideboard for your living room or dining room, shop the sideboards collection at Modish Living or get in touch with our team.

How to get a Scandinavian dining room perfect for get-togethers

Oak dining set with dining table dining chairs and bench for dining room

Entertaining family and friends should be a breeze with our tasteful Scandinavian dining room ideas. Welcoming and comfortable, yet classy enough for formal dining, we think after reading this post, you’ll have to agree.

Shop our Eastwood Rustic Oak Dining Table

What is the Scandinavian Style?

The concept originates from the 1950s and is a collection of styles from Scandinavian countries that focuses on three key attributes with the interior design scheme: simplicity, functionality and affordability.

In other words, you add character and personality to a room without adding clutter or ‘stuff’ that detracts the eye. The furniture, its shape, form, practical function and colour is the component that is the centre of attention. Everything else in the room should frame it, from the colour on the walls to the fabrics used.

Find out more about the Scandinavian style here.

The Perfection of a Scandinavian Dining Room

Scandinavian is a style that works throughout the home but is perfect for the dining room. Here, we show you how to get it right in your home.

Before you start…

Prepare the canvas of the room by whitewashing the walls and ceiling. If you don’t want the room completely devoid of colour, think neutral tones with barely any colour and stick with simple, classic colour themes such as monochrome.

The Main Player – The Dining Table

It is the table and its chairs that will be the focus of a dining room and choosing a key piece is essential to the whole style of the space.

Shop our Nottingham Oak Live Edge Dining Table

Natural materials are key, so it makes sense that a wooden dining table is the must-have key piece. Lighter woods, such as tactile oak dining table would also work well.

In terms of chairs, high backed chairs or bold smaller chairs that complement the setting are perfect. For a truly rustic addition to the style, opt for a wooden dining bench.

Supporting Acts

Although minimalism is part and parcel of the overall design scheme, you still need it to be functional – somewhere to store crockery and cutlery, as well as adding depth, texture and interest to a room.

A wooden sideboard is the ideal addition. With spacious drawers and cupboard space, you can keep things that are essential for get-togethers.

Shop Eastwood Medium Rustic Oak Sideboard

Although you don’t want clutter, there are times when you have items and accessories that add to the overall appeal. As well as books, this wooden bookcase makes the perfect non-fuss addition to the dining room.

Shop the Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Bookcase

Now Add Texture

A wall clock is a practical addition and a black metal finish of a wall clock works well in your monochrome, Scandinavian scheme.

But there are some accessories that add beauty to a space as much as anything. Candles on a dining table are a must, creating a welcoming glow as you while away the hours with family and friends.

The Fabrics

Fabrics add warmth to a room, as well as a note of interest. Soften any starkness you feel may haunt your Scandinavian interior design scheme with natural fabrics. Animal skin throws along with a large sheepskin rug are practical, affordable and simple – exactly the three key attributes you need to create this style for your dining room.

It’s really not that difficult to create the Scandinavian style in your dining room – just follow the process above and you’ll soon be dining in style.

For more Scandinavian dining room ideas, see our inspiration page.

Add a Stunning Woven Texture in Your Home With Rattan Furniture

Rattan dining chairs with reclaimed wood dining table in dining room

For anyone keen on styling their home, an understanding of the seven principles of interior design is essential. Space, line, form, light, colour, pattern and texture emphasise the focal point in a space. That means adding a key element that draws attention to itself.

Texture is an easy way of adding emphasis to a room or space, both in the home and in outside areas too.

Rattan Texture

Rattan is a fast-growing plant that is sustainable and once dried and woven, produces furniture and other items that is not only of exceptional quality but superior strength too. It can have a smaller, more delicate weave or pattern or, as in some cases we illustrate below, it can be larger, chunkier and more robust in its finish.

Rattan Furniture For Outdoors

Because of its strength and ability to withstand all kinds of weather, rattan garden furniture is an increasingly popular choice in garden furniture across the country.

Trends for the outdoor space for the coming summer season is for a laid-back approach to rattan garden furniture – opt for loungers or hammocks, bringing a relaxed approached to seating in the garden.

The rattan sofa, both stylish yet neutral, will work well on the patio or in the conservatory, with the weave of the rattan inviting people to take a seat and relax a while too.

For a higher chair that is both relaxed seating and perfect as an al fresco dining chair, there is a range of rattan garden chairs that fit the bill. As well as texture, rattan pieces tend to bring earthy yet neutral tones to a space, perfect for any garden space. We like to think of rattan furniture as deceptively simple.

Perfect For The Conservatory

Rattan is a material commonly associated with the conservatory. Deceptively lightweight but brilliantly robust, rattan doesn’t warp or weaken with heat hence, a firm favourite for the conservatory or the orangery.

Dining in Style

Rattan isn’t just for the patio or the conservatory. As a material, it is a stunning addition around the dining table.

No matter what your style – contemporary, rustic, industrial or farmhouse country chic – the wood dining table, complete with large weave rattan high-backed dining chairs and soft, cream coloured cushions is simply perfection. Where else will you find a dining table with such character?

Rattan in the Bedroom

Want something different but still within budget? Want a bed frame that makes a statement, packs a punch but without being overly quirky or so eclectic that it is a bespoke piece that is too individual to be part of any design scheme other than its own?

A rattan bed frame is the ideal solution – different without being ‘odd’, it has a warmth to its appearance, as well as being stylish and the centre of attention.

In our minds, there is no doubt that rattan is one of the best materials for use in and outside of the home, offering an elegance, stylish woven texture that is perfect, no matter the design or trend.

How to choose the perfect rug for a room

Louis de Poortere rug in dining room with white dining table

The main purpose of modern rugs is to define a space, and that means choosing the right size, colour and shape. It is, however something people often struggle with, and here at Modish we want to make buying our rugs more of a pleasure and less of a pain.

Here, we provide some advice for those looking to purchase a rug for every room in the house, whether to complement industrial office furniture or as the perfect addition to the bedroom.

Our top tip for getting the right size rug is to create an ‘ideal size’ out of newspaper or marking out the rug edges with masking tape. When in doubt, opt for a rug that is slightly bigger rather than smaller – but there are several tips that work specifically depending on what room you’re looking to style with a rug. Read on to find out what they are…

How to use a rug in… The Living Room

Rugs look fantastic next to wooden living room furniture, but a great tip for small to medium sized living rooms would be to opt for a rug that fits all of your modern living room furniture on it. This helps to define the size of the room, giving it an ‘ordered’ appearance. Choose colours that complement your colour scheme or use contemporary rugs to introduce an accent colour into a space.

In larger areas, choose a rug that is large enough to fit well in the room and with the ‘front’ legs of furniture resting on it. This stops you breaking your budget with a very large or custom-sized rug.

If you have a large sofa, the trick is to choose a rug that is longer than the sofa. If you don’t want a too-ordered look, pull the sofa off-centre and have one end of it not sitting on the rug to create an abstract feel to the space.

The rug for The Dining Room

In an open plan dining room and kitchen, a rug is a great tool for separating the dining space. Opt for a rug that your contemporary dining room furniture fits on, making sure you have enough of a ‘border’ on the rug for chairs to fit, so that diners are not balancing their chair (two legs on the rug, two legs off) when eating.

And yes, for round dining tables, choose a round rug.

MEASURING TIP: place the dining chairs under the table and measure 50cm from the back legs. Add this to the measurement of the table and this gives you the minimum sized rug you will need.

The Bedrooms

In the master bedroom, rugs are a great alternative to carpet and they also complement wooden bedroom furniture perfectly. Like the dining table, you need a border of 50cm on a rug that you are fitting under the bed and any bed side tables you have. In the kids’ bedrooms or guest rooms, you can use rugs in various ways, including being a pleasant focal point that welcome people into the space by creating a path.

Think safety too – making sure that rugs do not ‘travel’ when walked on.

The Hallway

A long, runner rug works well in a hallway but if you have a large entrance space you may like the idea of placing a larger rug to define this area too. Choose complimentary colours and don’t forget that darker colours absorb light so think lighter shades or patterned rugs for maximum effect.

Your Home Study

With more and more of us working from home, the home study or office is increasingly common. In this space, you can be bold with your rug choice but again, ensure that it fits under your desk and office chair, leaving plenty of border so you don’t have the irritation of ‘falling off’ the rug with every movement.

A rug in the right place, in the right size and proportion lends texture, depth and interest to a space, as well as providing a definition and a boundary. Which rug will you choose?

Now that you found out how to choose the perfect rug and know how to measure your space get shopping! Browse the luxurious Louis de Poortere collection or make your feet comfortable on a sheepskin rug and get cozy on a reindeer rug.

Achieve the rustic dining room of your dreams

Grey Highlander Canvas Wall Art Painting for Dining Room

The dining room is a multi-functional space. From informal dining to entertaining friends and family, the dining room needs to be stylish, yet comfortable and practical. The rustic style is essentially about raw materials, exposed brickwork, fantastic masonry on show and wood of all shades and hues. Reclaimed wood is a great choice because it comes packed with character and history.

If you are considering updating your dining room, the rustic style is easy and simple to accomplish, as well as being a classic, yet affordable look in your home. But how do you achieve it? Here’s how to achieve a rustic dining room look.

The Dining Table

Firstly, the centre of attention in the dining room must be the dining table. Rustic tables add an immediate impact. However, they come with all the trimmings that ‘modern’ dining sets offer such as an extendable reclaimed wood trestle dining table that will work perfectly with any dining chair you choose.

Dining Chairs

Secondly, you need to add the dining chairs. In a modern family home, large and wide dining chairs can be too cumbersome, and take up too much space. Although they may look practical, the feeling is that they clutter the dining room, making the flow of life difficult in one of the most important rooms in the house.

Shop Dorset Reclaimed Wood Dining Chairs (pair)

The charm of these slatted-back rustic chairs is that they offer rustic charm and appeal to the space. Use these with any of our dining tables or enjoy the delight of its matching rustic dining room table counterpart.

The rustic style can also be an opportunity to dispense with over-formality. We love the idea of using non-matching dining chairs or, a perfect solution for a busy, family dining room a reclaimed wood dining table with bench. Note the practical cutlery draw too.

Rustic Interior Design – Colours and Accessories

Supporting your rustic dining table, chairs and bench will be the remainder of the room. Accessories are the spotlights a room needs to place the emphasis of the key players.

As well exposing brick or stone work (seal it with a clear sealant to prevent excessive dust), introduce a range of accessories including a practical rustic sideboard.

Shop Reclaimed Wood Sideboard

Keep colours neutral. Whitewash walls in a practical, easy to keep clean white. Frame the room with fantastic rustic-style art that complements the theme, as well as injecting a little fun into the space.

For a hint of colour, not too strong nor overpowering, invest in a rug – contemporary or classic – that easily accommodates the reclaimed wood dining table and chairs.

The use of reclaimed wood furniture is an addition that is sure to create the rustic appeal you want, but without compromising on practicality or quality.

There is something delightful, familiar and appealing about the presence of wood in any room in the home but in the dining room especially. The rustic styled dining room lends itself perfectly for a Friday night take out and yet, it easily hosts a formal dinner party on Saturday too – allowing you to have a versatile and well styled space that works for you every day of the week.