industrial Archives - Page 14 of 26

How to mix & match chairs with the table to create a pleasant aesthetic

To mix or not, that is the question.

There’s far more to consider when buying dining chairs than may initially meet the eye – shall I opt for the chairs which match my reclaimed wood dining table? How many chairs should I buy (should I invest in extra ones if last-minute guests make an appearance)? Should I stick to one colour of upholstered dining chairs? I could go on.

Thankfully, there really is no right answer and it’s something you can be completely practical about, or go wild and create a fun, eclectic aesthetic which is bound to start all dinner conversations. Here’s a few of our favourite dining table and chair combinations to get you thinking.

Initial considerations

Before you let your imagination run wild, considering the thousands of options available to you – make sure you think about the practicalities. For example, if you regularly host lively dinner parties, a 10 seater dining table and chairs may work particularly well for you. Or you may be working with a small space where something which is relatively compact is the most important factor.

If you’ve already bought a dining table, you’ll also need to think about how many chairs to buy. For example, trestle tables often have the legs at either end of the table, prohibiting you from squeezing an extra guest on the end.

Finally, think about the seat hight. It’s important that your guests are comfortably able to sit under your dining table ready to enjoy a meal. If you opt for seats which are very padded, or perhaps have longer-than-average legs, your guests may struggle to get comfortable. It may also be worth considering whether you’ll be able to cross your legs or not!

Matchy matchy

Why they’re a contender: it will create a sophisticated, well-thought-out space, perfect for that minimalist aesthetic.

Sometimes understated is the best way to go. If you have a beautiful rustic dining table crafted from reclaimed wood rich with history, it seems a shame to mask that by pairing it with statement dining chairs which will become the star of the show.

By there are different ways you can match your dining chairs to your table.

The first option is the most obvious – go for the dining chairs in the same range as your dining table. This is the undoubtedly an easy option, and one which may save you hours (!), when it comes to decorating, as it will save you spending time trying to match the tones of the wood or considering the endless possibilities you have when it comes to the world of dining chairs. There’s also something so classic and elegant about something which is so perfectly coordinated.

Your other option is to spend some time studying the colour of the table you’ve opted for. We were absolutely delighted when one of our customers shared a picture of her beautiful dining room. Jody has cleverly paired her dining table with black dining chairs which match the industrial table legs for a sleek, harmonious appearance and we think it looks utterly fantastic!

Live colourfully

Why they’re a contender: sometimes all you need is a splash of colour to completely transform a room.

Colour is a great way to change the look of your room and add some of your personality – particularly in modern homes, where walls are increasingly painted in neutral tones like white and grey!

We love the combination of this industrial dining table and dark blue velvet upholstered dining chairs. The coordination of the black of the table legs and the legs of the chairs will maintain that chic appearance many of us work hard to achieve while the splash of blue is capable of bringing any room to life.

Create something extraordinary by looking at the smallest details

Why they’re a contender: it has the power of transforming the look of your dining table (perfect if you only want to change the dining chairs!)

Furniture often has interesting details. That’s probably what drew you to your dining table, no? If there is something you love about your table, make a feature of it.

We love how the slim metal accents on this table has been so cleverly highlighted by the seating arrangement. The dining set with chairs and bench has been paired with faux leather dining chairs with metal frames along one side of the table for an interesting, slightly eclectic look which just looks so stylish!

Look at the big picture

Why they’re a contender: it will create a room which looks well-considered, elegant and just a little bit different than the rest.

Notice how this oak dining table has been so perfectly complimented by the fabric dining chairs despite not totally matching. It’s all about being a little bit brave and trusting your gut. It’s an aesthetic which probably takes a bit more time and effort, but we’re sure you’ll agree the finished look is worth it!

The best way to make this style work is to pick your dining table and then pick two or three colours which will compliment it. The light oak and white colours of this dining table lend themselves to being paired with soft colours like beige and blue but there are plenty of other combinations which would work too – grey and purple or different shades of green to name a couple.

How have you matched your dining table and chairs? Perhaps you haven’t at all!? Either way, we would love to see how you’ve styled the item of furniture which is the heart of family life for many of us!

4 Tips on how to keep your living room tidy

Do you look with envy at the glossy pages of magazines or website of home bloggers at their super-tidy living room? You may think that with a family, pets and a busy work schedule that tidiness at home automatically suffers. But with these tips and some great industrial style furniture, we show you how to enjoy a tidy living room, without the hassle.

The skill of keeping a living room tidy is to impose a system of order. And so with this in mind, we take a look at the four key principles of keeping your living room tidy without being obsessive.

Tip 1 – Easy access

Storage is the key to a tidy room, whether that’s the hallway, the kitchen or the living room. But storage that cannot be accessed easily is a lost cause. The more people have to fiddle, move stuff, open stuff and close stuff to put something away, the less likely they are to do it.

At its simplest, the blanket box is surely the best easy access storage solution for the living room – and it doubles as an industrial coffee table too, if you need it to.

Great for kids toys and encouraging them to put everything away when they have finished.

Tip 2 – Order

Grouping similar things together means you are more likely to find things when you need them, saving you hours of frustration trying to find something.

For example, an industrial TV cabinet is great for keeping DVDs, games consoles, remote control and similar things.

An industrial coffee table also helps to keeps books, magazines and other bits and bobs together. Opt for one that has drawers too so you have different solutions.

Tip 3 – On Show storage

Sometimes the best solution is to have some nicer looking things on show. Shelving is a great storage solution in the living room.

You can leave it open such as in the case of a bookcase – why not ring the changes with this fantastic bookcase from the Aviator range? You can use these items to balance out the symmetry of the bookcase in the living room. you can either cluster similar things together or cluster similar colours.

The other thing with shelving is the order it can give you. Things you use rarely out on the uppermost shelves, regular things towards the middle and occasionally used items on the bottom shelving.

Tip 4 – Hidden

Every living room needs a certain amount of hidden storage, similar to that offered by the blanket box-cum-coffee table.

However, you might not want to hide everything away and when this is the case, you need hybrid options such as this part display unit, part drawer unit. As industrial furniture goes, the oak display cabinet with shelving and drawers is simply beautiful.

However, if you do want cupboard space as opposed to blanket boxes In the living room, we have an option in the stylish form of the industrial reclaimed wood sideboard. Elegant and utterly charming, the detail on the front of this piece from the Barclay Collection is to be admired.

In four easy to follow tips, we have solved your messy living room problem!

All about extendable dining tables and why we love them

Every home should have an extendable dining table in our opinion, folding up from a 6 seater dining table to more, or from a 4 seater to a 6. Offering more space in the blink of an eye, they are a functional addition that many people can’t imagine living without. From accommodating a gaggle of unexpected guests at dinner to other practical uses, the extendable dining table is a worthy investment.

But how do they work? Are they safe? Is one extending mechanism better than another?

The Standford extendable table – the butterfly extension

The butterfly is a beautiful insect, and the way in which it unfolds and stores away its wings is the inspiration behind the Standford extending dining table. This piece of reclaimed wood furniture is sought after, and it’s not hard to see why.

With a simple mechanism, the rustic dining table top pulls apart and the middle layer forms the extendable option, effectively increasing the overhang at each end of the reclaimed wood dining table.

The extending ‘flap’ is then clicked into place so there is no danger of it collapsing back in when someone leans on it.

The Farringdon extending dining table – a farmhouse style table

The Standford is a beautiful example of the industrial dining table whilst the Farringdon extending dining table is a beautiful example of the farmhouse dining table.

Essentially, in the farmhouse kitchen/diner, it is the table that is its beating heart. It is a place around which everyone gathers for everything from meal times to family time, playing board games or simply sitting, talking, listening and laughing together.

It too has a simple and easy to use extending flap so when you need extra tabletop space, you have it.

The Beam extending table – the slide and lock option

The idea behind an extending table is to make it bigger, for example from a four to a six-seater dining table (actually, you can squeeze more around it – we’ve tried!).

The versatility of such a table knows no bounds but with the Beam rustic dining table, there are more options – either one extending flap or two.

With this design, the extending section is at either end of the short edge of the table – if you opt for two – and a simple ‘slide and lock’ mechanism.

So if there is a homework project carrying on for a few nights, there is no need to keep it all – just slide out the extending flap when serving dinner.

The Lansdowne trestle extending table – simple, easy to use extensions

The extendable table is not just for the farmhouse – it can be for the modern, industrial home too and the trestle table we know, epitomises the industrial, utilitarian look.

Similar to the Beam table, the extending parts of the Lansdowne trestle table are flaps at either end of the table or you can opt for the one extending leaf.

As well as the versatility of the extensions, why not opt for the matching dining bench? There are times when the best dinner parties are the unplanned, informal, let-us-all-squash-around-the-table ones.

The type of extension that suits you

The middle extension tables work great for families who need it occasionally but when they do, they want it a fixed option.

For those of us who require extra space on a regular and frequent basis, the extending flaps can be the ideal solution because as fast as they are to pull out, they are just as simple and easy to push back in.

Have you considered an extending table for your home?

Create a functional, luxurious office space with a difference

Louis de Poortere Mad Men Coppertone Rug

The option of working from home is something which many commuters idolise. After all, there’s no traffic at the end of a long, busy day and it’s a pleasant environment to work within being surrounded by all your creature comforts. But it is really important to create a practical space to complete a day’s work in which will inspire productivity. Here are a few of our ideas to create the perfect home office setup!

The desk and chair combination is undoubtedly the most important feature of a home office, providing a space for you to work from! We think the desk is something you can afford to have a bit of fun with – that’s why we love our Aviator Desk! The unique aeroplane wing shape and structure built entirely from metal epitomises industrial design and just looks fantastic in any contemporary space.

To go with it, a leather office chair is a great option. Adding comfort and style with ease, something like the Aviator Wing Desk Chair will hopefully make your day at work that little bit easier.

Once you’ve found the perfect desk and chair combo, the placement of it in a room is also important. Perhaps you’ve got a lovely large window with a stunning view which you could look out of as you carry out your work. Or perhaps you’ve got a fantastically large home office where your executive desk can sit at the centre and really make a statement. Having a floating desk is certainly a fabulous idea if you conduct meetings at home. Add a leather armchair or two on the other side of your desk and you’ve got a luxurious, stylish and functional space for meetings – we love these brown leather armchairs because they offer classic style but blend so effortlessly with more contemporary designs.

Another item which is immeasurably important in a home office is storage space. There is nothing worse for productivity than a messy home office or a desk piled high with paperwork. A large sideboard is a great option at home, because it is far more stylish than a metal filing cabinet, and is capable of holding all manner of office essentials.

But furniture alone isn’t enough to create a particularly inspiring space, making accessories your best friends. Lighting is something which can make or break your room. But a gorgeous pendant light like the Bibury Light will look fantastic in any space adding a fantastic warm glow and a really opulent feel. If you have the space, the Bibury light hanging directly above your desk would just look superb.

Additionally, a Copperfield rug, like this one, is great for adding warmth, texture and a pop of colour to your space. Available in plenty of sizes, a rug like the Mad Men Coppertone Rug could be used to almost entirely cover your floors to create a statement or could float in the centre providing just enough space to sit your desk and chairs on top of. It’s a really easy accessory which just looks so effortlessly glam!

How have you styled your space to create a stylish home office? We’d love to see photos!

How to style an industrial console table

Kingsbridge Reclaimed Wood Console Table

Never knowingly underdressed, the hallway console table is a thing of beauty that adds more than a touch of detailing, style and glamour to the entrance of your home. If you are unsure how to style it, look no further…

Mimic the angles

If your industrial console table sits alongside the staircases you can mimic the angles and rise of the stairs with the accessories you place on it.

For example, at the end of the console table at the lower end of the staircase, cluster smaller items rising, as the staircase does, to a taller object at the opposing end. A tall table lamp (but not taller than the staircase rise) would work well on an industrial hallway console table.

Frame artwork

Imagine the delight of a narrow console table against an expanse of wall on which hangs the most adorable piece of artwork.

It may be framed – or not, in the case of many canvas prints – but framing it with accessories on the hallway console table allows it to stand out. Statuesque table lamps would rise to the challenge again. Try to keep the same colour between the frame and the table lamps for cohesion and drama.

Multi-purpose

Could the hallway console table be the occasional home office desk you need? Not every home needs a permanent office taking up valuable space and the versatility of the slim console table with drawers is too good an opportunity to pass up if you need occasional office space.

Exaggerate proportions/style/colour

The narrow console table doesn’t have to be anonymous not blend into the background. In fact, for too long, we think the hallway table has been pushed aside. No one lingered for long in the hallway but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be stylish.

And so, if you do nothing else, exaggerate at least one thing about the console table, whether that is colour, its size or detailing or style.

The industrial style doesn’t have to be muted and so the reflective polish of the Luxe Kensington hallway console table, surely the most exquisite exampled of reclaimed wood furniture meeting, is one exaggeration we feel is allowed.

Choose a colour contrast

Contrast is a tool you can use to help something stand out and so, if you opt for the Maddox console table, you can accent its simplicity by painting the wall behind the piece a contrasting colour – a brilliant way to showcase industrial furniture.

A deep ochre orange would work well with the reclaimed wood top, bringing the blackness of the steel legs into play like never before… or maybe a deep red… or a sage green…

Layer it

Take a peek at our consoles tables and you will see we layer items on them. That means we cluster them on the top, a mix of different heights and shaped accessories at either end, leaving a gap in the middle for framing.

And on the lower shelves of this reclaimed furniture, we cluster similar things together with no one thing being bigger, taller or bolder than another.

With so many console table to choose from, which one will you choose?

Tips to make the most of a small kitchen

If you are blessed with a small kitchen, we have ideas you will love for making the most of it. Read on to see some tips and tricks you may not have considered.

1 Go big when it comes to the wow factor

So your kitchen is Bijou? That doesn’t mean it can’t have the wow factor. By allowing your kitchen one huge wow you are making a style statement unlike any other. So yes, those brass tiles are worth the money as is the statement pendant light.

2 Add a multi-functional breakfast bar table

A bar table and stools is the ideal addition to the smaller kitchen. Not only is it great for meals but the perfect standing height means that with a chunky chopping board to protect its surface, it becomes another bit of worktop space for when you cook.

3 Open shelving

It is a trick that many cooks already know and even though you may favour the streamlined, cupboard look give this a chance. The open shelving system means that you have detail in the function items that every kitchen needs. From clustering together glass jars of lentils and other pulses to cooking utensils, an open shelving unit could be a practical addition that you need.

4 Moveable furniture

Most people tend to think of kitchens as fitted with furniture thus everything has its place. But sometimes, the more fluid the choice of kitchen furniture the better. And that’s why many designers advocate a mix of fitted and freestanding furniture in the smaller kitchen. the butchers block, for example, is a small island that can easily move from one area to another, as and when you need it.

5 Add a rug

We can hear the sucking in of breath from the studio – a rug in the kitchen?! Always pushing the boundaries, we think that in some homes and for some people, a rug in the smaller kitchen could be a fantastic addition. It will add both colour and interest but depending on the pattern and colour, it could make the narrower kitchen look wider too.

6 Wall art

Another every-so-slightly controversial addition to the kitchen as most people assume that the steam and the grease will wilt and warp your lovely wall art at the first glimpse of the frying pan. But, you will be amazed at just how robust wall art is, whether it is canvas or framed, in the kitchen.

7 Opt for full-sized furniture

It can be tempting when space is limited to opt for micro-sized furniture, assuming that smaller pieces will give you more space. It has the opposite effect – small furniture makes a room look smaller and the compact kitchen is not immune to this. If you have a small kitchen and dining space, opting for an extendable reclaimed wood dining table with wooden dining chairs will work just as well as opting for smaller, more compact pieces.

8 Lighting

Lighting in a small space is key to it not only being usable but feeling bigger than it is. However, this doesn’t mean only opting for stark bright white lights – change your bulbs for soft glow white LEDs and if your kitchen is particularly dark, a light on the breakfast bar table wouldn’t go amiss either.

How have you styled your small kitchen?

Dining with a bench – the latest trend

Beam Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Bench

We have noticed a shift in attitude to the extending dining table that so much, we can now triumphantly declare the extending reclaimed wood dining table is king of the dining room.

It makes perfect sense – simply add more dining space when you have guests, decreasing its size for when you don’t – as far as reclaimed wood furniture goes, it’s the perfect choice- especially when you’re catering for the man, or for the few..

But an extending dining table is only one part of the equation. The other is seating. No one wants to dine balancing on a stool that means their chin rests on the table or too tall a stool to find their knees rubbing painfully on the underside of your rustic dining table.

The answer is simple – a dining bench (or two).

The solution to all your dining needs

With the end of summer yet to enjoy and the golden colours of autumn to come, encouraging people to think of Christmas seems premature.

But it is the time that most of us are likely to welcome guests into our home for both formal dining events, as well as the traditional festive buffet. The truth is ordering now guarantees your dining table with bench in time for Christmas – by late November you may be very disappointed.

The dining table with bench options…

*The best sellers

It’s no wonder that these are our two most popular kitchen table sets. The industrial charm with more than a hint of rustic makes the Standford Wooden Large Extending Dining Table a popular choice.

Its best selling counterpart, the Newton Dining Table also have the pleasant solidity about it that many customers in love with the industrial dining table style enjoy.

*Scandinavian appeal

If it is refinement you are after with a subtle elegance and style then look no further than the Scandinavian inspired Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Dining Table.

As kitchen tables sets go, this surely is the triumph that we have been seeking. A great size, it will sit in any kitchen/diner, performing time and again. And yet, with a few elegant twists and additions, it will become the sophisticated dining table you need for your next Christmas dinner party.

*Beautifully rustic

There is a romantic ideal of imagining and seeing all your friends and family gathered around a large farmhouse-style table, tucking into delicious food. A gabble of noise as they all talk over each other, the occasional bouts of laughter and endless chatter gives any host a warm feeling.

If you hanker after the farmhouse dining table, we have two amazing options;

*The white painted legwork of this extendable trestle dining table makes it perfect for those who seek the farmhouse style to their dining room. Add elegance with upholstered dining chairs alongside the functional dining bench.

*The Elton Farmhouse Dining Table is very similar, offering fantastic dining space and great for the kitchen/diner too. The ding bench stores neatly away under the table and so if you don’t need the full extent of the table, you can push it against the wall.

The dining bench is multi-functional. Drape with throws and cushions to soften the seat, squeeze guests along its length to enjoy an impromptu get together and you’ll find your family will love it too.

How to style industrial oval dining tables

How to style a luxurious orange sofa

Whether it’s an autumnal orange or a summery, vibrant shade, there is something alluring about an orange sofa. It’s deep golden tones instantly warm and room but without bringing an ‘high-viz’ feel to the space.

The good news, it doesn’t need overly-complicated styling and neither does investing in an orange sofa mean that certain styles and looks are immediately excluded. There is more versatility in the golden shade than you could ever imagine.

Customised sofa

We like to give you as many choices as possible which is why these orange sofas are customisable;

• The wadding – some sofas come with a choice of filling or padding. Choose the one that suits how you will use the sofa.

• Size – most of our sofas are available in two, three or four seater options.

• Fabric – choose from orange fabric or opt for the deep golden hues of orange aniline leather.

Style it out

The Grayson orange sofa is a dream and easier to style with these hints and tips;

• Soften the golden hue just a touch with the Scandinavian styled living room. using lighter woods, like oak, is perfect.

• The white-topped nest of tables, for example, with natural wood legs make an ideal partner to the orange sofa.

• The oak ladder shelving continues the Scandinavian feel and adds a sense of something different alongside the delightful golden tones of the sofa too.

• Use a paler floor rug, such as a pale black rug with faded design to be the platform on which it all sits.

Industrial chic with orange leather

Orange leather sofas are set to be the next big thing when it comes to bold moves in the home. In fact, orange could be the surprise colour of seasons to come.

If there is one style that it works well with, it is the industrial style.

And we have just the collection – the smooth, sophisticated and delicious clean lines of the Bristol Leather and Harris Tweed sofa, a sublime fusion of when fabric and leather meet, giving you the best of both worlds.

Maintain its sheer beauty with unfussy accessories, such as this elegantly simple reclaimed wood industrial side table with a pretty table lamp to ‘square’ the sofa.

Frame it, as e say, by choosing a multi-pattern rug for the floor. Placement is key, so have the two front legs of the sofa just on the rug.

Add your own touch with the Barclay sideboard, beautiful and detailed, but without the fuss, something that the industrial look expects.

Keep the walls a neutral shade, with light window treatment and don’t forget accessories such as artwork and a floor lamp to bring the scheme to life.

The rustic industrial appeal

The Fairfield Chester sofa fits with many design schemes but we think the more rustic the surrounding furniture, the better this sofa will radiate.

Introduce hints of the industrial with the patchwork grey floor rug, ideal for bringing out the golden orange tones of this upholstered sofa.

Carrying on this theme, the Luxe Kensington range is the ideal collection alongside the Fairfield sofa. The reclaimed wood coffee table complete with black metal legs is the ideal piece for framing the sofa in situ – not too large and not too small, it is also the ideal low-level table for coffee and cocktails!

The reclaimed wood side table makes for an understated addition as there will be others. Choose industrially styled mirrors flanked with abstract artwork – choose either unframed canvas prints or black framed prints for cohesion.

Is an orange sofa an addition you would consider?