kitchen Archives - Page 11 of 12

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?

Make the most of a one wall kitchen layout

Single wall kitchen layout with white kitchen furniture

A one wall kitchen layout is great if you are looking to save space or if you want to create a kitchen diner in a small or narrow space. Not only this, they are practical and cheap to install. Here a few of our ideas to make the most of this kitchen style.

With a one wall kitchen layout, it is a great idea to separate your room out with flooring or a rug, to create some separation between your cooking and eating areas, and also to ensure your floor doesn’t look too blocky. Depending on the shape of your room, you may be able to use different flooring to create kitchen and dining areas. However if you have a narrow space and the kitchen along one of the longer walls, this is unlikely to work so well. In that case, add a rug underneath a small kitchen table.

Dining tables for a one wall kitchen layout

With dining tables in a smaller kitchen, the trick is not to go for something too large or with a chunky design. Slimmer designs will create the illusion of more space and will suit a smaller or narrower kitchen.

Something like the Worcester Large Reclaimed Wood Extendable Dining Table would be perfect. The farmhouse kitchen table offers a neat, clean design making it perfect for smaller spaces.

One of our oval kitchen tables would be a great option. The Holborn Oak Oval Dining Table is stunning, and is perfect for adding simple elegance to a traditional or an ultra contemporary kitchen.

Instead of one of our rustic kitchen tables, you could also create extra storage space and potentially extra worktop space in your one wall kitchen layout with an island. A reclaimed wooden island will not only section out different areas of your room if this is what you are looking to do, it will keep a smaller kitchen area clutter free and will give you space for bulky items you may not otherwise have a home for.

Storage space for a one wall kitchen layout

If you don’t want extra worktop space and are just looking for storage, a reclaimed sideboard would make a perfect accompaniment to your kitchen furniture.

The sleek design of the Eastwood Rustic Oak Large Sideboard would be great in a sleek, contemporary one wall kitchen layout with its clean lines and minimalist look. Behind each cupboard is a shelf so there is plenty of storage for dinnerware, or even for putting baskets with store cupboard ingredients or vegetables and potatoes.

If you love to entertain, a one wall kitchen layout is great for creating an easier space to move around. You could even create a bar area with a space for serving and making drinks for all your guests, or even just for use as a breakfast bar. Pair with a couple of oak bar stools to complete the look. Not only is this perfect for entertaining, a bar area tends to take up less space than a dining table.

The Raw Light Oak Tall Stools are perfect for this. The Scandinavian kitchen stools perfectly blend timeless design and the beauty of natural wood for a look which will look great in any room.

For more inspiration, or to find the perfect kitchen furniture for your space, take a look at the Modish Living website or get in touch with one of our team members.

How to make your home smell fresh

There is something about a good smelling home; whether it be the smell of your family’s favourite food cooking, a wonderful new candle or just the smell of home. Here are a few of our favourite ideas to create an uplifting and homely smell throughout your home and incorporate some cool dining accessories.

Candles are always an easy option for making your home smell amazing and they give you the freedom to change the scent of a room depending on your mood or the time of the year.

When it comes to scents, you may wish to tailor the candle to the room. For example, floral smells like eucalyptus and jasmine or foody scents like basil, lemon or rhubarb would be fantastically in your kitchen whereas a warmer or a subtle, coastal scent would be perfect for your living room, dining room or bedroom. Candles are also great left un-lit in places like linen cupboards so you get a lovely smell when you open the door or get out new bedding.

If you prefer to use tea lights so you can switch up the smell of your room more often, the Bella Ball Tea Light Holders are great. The clear curved glass holders with curved stainless steel framing offer simple, contemporary style which would look great in any room or on a rustic coffee table. Place three together on a solid oak sideboard or above your fireplace or spread around your room.

Alternatively, the Contemporary Anthracite Lanterns make a fantastic statement decor piece in your living room, crafted out of aluminium. Place a tall pillar candle in the centre, or on an oak display unit to create a warming glow and a wonderful smell.

Also in your kitchen, make the most of fruits. Keep fresh fruits like oranges, limes and lemons in fruit bowls which are not enclosed. Not only will they smell lovely and fresh, but they also look great and add a bit of colour!

The unique design of the Encore Stainless Steel Basket Bowl is perfect for any kitchen. With its elegant curve and contemporary caged style, the colour of fresh fruits will pop right through and look great in the centre of your kitchen sideboard, table or on a worktop.

For a slightly different alternative to fruit, you could always add oranges and cinnamon to a bowl of water which will create a lovely warming smell. Or you could add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil, like mint, lavender or vanilla and put these in a bowl.

The Pearl Wrap Bowls are a statement in themselves but are perfect for placing your pinecones. With their beautiful curved design and inside coated with pearl coloured enamel, their Scandinavian inspired design will work beautifully in any room for a touch of glamour.

Use the largest in the set of three in your living room, or in an open plan house, somewhere where it will reach the largest amount of space. You could place one of the smaller ones in your hallway, on a small console table, so you get a lovely smell when you walk through the door.

The Four Corner Bowls are another great option. The tops of the bowls are elegantly curved and have a dark interior for a little drama.

There are also plenty of other ways to keep your house smelling amazingly fresh day-to-day.

When it comes to cleaning, citrus-scented products are great for creating an uplifting smell. Products for cleaning your worktop or your floors will leave a lovely smell once you’ve finished cleaning. You can also clean your bins with citrus to keep it smelling fresh and hide any food smells you don’t want to hang around!

In your kitchen, growing herbs is a great option. Herbs like basil and mint have a wonderful scent, and you can use them in your cooking too! Alternatively, fresh flowers always add a welcoming feel, look beautiful and can smell amazing. A bunch of flowers in the hallway on a reclaimed wood console table; or bedroom, on a bedroom chest of drawers, is always a lovely touch.

For more inspiration, have a look at the full collection of home decor at Modish Living, get in touch with one of our team members for any enquiries.

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…

Make a big impression with a big clock

Summer is the perfect time for a little decor overhaul with a statement such as a big clock. An oversized clock is great for creating a sophisticated feature on your walls and is handy for timekeeping too!

Clocks are fantastic in any room, but look especially great in rooms you probably spend a lot of time in, like your living room, kitchen and home office.

In your living room, use your wall clock as a fantastic, classic decor piece, instead of art on one of your walls. In a black and white living room, an extra large black metal wall clock would look fantastic. The industrial style and open design would make a wonderful vintage addition to a stylish, contemporary space.

Alternatively, the strong style of a black metal wall clock would look great in a bright white Scandinavian inspired space with injections of soft pastels.

In a glamorous living room, with a gorgeous brown leather sofa, like one of our classic Oswald 2 seater sofa’s, the large metal and gold wall clock would create an opulent finish. The blend of the slim black metal frame with the golden numerals is fantastic for a stunning injection of industrial style.

Zinc looks great in the kitchen. The elegant style of a large zinc effect wall clock is perfect for placing in any contemporary kitchen, especially if you create a strong contrast against glossy worktops. The simple zinc effect frame is perfect for blending with any colour scheme but with a mix of mid-grey walls and reclaimed wood furniture, it would look simply stunning.

For an old-style home office, go for a vintage-inspired design like a large rustic metal and gold wall clock. The subtle colour of the bronze effect frame and vintage style golden clock hands would make a wonderful addition to a neutral colour scheme. Keep the rest of your furniture and decor simple to make your clock the star of the show.

Kitchen Decor Ideas For Spring

Stanford Cross Leg Reclaimed Wood Extendable Dining Table with Bar Stools

With spring on the doorstep, the promise of warmth after winter and longer daylight hours are the signs we need to throw open the windows and blow the cobwebs of winter away.

The kitchen is the place the family gather, especially over the winter months where food and warmth are the basis of comfort, so having the right kitchen decor is more important than you probably think. Is it time to make a few changes?

Here’s some of our top kitchen decor ideas for Spring (and summer!) to get you started;

Farmhouse Sink

One way to add a practical element to your spring kitchen it to opt for the staple ingredient of every country farmhouse kitchen: the big, deep, ceramic sink, perfect for washing all sizes of pots and pans. Beautifully robust and chunky, it has an aesthetic appeal all its own.

Freestanding Not Fitted

Rather than opting for everything fitted in the kitchen, freestanding furniture is a great way of adding detail. Freestanding kitchen furniture suits almost any style, from the industrial to the farmhouse, country kitchen look.

Choose the style and material of a freestanding piece, like a reclaimed wood dresser to compliment your style.

Panelled Wall

Cheap and easy to fit, panelling one wall with tongue and groove panels is a quick decorative tip for transforming your kitchen into a country house styled room. Paint either a matte white or opt for a pastel or soft colour. Grey works well, as does a very light, pastel shade of pink.

Family Appeal

A kitchen, so they say, is the heart of the home and as such, you want to encourage and welcome family, as well as guests and visitors to feel comfortable – and stay a while.

And that’s why you need to invest in two staples of the farmhouse, country style look:

A large farmhouse table, simple and yet superbly stylish is the key feature. Used as both a dining platform and a worktop, the kitchen table is the central point of the kitchen.
Farmhouse chair complete the look. But if your budget is creaking at the thought of both table and chairs, updating the chairs on their own can be enough to complete the transformation of your spring kitchen.

Not Too Smooth…

And finally, we assume that the best materials are the ones that are smooth and finished, engineered to be striking and stylish. But, the stories that weathered wood can tell are amazing in any space but certainly the kitchen.

When choosing items for your kitchen, leave the modern, cut-and-dried style behind. Choose furniture and accessories that complement the space, but are not necessarily too neat. Weathered or distressed wood is a great addition, but so are scales, for example, that have been well used, or jugs for flowers that have a slightly faded pattern or the odd chip on the rim.

Your kitchen must be both practical and clean, but you also want it to be light and airy, with more than a dash of style.

And why not? Welcome spring into your kitchen with a contemporary farmhouse style.

Check our inspiration page regularly for more home and kitchen decor ideas!

Industrial Style Kitchen Island Ideas

How to add an island to your kitchen - Modish Living

Islands look fantastic in any kitchen. Not only will they make your kitchen a more sociable space, perfect for entertaining, they will add extra storage and workspace for the family chef. There are plenty of kitchen island ideas out there, but it’s imperative to remember the importance of positioning of your kitchen island.

First of all, think about the measurements of your space. Make sure that there is enough clearance space around the entire island to ensure free and safe movement around your kitchen. Also make sure there is enough space to fully open doors, drawers, ovens and dishwashers safely.

Then think about the size of your kitchen island. Size is likely to depend on how you want to use your island, for example you may need a bigger space to house an oven than a sink. Alternatively, you may wish to simply use your kitchen island as a space for entertaining guests with a couple of stools placed around, or as a breakfast bar.

When drawing up kitchen island ideas you could also consider the option of a kitchen peninsula (meaning ‘almost an island’) rather than a full island. Peninsulas are a practical option for small kitchen spaces because they take up much less kitchen floor space by being fixed to a wall.

Alternatively, for a more creative take on a kitchen island, a sideboard works wonders. They are also a great option if you have a smaller space and you are worried about an integral island looking too big for your space. You could even push one end of your sideboard against the wall to create a unique peninsula that adds far more character than an extension of your kitchen worktops.

In a reclaimed wood kitchen, the Beam Small Reclaimed Wood Sideboard would look stunning. Handmade with two central solid wooden doors and handcrafted drawers, this sideboard cabinet is exceptionally produced. Custom made with solid reclaimed wood, the chunky legs complement the overall construction of the lovingly crafted piece of furniture.

The Eastwood Medium Rustic Oak Sideboard would make a stunning centrepiece in a contemporary kitchen design. The sideboard is a perfect blend of rustic and contemporary style with a combination of rustic oak, contemporary shape and sleek metal finishes.

In a rustic kitchen, an injection of white with your sideboard is fantastic. The Medium Dorset Reclaimed Wood Sideboard is the perfect sideboard for any space. The simple design and distressed base is finished with antique brass handles for a shabby chic look with plenty of character. Pair with other reclaimed pieces for a modern take on rustic style.

To find the perfect sideboard for your kitchen or gather other kitchen island ideas, take a look at the selection available at Modish Living, or get in touch with one of our team members for any enquiries.

5 creative ways to use a sideboard in your home

Hudson Living Chilson Oak Sideboard for Living Room or Dining Room

Wooden sideboards are a wonderful addition to almost any room in your home. Traditionally, sideboards are seen in dining rooms but there are so many different ways you can use a sideboard in your home decor.

What are sideboards used for?

In the Kitchen: kitchen sideboard decor

A reclaimed wood sideboard offers understated and classic style at its best. Perfect for almost any interior scheme, a reclaimed wood sideboard will provide a practical storage solution and give a charming finish to any room with the natural markings and unique character. If you are looking for something a little more creative, a white reclaimed wood sideboard such as our Large Dorset Reclaimed Wood Sideboard could be used as a kitchen island to bring the rustic vibe with a contemporary twist this spring. For more kitchen sideboard ideas read pro interior stylist, Kate Hill’s sideboard ideas.

Sideboard decor in the Home Office

A sideboard with drawers can be very practical in the office area, as it can help declutter your working space. This creates a better space to think and motivates productivity. An industrial style sideboard with dark grey metal handles and frames is fantastic for office space for creating a stylish, streamlined finish. The addition of three double drawers is fantastic for providing plenty of extra storage for stationary, folders and filing away paperwork.

In the Dining Room

If you are looking to use your sideboard in a dining room, we suggest choosing a style with room for a wine rack which can store your favourite drinks close to the dining table. This also cuts out storage space needed for wine bottles in your kitchen and creates a cleaner finish. An oak sideboard also fits well into a dining room decor as its paler finish blends seamlessly with other dining room furniture and colour schemes. The Rocco Industrial Rustic Oak Sideboard is a nod to modern Scandi or Nordic styles and provides the perfect stage to display your paired-back accessories.

Living room sideboard decor

In your living room, a sideboard is a great place for proudly displaying your collections or trinkets. But they can also provide storage space for family games, films, or even special glassware you don’t want to keep in your kitchen cupboards. When it comes to a sideboard for living room ideas, the modern shape and eye-catching brass inlays of the Farnham Sustainable Mango Wood Sideboard will add an instant a touch of glamour to any room and will be adored for its stylish, contemporary look.

Sideboard in bedroom

Finally, a sideboard can even be a fantastic addition in the bedroom, especially as kids’ bedroom storage. They are often a more compact solution than a chest of drawers and provide space for storing toys, books and games. The Chelwood Nordic Reclaimed Wood Small Sideboard is a wonderful option with its mixture of cupboard and drawer storage and smaller size, perfect for your little one’s bedroom.

To find the perfect one for your home, take a look at our collection of sideboards, or get in touch with one of our team members.

Welcome Spring in Your Farmhouse Style: All You Need to Know

reclaimed wood dining table with white legs in farmhouse dining room with white kitchen dresser

The farmhouse style is an elegant and classic one, meaning that this type of interior is coveted by many. With a few farmhouse decors, it is a style that you can use throughout the home. Here, we outline what Farmhouse Style encompasses, and how to bring it into your space this Spring.

1. Open Shelving

In the kitchen especially, having items on display was essential in the busy farmhouse kitchen. Open shelving is the perfect solution. Choose similar storage jars but remember the farmhouse look is not about having everything the same. Therefore, mix different styles and sizes, but keep key elements the same such as glass storage jars and so on.

2. Reclaimed Wood Furniture

The farmhouse style relies heavily on wood as the main material for furniture. It was cheap and plentiful, unlike other materials. This is why large reclaimed wood furniture is perfect for the farmhouse style. Use a reclaimed wood trunk as a toy box-cum-coffee table or opt for the shelf ladder bookcase as the perfect addition to the lounge and living area. Use it for books and other sculptures that fit with the farmhouse theme.

3. A Farmhouse Kitchen

Farmhouse kitchens are not necessarily fully fitted with fitted cupboards. Part or all of the kitchen would be freestanding furniture like a reclaimed wood kitchen dresser. The dressers were part and parcel of the home but for most farmhouse kitchens, the best dinner service was usually white with pretty detailing around the edges of plates and serving platters. They would be stored on the open shelving of the dresser during the week, and used weekly for the large Sunday roast.

As well as shaker style cabinets – wooden fronts with same coloured wooden handles – a deep Belfast sink, with old-style miser taps is the perfect means of setting the farmhouse kitchen style.

4. The Dining Room

The dining room would often be a formal room in a farmhouse. Again, it would only be used on special occasions or on Sunday for a large family dinner. More often than not, during the working week, meals would be taken around the table that formed a central isle in the kitchen. The kitchen table itself would be both a work station and a dining table, so the typical farmhouse table would be heavy and robust. Getting the look is easy with a reclaimed wood dining table that is as imposing as it is stylish.

For the dining room, the table would be slightly daintier in its appeal, with more finesse and style.

5. Farmhouse accessories

Once you have your main pieces of farmhouse furniture in situ, you need to accessorise the space with farmhouse decor to add warmth and texture.

There is a range of farm artwork that would work well, adding a touch of the modern without detracting from the main style of the room. Carry on the outdoor/farmhouse theme with animal-themed cushions, along with plaid patterns for throws and cushions.

Farmhouses, for practical reasons, would often have hard floors, thus rugs were an essential component, especially in front of a roaring fire. Use rugs and other textiles in natural fibres to add colour, shape and form to a space.

How will you create a farmhouse style that works in your home?