kitchen Archives - Page 4 of 12

How to choose a large dining table for your family

Large wood dining table with food and arms

A dining table is most likely the place where you and yours all sit down together at the end of a busy day, a place where you enjoy your dinner and talk over the day’s events. It’s always a good idea to have a big dining table so you have plenty of space to put dishes on the table and plenty of room to spread out and dine comfortably. But what if you have a large, or growing, family? Here we look at some large super stylish rustic and reclaimed wood dining tables, which can be paired with other reclaimed wood furniture, as well as with a more contemporary interior.

Size matters

How many people normally sit around your dining table? Do you have guests often? Does your dining table double up as an occasional workspace? Do the kids use it to do their homework? Do you need a bit of space to fit a highchair around it? If you have the space for a large table then all is good and you can get a lovely large homely rustic dining table with plenty of chairs to fit around it. If your dining space does not allow it then an extendable dining table might be just what you need.

The Portobello oak extendable wood dining table is a great choice. A gorgeous light solid oak dining table, in a minimalist Scandi style which can be combined with a dining bench, perfect for the little ones to squeeze up when you need a bit of extra space! Another rustic option would be the Farringdon dining table, it extends from the centre of the table with a cleverly hidden mechanism to ensure little fingers won’t get caught.

Reclaimed dining table

A reclaimed wood dining table is a clever option, the nature of the wood used means it has beautiful natural texture and undulations in the wood so small “everyday use” marks, chips and dents easily blend in. A reclaimed wood table is a homely and warm place to sit around and will make a stunning centrepiece in your kitchen or dining room.

The Standford extendable wood dining table is crafted from reclaimed wood often over 100 years old, with old nail marks adding interest and plenty of character, it easily extends to become a six-seater dining table. The Dorset is another super stylish extendable trestle table, for which there is the option to add a combination of benches and / or chairs.

Spider leg table

A spider leg table just makes so much sense when you need to add extra diners as there are no table legs to compete for space with! You can position your chairs anywhere you like, move them up a bit when you have guests and spread out when you have none.

The stunning Sussex oak oval dining table has a spider leg, is 2.5 metres long, it combines style and industrial elegance with a classic parquet top. It will also give the impression of taking up less room because of the rounded corners – meaning an oval table is a good choice if you still want a large table in a smaller or narrow room. Another bonus is the little ones not banging knees into table legs, so hopefully no kicking under the table!

Ways to get your kitchen ready for summer

reclaimed wood dining table and green velvet dining chairs

This summer we may all be spending a little more time at home, so we thought we could see how we can bring the garden into the kitchen and make it a more summery place to be.

On the continent, outdoor summer kitchens are a popular addition to many homes, perfect for living and entertaining outside in the warmer months. Here we look at how we can turn our indoor kitchen into a bright and summery place to enjoy.

Open your kitchen to the garden

If you are lucky enough to have large patio doors that look out to your garden, arrange your kitchen furniture to make the most of the view. Beautiful reclaimed wood kitchen furniture will bring an additional natural element into your kitchen. To give some continuity between the spaces, place some tall indoor plants in floor pots at the edge of the doors. If you can, position your barbecue near the entrance to your kitchen so you are not running back and forth on alfresco cooking nights.

Brighten your kitchen

Light, sunny and airy – use light linen in your kitchen and add an accent colour. Blue, green, yellow or red are wonderfully bright and summery colours which mimic the sea, grass, the sun and flowers. You can bring in these colours using relatively inexpensive items such as cushions, table napkins, plant pots, vases and candlesticks, with these you can easily produce a bright and summery display on a homely rustic wooden dining table. If your kitchen has a dark corner you can add a reclaimed wood sideboard with a table lamp, or fairy lights, on it and a wall mirror to reflect light around the room.

Add some Indoor plants

An indoor herb garden is a great place to start and it doesn’t take up much room, you can just choose your five favourite herbs to get started. You don’t have to be restricted to just herbs either, tomato or houseplants in terracotta pots on a sunny windowsill will also do the trick. It’s a great way to get a bit of greenery in if you live in a flat or have a small garden. Cut flowers always look fab, go for something seasonal, a vase of bright sunflowers placed on a reclaimed wood dining table really adds a sprinkling of summer to a room!

Get ready for Barbecues

Barbecues are the ultimate in summer entertaining – when we have guests the last thing we want to be doing is prepping and hunting around for barbecue utensils. Set aside some space in the kitchen to keep tongs, slices, glasses, plates and serving dishes……much easier than searching around last minute to find everything you need, when we would all rather be making a start on sundown cocktails! Have a few easy but tasty recipes up your sleeve, include some side dishes that don’t need cooking that you can prepare well in advance. Do any other prep work as early as possible, and have everything ready and waiting for your guests.

Which is for you? A round or rectangular dining table?

dark kitchen with dark round table and pink chairs

We just love a reclaimed wood dining table here at Modish Living. People automatically think of the traditional farmhouse rectangular version, but when should we consider a round one?

Here we look at some reasons for going for the circular option and why it might be the best choice for your kitchen, dining or living space.

First, you need to consider how much space you have for your new round dining table with chairs and how many people will be normally be seated at it – do you have guests often and need the option of extra space? If you only have a couple of diners most days but still like to entertain, then a small round dining table with an extension leaf would be an ideal choice for you. For a guide on how big your table should be, we suggest a 150cm diameter to seat five comfortably, if you have room, then a large round dining table with a diameter of 180cm would comfortably seat eight people.

A rectangular table works well in a rectangular room but a round dining table with no corners gives the impression of taking up less space, the same applies with an oval dining table. A round kitchen table is also the perfect choice as a breakfast table, again giving the impression of taking up less space in one of the busiest rooms in your home. Opt for a minimalist Scandinavian style to really keep that cluttered feeling at bay.

A round dining table would also look great in a small open-plan living space. Consider a round dining table set, this would also solve the dilemma of which type of dining chairs could be styled with the table. The Standford reclaimed wood dining table is featured below. A round table with one pedestal leg allows you to place the chairs where you want as well as preventing diners from annoyingly banging their own legs into the table legs!

One of the best aspects of having a round dining table is that it allows all diners to see each other, to make eye contact as they talk and also reach across more easily….one of the reasons they are so popular at weddings and functions. They are perfect for friends and families who enjoy playing board and card games – all can see the board and easily reach across for counters and cards!

How to tidy up your dining space

industrial kitchen with glass cabinet and sideboard

The dining space is an important part of every home, whether you dine in the kitchen, have your table in the living room or have a separate room, it’s a place where the whole family comes together to chat about their day and enjoy a hearty meal. It’s also a place where we are most likely to entertain guests which makes this space the heart of every home.

For these reasons, storage is vitally important. Here we have a look at different reclaimed wood cabinets that will provide storage solutions whether you like clear and clutter-free, if you like a few select items on display or if you prefer the homely feel of having your prized possessions in full view.

Is a sideboard for you?

A low-level sideboard is the most popular choice, there will be a style and size on the market to suit your needs perfectly. We love a reclaimed wood sideboard with doors and drawers to keep table linen, cutlery and serving dishes in.

A great place to start is to work out what you need to store in it and how much room you have to place one, of course allowing plenty of room to walk past it and to pull your dining chairs out. You can dress the top of a solid wood sideboard with candles, houseplants and ornaments, add a picture above it, or a mirror if you want to brighten the space. This will also provide an extra surface to place serving dishes and save your dining table becoming cluttered up when you have a houseful.

Would you prefer a display cabinet?

This is another popular choice for a dining space, in this, you can display your finest wine glasses, decanters and other dining room essentials, whilst keeping them all dust-free and ready to use. The Standford reclaimed wood display cabinet is a firm favourite of ours. Handcrafted from reclaimed wood with nail marks still visible and the natural beauty of the wood left to shine through the finish, it looks amazing in a traditional as well as a modern room.

Is a drinks cabinet the most useful option?

Drinks cabinets are becoming increasingly popular. A must-have for any amateur bartenders. Fill it with your favourite tipples, cocktail glasses, a shaker and a mixing spoon and you have everything to hand to entertain your guests without trips back and forth to the kitchen. An oak drinks cabinet will last you a lifetime making it a great investment if you enjoy stylish entertainment.

Where To Spend & Where To Save with Home Staging

Home staging is an American concept that they have long used to sell properties. In a nutshell, it is about showing your home in its best light, suggesting the lifestyle the buyer could have if they bought your property. It sounds a good idea and simple enough, but spending too much and spending it on the areas can prove a costly mistake. So, what should you be doing to get the best possible price when you sell your home?

1 The kitchen

For many buyers, this is the room that can make or break a house viewing. A kitchen that looks dated and tired is not visually appealing.

The solution is not always to rip out and replace the kitchen, however. Replacing worktops, painting cupboards doors or replacing them, updating the tap and generally decluttering so the work surfaces are clear can make it look far more attractive than it currently is, without too much of an investment.

2 The dining room

Another important area. The dining room lost its popularity for a while with homeowners preferring the more socialable kitchen/diner set-up. However, in recent years its seen a bit of a come back and whilst a tired or dated dining room is not as off-putting as a dated kitchen, there are still some tricks to making it more appealing.

Declutter by getting rid of furniture if needed or putting it in storage so that buyers can see the dimensions of the room. Reclaimed wood furniture is very beautiful but furniture around every edge of the room closes it down.

With your reclaimed wood dining table, add a stunning centrepiece such as a floral display (great for colour and scent too!) and arrange the dining chairs so that the room’s accent is on the important bit – the dining table and the space the room offers.

3 The living room

Like the dining room, you need to place an accent on the dimensions of the space and what potential buyers could do with it if it were their own.

Thin out bookcases and the like so that the range of furniture in the room, from the wooden coffee table to the beautiful sideboard and display units, shine through.

When buyers can feel the space in the room by seeing the edges and the furniture that is in there, it will have the feeling of space and style that they are looking for.

4 The bedroom

Clever home staging is about drawing the buyer’s eye to the points you want them to notice.

Bedroom furniture that has the same style is key as it creates symmetry in the room, but you also want to balance it by clever placement. The large chest of drawers, for example, shouldn’t dominate the room as the reclaimed wood bedframe should draw the eye first – make sure you have the best bed linen for viewing day!

A rug can help draw the eye around the room and with key items such as a wooden blanket box helping to ‘hideaway’ blankets and spare linen, the room will have the feeling of organised space that people want.

5 The spare bedroom

And finally, don’t underplay the spare room by leaving it looking sparse. Make sure that buyers understand this space too. For example, a single bed with sideboard and a wardrobe and a small chest of drawers showcases the room perfectly.

With hallway rugs adding pops of colour and texture, the smallest and cheapest home staging tweaks will make a difference.

The Latest Lighting Trends Lighting up our World

Cluster of bare bulbs hanging from ceiling

Lighting in the home is both a practical element as well as a tool for creating ambience to a space. From the hallway and the living room to the bedroom and beyond, choosing stylish lighting will be top of your list. But what are the current trends? From glass table lamps to natural materials, we take you through the top trends for 2020.

Natural materials are still hot

Last season, we saw the re-emergence of natural materials such as bamboo and wicker. Although many still think of these materials as a throwback to the 70s and only for outdoor furniture, they have proved their worth in terms of stylish pendant lights in recent times. In the coming year, with the emphasis remaining on making better decisions in terms of materials and their impact on the environment, bamboo and wicker will remain stylish options.

Recycled and reclaimed materials

Recycled and reclaimed materials will also remain top of the list when it comes to stylish lighting solutions in the home. Think recycled glass table lamps or wood chip pendant ceiling lights to complement your reclaimed wood furniture.

More refined industrial lighting

The industrial style is never far from the headlines, but as with all interior themes, there are always slight tweaks and changes to bring it up to date. This is true of the industrial style lighting coming our way this season. With a more refined edge, industrial pendant lighting still has its place in the kitchen and dining area. Opt for dining room lighting with a slightly retro feel about it.

Edison style bulbs

If you want to give your lighting a lift but without changing the fitting, you’ll be pleased to know there is a solution and it comes in the shape of Edison-style light bulbs. Mimicking the original light bulb, which was big, round and had a large filament on show, these bulbs make a great addition for kitchen pendant lighting as well as pendant ceiling lights in the hallway and table lamps too.

Mid-century modern lighting

The mid-century style is set to make a comeback in terms of lighting styles. However, this doesn’t mean hunting for a decadent chandelier. Instead, you are looking for pendant lighting that has glamour and the wow factors. Opt for pendant lighting that uses plenty of glass with a minimal fitting. Also, consider those pendant light fittings that are plentiful. In other words, clustered pendant lighting will work in any room.

Smart technology

If you haven’t joined the smart home technology revolution, then now is the time. There is some suggestion that smart lighting can save you money as you can switch off lights in the kitchen, hallway, bedrooms without leaving the comfort of the sofa ….

Better still, you don’t have to ditch your current light fittings. Simply get yourself hooked up with special bulbs and plugs, and your Google or Alexa home bug will guide you through the setup process.

Go with your own style

When all is said and done, lighting trends are only as current and popular if people like them and opt for them in their home. Make a statement – your statement – with lighting solutions that you love.

A Modern Easter Dining Table

White hyacinth and card with handwritten Happy Easter

Christmas is a distant memory, but for many of us, it will have been the last time we had a proper celebration. Rectify this by planning an Easter feast and other delights over the long weekend! But this means you’ll need to create a stunning centrepiece – and menu! – to serve around your rustic dining table. We’ve got some great ideas!

1 Embrace the rustic woodland look

Nature so often has the answers and this is true any time of the year, but certainly at Easter. Spring is the season where everything comes back to life after winter and so use this as part of your Easter dining table decoration.

Collect the fallen twigs and when you lightly prune the branches of your trees and shrubs, keep some of them to make a beautiful and rustic display for your rustic dining table. Add small egg-shaped Easter decorations along with synthetic moss to give it an extra colour and texture.

2 Add white accents

We are used to Easter being about pastel shades as well as brighter hues, but if you feel you want a more neutral and minimal style to the table, using white accents will do just that.

From white serving wear to white accessories, such as a white tablecloth, you really can create a truly simplistic and classy looking dining table.

3 Invest in an extendable dining table

Family gatherings are fantastic, but not if someone is perched at the dining table on a wonky stool or your guests don’t have elbow room to enjoy the delicious meal you are serving.

So why let this carry on? Invest in a new table, adding your own Easter touches before your guests arrive. Extendable tables work well in any home – you’ll have the smaller size table for everyday, but extra space for occasions such as an Easter feast – as do round dining tables for being inclusive when you have a larger party to entertain.

As for seating, the best and most versatile dining seating must surely be the dining bench. Opt for a simple wooden dining bench that can double as a handy seat in the hallway or a plush upholstered dining bench, perfect for the industrial dining table.

If the dining bench isn’t doing it for you, then there is no denying just how comfortable fabric dining chairs are. Your guests will linger for hours… exactly what you want!

4 Use spring flowers

Spring is the time that the garden comes alive, but even if yours doesn’t have an abundance of flowers yet, you’ll find a larger selection of blooms at your local florist.

And there is nothing more welcoming to the eye, especially at Easter, than beautiful flowers as a centrepiece for the dining table. Or if you want to be bang on trend, create a display using dried flower options. Dried grasses and wild flowers have made a comeback with interior trendsetters swapping fresh bunches for dried bouquets.

But don’t just limit them to the dining room. Cluster flowers in vases on side tables next to your armchairs or sofa. They also make a wonderful addition to the console table in the hallway too.

Take Another Look at the Industrial Dining Table

Industrial dining table with matching wooden bench

The industrial style is a décor scheme that shows no sign of falling out of favour any time soon. But for many people, the belief that the industrial style is only about exposed brickwork and dark metal, which is not always true. When it comes to the industrial dining table, for example, they assume that there is a choice of one style and one only. But take another look as you’ll see that there are many choices to inspire the industrial dining room.

The classic industrial

Firstly, topping the list of our best-selling industrial dining tables is the classic industrial look.

This is the look that many people associate with the style – that is, the classic black steel leg frame with rustic reclaimed wood furniture top. It is a classic combination and one that epitomises the industrial style which is why the marriage of reclaimed wood and steel is still favoured by interior designers and style hunters looking for the archetypal industrial dining table.

Maintain simplicity around it too, so that the underlying principles of this style can shine. Opt for leather upholstered dining chairs, another classic staple that sits easily alongside all manner of industrial furniture. Choose chairs that have a classic simplicity about them to produce the streamlined clean look associated with this style.

The glamorous industrial look

The original industrial look was born from loft living in old, industrial buildings that have a long heritage in the industrial world. And so it’s no surprise that the raw materials left behind from this bygone time were – and still are – embraced.

That doesn’t mean that the industrial look, and industrial furniture itself, can’t enjoy an injection of glamour every now and then.

The glammed up industrial look has become popular in recent seasons with homeowners looking to add their own spin on this beautiful style. And so switching up the metal finish from black steel to polished chrome or gold-coloured metal is the perfect solution.

The combination of high shine metal finishes with a rustic reclaimed wood tabletop is sublime and gives a more polished and grown-up spin to the industrial look.

Match upholstered dining chairs with the same high shine finish as its industrial dining table counterpart or fabric chairs with studded detailing for a glam-rock vibe and you have a dining table and chairs combination good enough for the dance floor.

Industrial spider leg detailing

And finally, another notable change that is popular with our customers is extra detailing in the shape of spider leg industrial dining tables.

Sometimes it is the updating of the smallest of details that has the biggest impact. When you want something different but don’t want to leave the principles of the design scheme behind, then the spider leg table will be top of the list.

It is super practical too – you have more leg space beneath the small dining table, for example, as well as it adding extra notes of interest without cluttering the space or the eyeline.

Take a fresh look at industrial dining tables to relish the choice

From a round dining table to an imposing industrial dining table that commands attention, the choice of this style of table is much bigger than you may think. Time to take a fresh look, perhaps…?

The Beauty of the Small Dining Table

Small dark wooden table with linen cushions

If you dream of a large welcoming dining room complete with a substantial reclaimed wood dining table taking centre stage against other pieces of reclaimed wood furniture, you are not alone. It’s a fantasy many of us harbour, but the reality is often a lot different. And this means that when it comes to choosing a dining table for a small space, we have to make sure we make a clever choice. That said, the range of options when it comes to small dining tables is not limited. Just how do you make the most of your dining space with the beauty of a small dining table?

1 Opt for a foldaway or extendable table

If you use the dining table occasionally, a foldaway table gives the best of both worlds – you have a dining table when you need it but plenty of floor space when you don’t. A round extending table could offer the same benefit in that you have a smaller table for most days, but more dining space when you need it.

2 Go bright

The temptation to maximise the feeling of space is to go with white walls and reflective surfaces but, some designers are of the opinion that if the space is small, you should embrace it. Bright colours with a hint of pastel shades are right on trend at the moment. As well as pastel shades for the wall, opt for jewelled coloured upholstered dining chairs for your small round dining table or add coloured table covers to brighten up and make a feature of your reclaimed wood dining table.

3 Opt for a bar table

For homes where space in the kitchen really is very limited, opting for a dining table, especially if it’s just for the two of you, could swallow up space you can ill-afford to lose. There is another option and it comes in the shape of a bar table.

There are many stylish bar tables and so you are sure to find something that fits with your style whether that is the industrial style or the farmhouse look. Add some comfy bar stools and you will be happy to while away an evening supper, linger over a long lunch or catch-up with friends over a quick morning coffee.

4 Opt for streamlined dining benches

You don’t just have to think about the dining table but the chairs too. When you have little space to play with, no matter how small or bijou your chosen industrial dining table or round dining table is, with dining chairs added it can all feel too much and too cluttered.

Stools can make for a handy seating solution at a dining table when space is limited. That said, they aren’t suitable for everybody, but as an occasional seating solution, they are perfect.

The solution may lie in a streamline dining bench. No clutter and no fuss, when not in use, simply pop under the table or push up against the wall.

5 Think outside the box

If you have plentiful space in the hallway or corridor, for example, but limited space in the corner of your kitchen diner, who says that you can’t think outside the box and utilise this space as your dining space?

With the right accessories and choice of dining table, it may be more comfortable all round to move the table into an area where there is more space for the table and for diners. Maybe not the bedroom (or bathroom!), but a living room, walkway or long hallway could be ideal. Give it try!