rustic Archives - Page 13 of 45

Why choose a reclaimed wood dining table?

White dining room with wooden table and white and beige table cloth and tall display of dried palms in corner of room

Sustainability is the very foundation that Modish Living is built on – we believe that you can have beautiful and unique furniture in your home while still being kind to our planet.

What better way to be environmentally conscious than deciding, right now, that the next piece of furniture you choose for your home should be crafted from reclaimed wood? No new trees are being chopped down and wood that would otherwise be burnt or end up in landfill is being skillfully crafted into something beautiful that will be cherished in your home.

Photo featuring: Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Natural wood is the perfect way to add warmth and character to your room. A reclaimed wood dining table can look great with many different home interior styles – cottage Scandi, rustic but also stunning with ultra-modern. Completely versatile, you can use so many different styles of seating with a rustic dining table – wooden dining chairs, faux leather chairs, rattan chairs, upholstered dining chairs, or to be right on trend, you can opt for a dining bench or two. Again, you can purchase all these items produced from reclaimed or eco-friendly materials.

Photo featuring: Kensington Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

If you look forward to the days when we are able to entertain in our homes again then you should opt for an extendable table – there are many different styles available from the Dorset trestle table to which you can add extension leaves when needed to the Standford industrial dining table which features butterfly extension, meaning the extension piece is conveniently stored away inside the table. The Standford reclaimed wood furniture range is produced from wood salvaged from old factories that are being dismantled whereas the gorgeous Kensington is produced from old railway sleepers which are sandblasted and cleaned – so as you can see each piece of furniture has a story to tell, is completely unique and bursting with character.

Another bonus is that because of what it is produced from and how it is produced, reclaimed wood furniture is perfect for a family home – the wood is aged making furniture pieces hardwearing as well as forgiving to everyday wear and tear. Any small accidental dents, scratches or bangs will just blend in and add to the history of your dining table and as they are made from solid wood, anything more serious can often be easily fixed and blended in by a furniture technician.

Caring for reclaimed wood furniture could not be easier – just a thin layer of wax (or oil, depending on the finish) a few times a year or so will keep your furniture looking wonderful for years to come….you will actually find that your table becomes more beautiful as it ages.

Why every home needs a reclaimed wood sideboard

Large sideboard in rustic wood with gold floor lamp and tall green plant on the side

Humble wooden sideboards are fast becoming hugely popular statement pieces of furniture in the home – providing valuable hidden away storage space in the living room, kitchen or dining room – and when it’s crafted out of beautiful reclaimed wood, it becomes so much more than just storage.

The traditional and most obvious place for a sideboard has always been in the dining room. They were used to store the best dinner plates and occasionally used serving dishes – thus freeing up valuable space in the kitchen. Of course, there is no denying that this is still the case, but we as a nation are leaning towards clever storage and clutter-free living spaces and as such, they are being used in different rooms in the home. Sustainability is now also more and more important to us when considering what dining room furniture we want in our homes and this is why reclaimed wood furniture is becoming increasingly popular. You can buy a reclaimed wood dining table or ready styled dining room sets with the option to add on a beautifully coordinating modern sideboard to store away all those dining room essentials.

Photo featuring: Abingdon Reclaimed Wood Sideboard

A reclaimed wood sideboard, even a small one, provides an additional surface in the dining room when dishing up a meal – think back to a Christmas, an Easter or other celebration when you had a table full of guests with loads of serving dishes, drinks and festive decorations piled on the table- how handy would an extra surface area have been then?

Not only that, a sideboard in the dining room also means, you will have placemats, napkins, additional serving spoons, a corkscrew, a bottle opener…the list goes on…all at your fingertips – and you won’t have to do a dash to the kitchen every five minutes!

Photo featuring: Farringdon Medium Reclaimed Wood Sideboard

In between celebratory get-togethers you can use the top of the sideboard to show off some of your prized possessions. Whether that be house plants, some candle holders, a table lamp, family photos or simply a lovely vase with some seasonal cut flowers. With a mirror hanging over the sideboard you can turn this piece of furniture into an eye-catching feature in your dining room.

A large sideboard can accommodate all sorts of things in the living room as well – a music, book or DVD collection, kids toys and books to name just a few things. You can stand a lamp on it to provide mood lighting or your TV if you don’t have space for a rustic TV stand as well as a sideboard to provide hidden storage space. In open-plan living spaces, you try positioning an industrial sideboard in such a way that it will zone the space so you can define living space and dining space.

2024 Trending – Dining space style for the year ahead

Industrial oak dining table with six dark grey dining chairs and matching wooden sideboard

The dining space in our homes has most likely seen much more action throughout 2020 than it has in previous years! With all the family at home it has probably seen many more weekday family meals together, been a home office, a video call meeting room as well as a schoolroom, possibly even a quiet place to escape from the kids for a bit! So what are the trends for the dining space in 2024?

The dining room should reflect its many uses by becoming a more family-friendly and laid back space – more informal and less traditional. You can achieve a more relaxed, informal and spacious feel by opting for a round dining table and chairs instead of a rectangular wooden table.

Ensure the furniture and lighting in the room is multi-functional – plenty of light available if it is a study space that can be toned right down when a more intimate dinner party atmosphere is the order of the day – or should I say evening. When the time comes that we can open our homes to family and friends again you might find an extendable table is a very good move!

Photo featuring: Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Extending Dining Table, Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Bench & Standford Cushioned Dining Chairs

Improve the functionality of your dining space – with one room having so many varied uses, adequate storage space is essential to keep organised – wooden sideboards provide perfect storage for the dining space, ideal for storing serving dishes as well as school and office supplies all tucked neatly out of sight!

Photo featuring: Picasso Industrial Oak Dining Table

Bring natural elements into your dining space. House plants will continue to be a huge hit in 2021 – so try to incorporate them into your dining space. Natural and sustainable is of course even better so if you are thinking of replacing existing dining room furniture then a reclaimed wood dining table is the way to go. Industrial dining tables should also not be overlooked – industrial furniture will be as popular as ever.

Take your dining area into the garden – dining outside, has proven popular, with many of us transforming our gardens into ‘outdoor rooms’. This is likely to stay for the foreseeable future. Now is the time to make plans to create an outside dining area ready for spring and summer. You may be able to open up from your kitchen or dining room or create a separate area in your garden – you will want to consider how you will cook outside, source a nice outdoor rustic dining table and may want to include some form of patio heating as well.

2024 Trending – It’s not too late for Veganuary

Go Vegan box-light sign on pale wood table with plates of vegetables and half a grapefruit

Veganuary stared in 2014 when, after the festive excesses of December, a growing number of people chose to balance it out by opting for a plant-based diet throughout the month of January. Many people are opting to extend this well beyond January by sticking to a vegan diet, but then also opting for sustainable and animal-friendly purchases when it comes to furnishing and decorating their homes. Even though we are pretty much halfway through the month, it’s never too late to give a vegan diet a go.

Here are three ways that you can extend sustainable and cruelty-free practices into your home.

1. Reclaimed wood furniture

This really is the ultimate sustainable way to furnish your home. Purchasing furniture crafted using reclaimed wood is so much better for the environment. The wood used has often been reclaimed from old buildings and factories that are being demolished, re-using this wood in furniture production reduces landfill and saves new trees needlessly being cut down. A reclaimed wood dining table is also a fabulous way to bring a whole load of warmth and character into your home, forming a foundation to achieving a more sustainable lifestyle.

Photo featuring: Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Dining Table & Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Dining Bench

2. Faux leather dining chairs

Leather dining chairs look great and are very practical, especially in a family home, as they can easily be wiped down. Reclaimed wooden dining chairs or chairs produced from vegan leather are the perfect substitutes for fabric dining chairs. Although tan and grey remain the most popular, there are so many different colours and styles available you will be sure to find the perfect dining chair to complement your table and interior style.

Photo featuring: Cleo Faux Leather Dining Chair

3. Vegan paint

Many paints, although labelled eco-friendly, still have animal byproducts in them. In vegan paints, the animal products are replaced by plant-based alternatives they can then certify that they are vegan and cruelty-free – as they are also not tested on any animals. Switching to vegan paints around the home is a animal-friendly alternative leaving your family and friends in a eco environment.

2021 Trending – Why you should consider a dining set

Reclaimed wood trestle dining table with wood bench and wooden dining chairs with blanket of bench

Buying a new dining table and chairs for your dining room can be quite an investment so you will want to make sure that you get it right first time! Here we look at the benefits of choosing from already put together dining room sets as it takes all the guesswork to of how to pair a table with chairs. Dining sets can also work out to be a little more cost effective as sellers may be able to offer reductions on these bundles.

It can be hard to picture what will look good together in your room – if you have your heart set on a particular reclaimed wood dining table it can be tricky to decide what style of chairs would work best with it…. And not just chairs, you may not even of thought about opting for a dining bench with the table.

When looking at dining sets you get a chance to see what different textures and materials look like together, such as wood with metal, metal with glass and wood with soft materials such as velvet chairs or leather dining chairs.

Kensington Reclaimed wood dining set

We have styled our high-end Kensington rustic dining table with stunning button backed velvet dining chairs. Here you get the opportunity to see exactly how the different materials such as the rustic wood, the glass top and the metalwork work with the stylish velvet dining chairs. This gives you a much clearer idea of how it will look in your dining space.

Dining sets featuring the Dorset Reclaimed Wood or Farringdon Reclaimed Wood tables

The Dorset and Farringdon reclaimed wood dining tables are the foundation of several dining room table sets on offer. These rustic dining tables are a very popular choice with our customers. There are options to purchase it with coordinating wooden dining chairs from the ranges or combine with a ‘very on-trend-right-now’ wooden bench. But we have also styled these tables with rattan chairs or upholstered dining chairs such as the Florence or the Brooke – showcasing just how fabulous modern dining chairs can blend with a more rustic table.

Standford Reclaimed Wood dining sets

The versatility of the Standford range ensures it remains as popular as ever. The dining sets on offer combine industrial look fixed top or extendable tables with soft leather chairs, faux leather chairs, wooden dining chairs and benches all harmoniously styled together leaving you to order exactly what you see. All you have to do is look forward to them being delivered to your home.

Have a go at upcycling old furniture!

Room with upcycled palette boxes with large black and white rug

Wouldn’t it be lovely to switch all your old furniture with lovely “new” reclaimed wood furniture! But it would be such a waste to just dump everything to make way for this so here we look at something that is really on-trend right now – upcycling. The possibilities for upcycling are as vast as your imagination. You can start off with one idea but as you get working go somewhere completely different.

Upcycling is a great way to introduce a bit of individuality into your home. You can upcycle your old rustic furniture, scour second-hand shops, car boot sales and internet advertisements to find pieces you want to work with – making it cost-effective as well as sustainable. Keep an eye out for old pallets that can be transformed into an outdoor sofa or into unique furniture for your home, you can make pieces to exact sizes that will fit into a corner or a small space.

Getting started with upcycling

If you have never upcycled anything before then start with a simple, not too large piece, something like a ladder shelf unit (great to hang pot plants on), a small wooden wardrobe or a wood bookcase.

– Invest in some good quality brushes and the right paints for the job, you can get advice on this from your local hardware store – no one wants bits of bristle incorporated into the design.

– Plan what you want to do with the furniture piece you have but keep an open mind.

– Preparation is the key to success – cleaning (and sanding) are vital to a perfect finish.

– Remember to take door and drawer handles off before painting, you might want to replace old ones with something new.

– Add a good layer of varnish or wax at the end to protect and seal all your hard work.

Once you have mastered the basics you can move on to more complex items and decorate with more intricate designs. An old wooden crate can be transformed into a rustic coffee table, an industrial side table or rustic TV stand – and take pride of place in your living room, add a large chest of drawers for storage and you have all the furniture you need in your living room. The beauty is you can do exactly the style, colour and finish you want so it will suit your room perfectly!

Tired old wooden blanket boxes can be given a new lease of life by transforming them into kids storage boxes for the playroom by using fun colours and stencils. Smash up old tiles to create a mosaic on an old tabletop. The internet is full of wonderful ideas and tutorials!

Hello 2024! Happy home New Year Resolutions: Part One

2024 Is finally upon us and 2023 has been and gone – YAY!! So let’s get the year off to the most amazing and positive start. In this blog, and in the next one, we have listed our top 10 New Year’s resolutions for a happy home.

New Year resolutions don’t just have to be about dieting and working out! But also about improving our lifestyle in the space we value, relax and recharge time in – our homes.

Number 1 – Read more

“Many people, myself among them, feel better at the mere sight of a book” – Jane Smiley

Make a point of picking up a book every now and then – aim for a book a month to get started – chances are you will find some real gems which you will not be able to put down! And with all this reading going on you will, of course, need somewhere to keep all these books – give them pride of place in the Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Bookcase. In the right spot, you can create a small reading corner in your home – all you need is some shelving for your books, a small armchair and maybe a small side table for your reading lamp.

Photo featuring: Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Bookcase

Number 2 – Keep the hallway tidy

The hallway is an often forgotten about part of the house – it’s not a place we spend much time in so don’t give much thought about furniture in it. But our second resolution suggests we should at least sort out some practical hallway storage – who likes to walk into a home tripping over abandoned shoes and bags? A narrow console table is perfect to put a handbag down on and you can get one with a shelf below and drawers if you resolve to keep clutter-free. A hallway storage bench is a perfect allrounder – somewhere to sit down while you get your shoes on and off as well as compartments or baskets to hide them away.

Number 3 – Get a better work/life balance

Working from home is a lot more in our lives now – invest in a good home office desk and desk chair to make your working time as productive as possible – it’s so much more comfortable than the kitchen table. Also, if you have a designated workspace then it is much easier to switch off and spend downtime away from work distractions. We love the Standford industrial desk which is crafted from gorgeous reclaimed timbers; it’s a very popular choice with our customers too!

Photo featuring: Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Desk, Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Bookcase, Standford Grey Faux Leather Office Chair

Number 4 – Live a greener life

Start a new greener life in 2021 – if everyone took a few small steps like recycling and reusing, then together we could really make a difference. Little shifts in habits, like a couple of vegetarian meals a week, recycling more, choosing reclaimed wood furniture, cutting down on single-use plastics and composting food waste, could really bring in change.

Photo featuring: Derby Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table

Number 5 – Sit at the dining table for meals

Make time every week to have some family meals sat around the dining table. We love the Derby Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table – a reclaimed wood dining table that gives your kitchen or dining space a hint of Scandi style. With the option of extension leaves, upholstered dining chairs and dining benches it’s a brilliant family option and a must have when entertaining.

For part 2 of our Happy Home Resolutions, see our next blog!

How to see in 2021 at home alone

Family of four sat on a sofa each holding a 2021 number

With limited options for seeing in 2021, many families will no doubt opt to stay at home this New Year’s eve. Here are a few ideas to help make it a bit more of an event!

Make a treat of it

We all deserve extra treats this year so you could plan an evening of complete indulgence! Get some food and drink ideas together with the rest of your household and see what you end up with. It could be a selection of your favourite cocktails for the grown-ups – stock up your cocktail cabinet and get the stirrers and shakers out! For the children, you can get something they don’t normally have – like no alcohol champagne or mocktails!

A fabulous feast!

For food, you may end up deciding on a tasting menu, an 80’s inspired menu, an array of your most favourite snacks or one big feast-like meal. You can set your reclaimed wood table or rustic dining table and decorate it with a New Year 2021 theme earlier in the day, get your food prepared early, so all you have to do in the evening is dish up the food.

Get glammed up

Even though you are staying in you can still get dressed up – why not? Especially if you have online New Years Eve video calls arranged with friends and family. In fact, you could arrange a larger online get together for the entire evening!

Have a movie night

Reclaimed wood furniture gives a room a warm, living, cosy feel so make the most of it and enjoy a quiet night in front of the TV if that suits your family more. Turn the lights down low and pull your favourite velvet armchair up to the fireplace, or snuggle up with the kids on a sumptuously upholstered, cushion scattered, 3 seater sofa, and watch your favourite film. Don’t forget the popcorn!

Sleep through it!

And let’s face it, just because it is New Year’s Eve doesn’t mean we have to go mad and celebrate – you can, of course, ignore it completely and opt to spend a normal evening with your family. Go to bed at a reasonable hour like any other night and be glad that when you wake up in the morning 2020 will be a thing of the past!! There’s nothing more comforting than settling down into a warm king size wooden bed frame, layered with some extra blankets from your wooden blanket box for extra cosiness, setting your nightcap or hot cocoa down on your small bedside table and grabbing some engaging bedtime reading.

How your Christmas tree can live on after the holidays

Close up of the trunk of a Christmas tree

As usual, it seems like only a few days since we decorated our homes ready for Christmas and yet it’s nearly all over.

We have spent lots of time decorating our homes with festive cheer and very soon it’s got to come down and be packed away again. Record numbers of people across the world have opted for real trees this year so what will happen to them all now? Before we begin to start trying to craft them into a reclaimed wood dining table (!!) we have a look at ways they can be disposed of and reused in a sustainable manner.

Garden mulch is a great way to make use of your tree after Christmas – you may be able to find a company local to you who offer a mulching service. Mulch is a great allrounder for your garden – it helps flower beds retain water in summer, it helps prevent weeds growing and helps protect roots from frost and the cold in winter. Use it to decorate around your outdoor table and chairs patio area, or to create walkways around your garden.

You can remove the smaller branches and twigs to add to your composting heap. Larger branches and the trunk can be made into decorative features in your garden.

You can also create a feature garden bird feeder to feed garden birds through the rest of the colder months. Cut some of the top off your tree so you can attach a flat platform to put bird food on, you can then hang feeders off this and some of the branches of your old tree.

Old Christmas trees create a perfect fish habitat in rivers and lakes as they provide great hiding places for fish over the colder months. Obviously, we shouldn’t all just put our trees in the back of the car and throw them in the nearest watery spot but you can look online to find a local contact who can advise you.

We really love the idea of making coasters or depending how big your tree was, wooden serving boards, from the Christmas tree trunk. They are the perfect coasters to go with gorgeous reclaimed wood furniture. They look lovely on a rustic coffee table to stand your cup of tea on or a kitchen sideboard to stand a vase of flowers on, it would also protect the rustic surface of wooden sideboards and wooden chest of drawers getting potential water ring damage.

If you really can’t make any use of your Christmas tree yourself then look online where you may find collection information from your local council and businesses.