scandinavian Archives - Page 6 of 7

Why choose a table with white base in the kitchen?

Dorset Reclaimed Wood Dining Set with Chairs and Bench

The kitchen is much more than a space to cook and store food, it is often the beating heart of the home. The place where family and friends come to meet, eat, talk and mingle. It is often the best place to entertain, where the chef can cook whilst chatting to guests. Family life takes place in the kitchen. It is a place to grab snacks, eat as a family, complete homework and put the world to rights. The centrepiece of all this action is the kitchen table.

Whether you favour a traditional style rustic cucina or a contemporary Scandinavian style space, we think a centrepiece rustic dining table looks great with a white base. Our beautifully crafted reclaimed wood tabletops are perfectly complemented by a white base which adds a bright and fresh modern touch to the furniture.

Get the farmhouse look

If you’re keen to recreate farmhouse living in your kitchen, think about a beautifully tiled or wooden floor but keep walls light for a more up to date feel. Think vintage with reclaimed or salvage finds, maybe a chunky butchers block or of course, a reclaimed wood table. Big copper or cast iron pots serve to add character as does a range cooker or Aga, should space allow. A beautiful big light fitting can hang as a spotlight over your centrepiece table.

Our Dorset reclaimed wood extendable trestle table is a perfect example of the way that a rustic design can add character to a kitchen. The distressed base gives the table a vintage quality that puts it right at home in a traditional style setting.

Alternatively, the reclaimed wood Provence extendable dining table adds a touch of elegance and French charm to a rustic style kitchen. We love the fact that using reclaimed wood means you own a truly unique piece of furniture as every one is slightly different due to the individuality of the patterns in the wood.

For a smaller kitchen, the Savannah reclaimed wood round kitchen table enables you to achieve this look even where space is limited. This light and fresh style will complement your room no matter what your choice of décor. Another fresh and funky space saving option is the Dorset kitchen bar table. This solid and welcoming piece of furniture offers a distressed base for a lived in, well loved look.

Scandi style you’ll love

Scandi style dictates an ergonomic, functional and natural style, all of which are fulfilled by the Nottingham extending Scandinavian dining table. This robust table offers clean lines, typical of Scandinavian furniture and handily extends to welcome more guests.

If you’d like to add some more Scandinavian touches to your modern kitchen furniture, think gentle curves, natural materials and light colours. Keep your decoration functional yet stylish. White and bright wood are a key Scandi look. For interest, add a splash of bold, vibrant colour or some eccentric details including some canvas art prints. Plants and greenery are also a welcome addition.

Whether you have a traditional period home or sleek and modern pad, here at Modish, we can offer you the perfect statement table for your kitchen – whatever your taste.

Take advantage of our sale and get the Scandinavian look

The Scandinavian style is all about light bright spaces with oak furniture and calming shades – hence why it is the perfect style for a bedroom. Get the Scandinavian interior you’ve dreamt of with the Modish Living sale.

Of course, as the main piece of furniture in your bedroom, it is important to get the bed right. Create the look of luxury with the Oldham King Bed. Light oak bedroom furniture is perfect for creating a clean, tranquil space but without compromising on personality. The slim lines of the headboard on this headboard works beautifully with colours like grey and white, with accents of yellow or even with geometric pattern on the walls or through scatter cushions.

For a bit of contrast, pair the bed with one of our sheepskin rugs. The Luxury Sexto Black Sheepskin Rug is great for a bedroom as it will take up a large floor space and create a cosy landing for your feet on chilly winter mornings to come. The beautiful natural colouring adds style and glamour and works to add a little drama to an otherwise very light, neutral room. To tie the black in with other accents, add contemporary black lanterns or thin black frames on artwork so as to not darken the room.

Then comes storage. The Luna collection available at Modish Living offers the most style storage solutions for any modern bedroom, with the slim lines helping to create the illusion of more space. This collection creates the chic Nordic look much loved by stylish home interior magazines. The large chest of drawers also creates invaluable storage space with its good sized drawers.

And of course, a wardrobe in any bedroom is also a must. A solid oak wardrobe will bring enjoyment for years, being both practical and beautiful. The Luna Double Wardrobe is crafted from high grade oak and offers both shelving and drawer space for all your storage needs.

How to keep your bedroom tidy if you are lazy

Let’s be honest, at the end of a busy day, the last thing you feel like doing is putting clothes away or finding storage space for all the little things. But on the other hand, you crave a minimal, clutter-free bedroom that you can sink into.

With National Lazy Day on August 10^th, we thought we would look at some great ideas for the bedroom, with heaps of easy and accessible storage solutions both for modern bedroom furniture and older styles that make keeping your bedroom tidy a quick and easy task.

Kitting out Your Bedroom

The singular, most important aspect of keeping any room tidy and clutter-free – especially the bedroom – is to kit it out with all the right furniture.

We think you should take a look at the Scandinavian style as this has long been known how for dressing a room with more than enough storage, without swamping the space with furniture.

There is also the appeal of the rustic look, the harmony of natural materials in a not-too-polished state. It is calm and simple, with fantastic solutions for the bedroom.

With these two popular interior design styles in mind, we have created the simple guide to keeping your bedroom tidy and clutter-free without breaking a sweat or spending hours doing it.

Out of Sight Storage

One of the simplest and easiest ways of hiding away a load of clutter until you have time to sort through it and pop it back in its place is the ‘trunk’.

And thankfully, with both the Scandinavian and rustic styles, there are fantastic solutions:

Under the bed – flinging stuff under the bed is a favourite ‘hideaway’ for things that we not quite sure what to do with. However, with an under the bed storage drawer you don’t need to fling things other, never to be seen again. With two lovely round knobs, sliding the drawer in and out from underneath the bed is super easy and so there is no excuse for not putting things away.
Storage stool – the Scandinavian style mixes natural materials, such as smooth, light woods with leather and wool fabrics. And this is why, if you have a light, modern and airy bedroom, this leather footstool is the ideal solution for quick storage solution when time and effort is lacking.
Bed side tables (with a difference) – As well as keeping it at the foot of the bed, why not consider blanket chest type storage for next to the bed? Makes a great alternative to a bedside table and great for hiding books away too.

Plenty of storage space

We sometimes underestimate the amount of storage space we need in the bedroom and so when it comes to planning bedroom furniture, take a look at small, medium and tall chest of drawers, a bit like this painted bedroom furniture. Create cohesion with matching pieces such as an oak wardrobe with matching oak chest of drawers and the like.

Quick fix

Clearly, replacing bedroom furniture may be a leap too far in relation to your budget and so a quick fix – like the under-bed drawers and a blanket chest – is ideal. Another quick fix is wooden shelving, a great addition to any bedroom but works well with both the rustic and Scandinavian interior design styles.

The key to all storage solutions is easy access, so no matter what you choose for the bedroom, making sure it is super-easy to use – like pulling a drawer open…

The best living room shelving ideas

living room oak ladder shelving for living room

Adding some sort of shelving unit to your living room is really underrated. Not only will a wooden shelving unit add lots of extra storage, they often also provide a perfect opportunity for adding a personal touch to your home with souvenirs from your travels, quirky decor pieces and photos.

Industrial furniture has remained a huge trend in home decor, but its no mystery why. The blend of old and new with reclaimed wood and subtle metal touches makes for truly eye-catching furniture that works in most contemporary homes. If you are looking for industrial shelving for your living room, the clean lines and the slim frame of the Hudson Living Brooklyn Bookcase is perfect. With a combination of the slatted design and concrete surfaces, the Brooklyn Bookcase is a statement in itself, even before it is dressed to impress.

With the ever expanding range of TV units, you no longer need to worry about making your TV look stylish. A white TV unit is perfect in any living room as the white helps to create the illusion of more space, and create a more tranquil environment you’ll love relaxing in. The stunning Nottingham White TV Cabinet adds luxury to your lounge, and will provide a charming focal point. With cupboard and shelving space, you can store all of your media players and tuck away those unsightly wires and controllers for a clutter-free, peaceful space.

If you are looking for something unique in a wooden bookshelf, a shelf ladder may be the perfect option. The understated, Scandinavian styling of the Light Raw Oak Small Shelf Ladder is perfect for any living room with the light oak wood and enchanting design. Perfect as a bookcase or display unit or even as a standalone style statement in both contemporary and traditional rooms.

Turn it into a feature

Once you’ve found the perfect piece for your living room, think about how you can turn it into a feature, rather than something purely practical. Here are a few tips for creating the most stylish shelves around.

Mix shapes and textures

When it comes to arrangement, a display will always be more aesthetically pleasing when you mix shapes, textures, colours and sizes to create balance. For example, place a larger frame at the back of the shelf and add two or three objects like a shorter vase or candles in front to create depth. This also helps to avoid your shelf looking too cluttered.

Colour code books

If you have a lot of books, why not make a feature of them. Colourful bookshelves look beautiful in bright white homes as a fun pop of colour. You could even colour code your books to create a rainbow.

Go minimalist

Alternatively, a minimalist look can look just as beautiful. With one or two items on your shelves like a pot plant with a flash of green, a beautiful coffee table book or two and an odd accessory in a colour of your preference, you can really let the shelves themselves do the talking. This will create a stunning Scandinavian inspired space.

For more shelving options for your living room, browse our living room storage collection or get in touch with one of our team members for a bespoke piece.

Get creative with your side table

hudson living nest of side tables with white top

A side table is an underutilised piece of furniture in the modern home. If you are contemplating adding one to your rustic styled living room or Scandinavian furniture to your living room, you have a number of options from which to choose.

When choosing a side table, you need to decide whether you are adding it to show off the interior design scheme or whether you are adding it to maximise the space available.

You may be thinking that it will add a touch of interest or that you are in need of extra surface space.

If this is the case, consider the material carefully. A modern living room would enjoy the addition of a Perspex side table but for either the rustic or Scandinavian inspired living room, there is no doubt that a wooden side table or two would be the ideal choice.

So, what are the options?

Cubed Side Tables

Pleasing in both a rustic and Scandinavian interior design scheme, the cube side table is a practical and stylish addition. Rustic furniture works so well in many homes and rustic design isn’t just for larger items of furniture.

In addition, our oak nest of tables offers two options – either nestle the tables in one or when you need an extra surface, simply pull out the smaller cube.

Split the coffee table

A coffee table is an essential platform in any living room. But as one solid piece, its versatility can be limited. Rather than investing in a coffee table and side table, why not spilt the coffee table?

When you need one larger surface, simply push the two pieces together. When you need a smaller table, simply pull the sections apart.

Trolley or Table?

You may think that the tea trolley is a relic of an age gone by but we love the idea of a delicate tea trolley, complete with wheel.

For a rustic or Scandinavian look, opt for a wooden tea trolley, complete with wheels for ease of use.

Consider a nest of tables

Again, a nest of tables could be a sign of an era long gone but actually, in the modern age – and certainly in the rustic or Scandinavian designed living room – the nest of tables is ideal as a side table.

We have two great solutions:

The white-topped Bergen nest of tables is ideal for the Scandinavian design. Combining light wood with the white top means this Scandinavian side table fits effortlessly into your living room.
For a rustic appeal, our Hudson oak nest of tables are two, triangular shaped tables that have a delightful appeal in any living room.

Consider the Appeal of Reclaimed Wood

A reclaimed wood side table is the ideal addition to a rustic living and makes the perfect platform for a table top lamp. The chunkiness of its finish is particularly appealing. Available as part of the Farringdon range too.

A rustic wood side table makes for a great additional surface to a living room but sometimes, the chunkiness is not what the scheme needs. When floor space is lacking, consider a narrow side table that will easily fit the space but still give you useable surface.

This cube side table, for example, could be used lengthways to frame your sofa or armchair.

How will you use side tables in your living space?

What your first dining room must have

dorset trestle table with dining bench and chairs

It is a moment unlike any other. The day you have the keys to your first house dropped into your palm will fill you with equal measure of excitement and dread.

You have what feels like acres of space to fill with furniture and stylish accessories. But with money in short supply, creating a functional and stylish space is a daunting task.

Friends and family will rally round and before you know it, you have more pans and tea towels than you will ever need.

Reclaimed Furniture and Gifts

Re-claimed furniture, along with mismatched wooden dining chairs give your dining room a pleasing stylish look. It may be eclectic, but it is yours.

Don’t refuse all furniture as some of it with sanding down and a coat of furniture paint can actually make a for a stylish stop-gap until you can afford the items you want.

Choose a Style

Important rooms like the dining room look chaotic in style when there is no obvious or overriding style. There are various looks you can opt for but what can work well because they are fresh and versatile are the Scandinavian or the rustic style.

Both use a lot of wood and other natural materials. Rustic furniture is all about texture, the roughness of raw wood, the exposing of brick and other materials.

The Scandinavian style is equally as appealing – use lighter woods with a smooth finish and choose natural fabrics, such as wool, to finish the look.

Creating the Look Without the Price Tag

You want your house to look like a home, your home. And there are ways of getting your hands on stylish pieces of furniture without breaking the bank.

Look for ex-display items for sale! These can be at a great knock down prices. Check for dings, dents and colour bleaching – remember, you are buying ex-display items as seen, so inspect the piece thoroughly before you buy.

A bargain on one piece means you can splurge a little on another. Don’t forget, dining room furniture items are some of the things that will be with you for years to come. This pleasingly solid wishbone chair, for example, could be the piece you pass on to future generations.

It’s Not Just the Dining Furniture

The final look to your dining room is not just down to the Scandinavian dining table or the exquisite ex-display fabric dining chairs – it is about the accessories too.

And here’s the good news – the majority of these items are stylish AND within budget. Better still, they are versatile so when you change your style in a few years, they simply slip into their new place within it.

Wall art – you can opt for ultra-modern pieces or enjoy canvases that look stunning. These animal art canvases are bound to be conversation pieces, especially the ‘Laughing Donkey’.
Mirrors – great for adding light to a space, mirrors make a statement too. Opt for ornate celestial mirrors or for maximum impact, choose full-length mirrors.
Serving pieces – they will be invaluable at your first dinner party and great for adding detail to the dining room. Choose from stylish salad bowls to dip bowls for informal parties.

Choose key features of an interior design style, such as Scandinavian chairs for the dining room, and build the rest of the room around it. And remember, unique furniture is part and parcel of buying your first home…

Ways to boost your self-confidence with a mirror

Yoko Ono said “smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you’ll start to see a big difference in your life”.

A mirror has so much more potential than a decor piece hung above reclaimed wood furniture for getting ready and doing the final check of your appearance before you rush out the front door. Use your mirror to your benefit to build self-confidence, become more positive and take full advantage of everything life throws at you.

So, what is the ‘mirror technique’?

It is all about starting to believe in yourself, and your potential. Stand in front the biggest mirror in your house and let the weight of your body be evenly divided. A free standing mirror is a great idea if you have the room for it, as they are often full length, which allows you to see all of yourself, and get the most out of the exercise.

Straighten your back, take a deep breath with your chest and put a light smile on your face. Then, talk to your reflection with positive affirmations like “I can” or “I believe in myself”, or add what you love about yourself and achievements so far, and continue to do so for 5 to 10 minutes. Think about the things you want to achieve and focus on only generating positive statements and thoughts. Try to do this everyday, in the morning if you can, so you start your day with confidence and energy.

Other ways to use your mirror to your advantage.

Write a mirror message on your mirror; use lipstick or a post-it note to write an inspirational quote that you will see when you look in the mirror. When you are getting dressed, or doing your hair, repeat the encouraging words to yourself. Change the mirror message everyday few days, or even every week for some new inspiration.

Improve your body language. When we are not confident, our body language shows it. However, to change that, sometimes it is as easy as looking in the mirror. Sit or stand in front of the mirror and look at how you naturally stand – are you standing up straight? Do you cross your arms? Where are your hands? Examine your body language and see if there is any small changes you can make to come across in a more positive light.

Look in the mirror with a friend or as a couple and hear what they have to say. Often, we would probably be surprised, and it may challenge you to think differently, and more positively, about ourselves. Share what you both see when you look in the mirror and then tell each other what you see in each other.

And finally, what about the best placement of your mirror?

If you have a full-length mirror, the most sensible spot is probably in your bedroom. But if you have the space, they can also look stunning in your living room or hallway.

The one thing to bear in mind is to try and find a quiet spot in your home where you won’t be disturbed. A reclaimed wood mirror over a rustic console table in your hallway may look beautiful, but if you have other family members going to work, or kids running out the door to school, having it here may not be particularly practical.

For more inspiration browse our mirrors collection or if you have any questions get in touch with one of our team members.

How to get the Scandinavian living room

black and white leather armchair for living room

Clean and uncomplicated, the Scandinavian living room look is a popular choice.

A design of this kind if characterised by using light, neutral colours alongside natural materials. Think wood, not MDF. Think metal, not plastic. Fabrics are natural too – the warmth of wool and the smooth touch of cotton.

It is a look you can have in your living room, and here’s how;

Neutral Walls are a staple of the Scandinavian living room style

Don’t opt for dark colours, but keep the shades light and carefree. White is favourable but if you find it too stark and clinical, used soft, soft greys and barely-there beige and cream.

Flooring considerations for a Scandinavian living room

Natural wood flooring is ideal. Seal and varnish but love its impurities, dents and scuffs as you love an old cardigan that answers so many needs. Add texture and notes of warmth with rugs, but remember natural materials are essential.

This grey rug would add tone to a room, perfect for complementing white walls. For between-your-toes luxury, this white sheepskin rug is the epitome of luxury.

Living Room Furniture for a Scandinavian living room

Sofas and Armchairs

Scandinavian living room design doesn’t mean a trip to a well-known Swedish store. There are other options.

For a Scandinavian sofa, this Harris tweed sofa is ideal, especially with the wooden legs to complement the wooden floor and white sheepskin rug.

Add a pop of the modern with this black and white leather hide club chair. Imagine sinking into its welcoming, comforting depth at the end of a busy day, fire roaring, drink in hand.

Now that you have the sofa and chairs in places, you need to add furniture for storage and style. But don’t overfill the space. Not every inch of the living room’s floor space and perimeter needs to be filled.

Sideboard – a painted sideboard is an ideal storage unit and they come with various designs and detailed features that work well in a Scandinavian interior. This oak sideboard is ideal or for when you want height, storage and display space, this oak display cabinet has the right look, without the clutter or the busyness.
Ladder shelving – again, adding just the right amount of detail, these oak shelves is ideal for a Scandinavian interior.
Coffee tables – Scandinavian design is about dimension too. Coffee tables should frame your sofa, not overpower it. Thus, choose a – preferably white – coffee table that is simple in design, affords storage and other practical elements but is smaller than your sofa.
Nest of tables – no longer assigned to the past, there is a simplicity with a nest of tables that means they fit perfectly within a Scandinavian design. An armchair should be part of three items – a small table and a rug – means it is framed within the larger setting of the living room. To ring the changes, a white round coffee table is an ideal element in this design scheme.

Finish the space to complete the perfect Scandinavian living room

To accessorise the space, add key elements such as plants – one large floor plant or sets of three, smaller pot plants on your oak shelves work well.

Throws are great for the sofa but don’t opt for heavily coloured items. Instead, stick to light colours and patterns such as plaid or tartan.

Now all you need to do is enjoy and relax.

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.