contemporary Archives - Page 6 of 12

How to throw the best garden tea party

Garden Dining Table and Rattan Dining Chairs

Not just fit for royalty, the genteel garden party is a great way to entertain family and friends. Make the best use of your garden this summer with a garden tea party – and with these hints and tips, it is sure to be a success!

A fine British tradition, bring back a touch of the traditional with your own modern twist by setting your outdoor table with everything you need to host a tea garden party.

The basics

The equipment needed is basic but essential. As well as a sturdy outdoor table and patio chairs, you’ll need a few extra bits;

Crips white tablecloth and pretty pastel coloured napkins or serviettes – match these with yards and yards of bunting!
As well as your patio and pergola, why not invest in a gazebo? And a garden bar is perfect for less formal garden parties too.
As well as the big stuff, you will need plenty of pretty crockery, spoons and forks along with cake stands.
Don’t forget to accessorise your garden and gazebo or pergola. Outdoor furniture is not just limited to table and chairs – a decorative ladder with potted plants and garden lights make for an elegant backdrop.
Cushions and throws add texture and for a chillier afternoon or early evening, a throw for guests is the perfect way for them to stay warmer (and linger at your garden party too!)

Tea on arrival

When you invite your guests to your garden party, give them an arrival time so that you can have everything prepared. As they arrive, welcome them with a drink.

If you plan on seeing the afternoon into the evening, there is nothing wrong with a little glass of bubbly on arrival.

Or to keep it traditional, tea served in a delicately patterned china cup and saucer is simply perfect.

Top tip – scour local charity shops and thrift stores for cup and saucer sets. Don’t be frightened to mix and match colours and patterns either.

The cakes and sandwiches

The spread is the essential part of any garden tea party. Flavours should be delicate rather than deep and spicy. Keep portion sizes small and easy-to-eat too. And stick with the traditional – say goodbye to pizza slices and pasta dishes, and welcome back the delicate finger sandwich…

Sandwiches – from thinly sliced salmon to cucumber, sandwich fillings are more of a tasty morsel than a hearty meal. Cream cheese also works well. Use fresh bread and cut off the crusts before serving.
Cakes – like its savoury cousin the sandwich, the cake slices and portions should also be bite-sized and delicate unless you are opting for a sit-down garden tea party. Again, flavours and light and summery. And don’t forget that fruit is essential too. Bring out the zesty flavours with summer berries for a real traditional flavour.

Scones – no afternoon garden party is complete without scones, jam and cream. If you are opting for a sit-down garden party, have a pristine white table cover for your round garden table and chairs, along with pretty plates and bowls. Serve the best clotted cream you can find too. Serve tea from a serving tray for an authentic look.

Remember, the name of the game when it comes to a garden party is genteel, traditional fun. So, relax and enjoy!

Beautiful unique velvet sofas to fall in love with

If you want your sofa to be the crowning glory of a room, you need to a piece full of drama, colour and texture. But that doesn’t mean only opting for strong colours or imposing shapes.

Velvet is the answer. No longer seen as old-fashioned, a velvet sofa brings the subtle glamour to a space that everyone is looking for.

Grey is your friend

When it comes to colour, if you shy away from deep, dramatic tones and shades, then a light grey velvet Chesterfield sofa is the ideal solution. As a colour, grey can be the subtle undertone to a room and when you opt for grey velvet, you get the best of all worlds. Plush to the touch, draw the eye to the sofa with bright, printed cushions and of course, a throw elegantly draped over the arm won’t go amiss either.

Echo sofa and wall colours

The trick to using colour well in a room, irrespective of its dimensions, is to bring about cohesion. This doesn’t mean everything being matchy-matchy. But keep the same tone of the colour because by doing so, the visual effect pushes the boundary of the room further away without compromising on the cosy feel. This olive Padstow sofa, for example, would look just perfect in a room with darker, dramatic wall colour of a similar shade.

Cream delight

Not all colour statements have to dramatic in tone and depth something that is proved by this cream buttoned velvet sofa. Soft and subtle, there are not many living rooms that could cope with such a light upholstered item and it is this ‘daring’ that make this little number stand out. Plus, it works well in a modern or traditional style interior. Better still, it works with earthy colours and brassy tones or light cool blues and moody navy too.

Moody blues (and grey and black…)

Darker colours can be more practical and so when this overtakes your choices, you’ll be pleased to have plenty to choose from. If there is one colour that screams opulence, especially in velvet, it is a dark grey velvet sofa – complete with iconic Chesterfield design and shape. Opt for similar in midnight blue or navy and, of course, for superior-elegance-without-trying, there is nothing better than a velvet black sofa.

The Sideshow

Any sofa, no matter what colour or material, needs to be ‘framed’ in situ and that means collecting and detailing items for the sideshow.

Armchairs are usually commonplace as extra seating, framing the sofa perfectly. As well as velvet armchairs, you may want to consider adding pizzazz in the shape of leather armchairs too (or why not Harris tweed and leather?) an ideal contrast of the smooth and the plush.

As well as an armchair or two, a round side table is ideal for placing the sofa firmly at the centre of the eye and complete with a contemporary rug, you have the ideal finish to the room.

Who wouldn’t fall in love with a beautiful velvet sofa?

Clever ideas to make your small garden look amazing

Small Round Table and 2 Chairs Bistro Set in Blue

The small garden is to be celebrated. With minimal maintenance, it can be a haven of colour and scent, perfect for enjoying in the warmer months of late spring and summer. But there is also something pleasing about the deep colours of autumn and even the winter garden can enjoy a beauty all of its own.

But, like a small room in the house, it can be difficult to style and organise a small garden. Too much detail becomes clutter, shutting down the space to the eye. There are solutions, however…

Flexible seating

Top of the list for any garden activity is to sit and enjoy the sunshine, admire your flowers and feel your stress slip away as the scent and sounds of the garden wash over you. You can only do this if you have comfortable outdoor seating.

Flexible seating means that it offers a lounging experience, as well as one where you can dine al fresco too. Softwood furniture tends to have a short life, with hardwood offering being a costlier, but long-lasting alternative.

However, a rattan table and chairs ticks all the boxes. Cover with a waterproof protective coat during winter or when the rain lashes down, and you have stylish AND flexible seating options for the small garden.

Clean, simple lines with details

Just like a smaller room in the home, the detailing plays an important part. Don’t opt for ‘miniature’ stuff as these compound the smallness of the space.

Instead, consider adding;

Plenty of lighting in the garden but keep it soft and subtle. Choose the same kind of styles of lighting too to promote the sense of cohesion that brings it all together.
Zoning areas in any size garden give enhances appeal and function – for example, create a dining area close to the house and then a less formal area to the rear of the garden.

Greenery

You need plenty of greenery in a small garden, although the temptation can be the concrete it and make it into a yard. There are pros and cons but if you don’t fancy buying an expensive lawnmower to mow a small patch of grass, consider artificial grass instead.

A quick sweep (or even a vacuum) keeps it in tip-top condition. Dot your rattan chairs with colourful outdoor cushions and you have a super space to relax and unwind.

Function

A small garden can be functional and a great place to sit and relax. As well as greenery, you need plenty of colour. If you have the border space, choose colourful blooms and don’t forget you can mix vegetables in with your flowers too.

Add more colour with cushions and throws – hot colours like red, golden yellow and orange are perfect, or if you want, choose cooler colours such as pretty blues and lavender.

Candles clustered together on an outdoor table and chairs are also perfect for adding dimension and height and what is more romantic than flickering candlelight of an evening, as you enjoy the setting sun?

Beautiful unique gold wall accents you will love

Louis de Poortere Columbus Gold Rug in Living Room

Gold as an accent in home decor is a colour which immediately creates an opulent, sophisticated feeling in any space. This week, we are focussing on gold and stainless steel and how you can decorate with them and first things first – gold wall decor.

Why wall decor? Well, it is a great way to inject style into any room without making a huge investment in furniture pieces.

And why gold? One of the beauty’s of gold is that it is immensely flexible when it comes to decorating. Add to an already dramatic room to create the feeling of a trendy boutique hotel or add to a simple decor scheme to add a subtle touch of luxury. Additionally, and best of all, the chances are, gold will work with the furniture and decor you already own.

Keep it simple

There are plenty of options when it comes to wall decor, but if you are looking to keep it simple, clocks and mirrors are the way to go.

A clock will work in any room but is particularly fantastic in your kitchen, hallway or home office to keep your family running on time. Our selection of large wall clocks looks great on any wall. This large metal and gold wall clock would look equally stylish on a white wall with simple Scandinavian styling as it would on a dark navy or purple wall to really make a statement.

Additionally, mirrors are fantastic to open up a room and to add a touch of glamour. This stylish wall mirror would work wonders huge above your fireplace or in the dining room paired with a reclaimed wood table and white dining chairs to bounce light around the room and creating a real centrepiece for your decor. If you prefer a floor mirror, one like this one would work beautifully in your hallway or bedroom with the unique shape adding a gorgeous modern feel to your room.

Add something extra

If you really want to make the most of gold in your decorating scheme, adding two or three gold accents will create a sleek, coordinated scheme you’ll want to show off to your friends and family.

A gold rug like this Louis de Poortere one is a great choice. In your living room or under your dining room table, a high-quality gold rug like this one will add a real injection of colour to your room and will finish off a contemporary room to perfection.

Alternatively, go for a gorgeous velvet sofa customisable in gold to really make an impact. Our beautiful sofas, complete with gorgeous button detailing for an interesting take on the classic Chesterfield, work either upholstered in golden fabric. If you’re not certain on gold, you could even have your sofa upholstered in a jewel-toned velvet which would be beautifully complemented by those golden accents.

What do you think? Will you be adding a gold accent or two to your home?

How to renovate a hallway to impress

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Console Table

Every month we bring you interesting ‘how to’ blogs to aid you in any stylish renovations you decide to make in your home. This month we take a look at an important but often under-styled part of our homes – the hallway.

Style to Impress

You have probably heard that it takes less than seven seconds for someone to form an impression, good or bad, of something or someone that they meet. For guests stepping foot in your home, this judgement is based on many things, including the appeal of the hallway.

But more importantly than that, it is the space that welcomes you home after a busy day. So, why shouldn’t it be a stylish place, and an impressive one at that? But how do you achieve the elevated heights of an impressive hallway?

We show you how…

Plan it – first on our list is to think carefully about how the use of this space will change over the coming years. inevitably, the main issue will be storage. Consider carefully what will work for storing coats, boots, shoes and bags now, and in the coming years.

Draw it – if you consider how much technology has changed our homes, you will understand just how much the hallway has changed. For older properties, the hallway can be sadly bereft of electrical sockets, with a phone socket placed in the middle of an expanse of wall. If you can, get these moved so you can draw a plan of the best place for your furniture to be placed.
Consider bespoke storage – storage is usually bereft in the hallway and so, if you use it as the space through which everyone passes as they enter and leave your home, the biggest investment should be in the storage facilities. From bespoke under-the-stairs solutions to detailing such as drawers in small console tables, maximising as much storage as you can from the space.

Maximise light – many hallways suffer the same fate in terms of lack of light, both natural and ambient. Maximise light as much as possible and, if knocking down a wall isn’t on the cards, make sure that any window dressings are minimal in fuss but allow light to shine in. Consider LED lighting for up and down lighting on the stairs. Modern lamps nestling on slimline hallway console tables are also perfect for adding a soft glow and more than a hint of ‘welcome’ to your home.
Mirrors – great for reflecting light, they are also a stylish means of adding much-needed detail. In effect, you are looking to create a space that is welcoming and warm, a task that decorative mirrors fill with aplomb. If you find you constrain yourself in terms of finish and style in other rooms, let your choice run free and choose a mirror that us superbly ornate and full of sparkle!

Artwork – there is no reason why the hallway needs to be bereft of artwork and yet, we so often leave the walls blank. Either choose one or two key pieces or why not use the expanse of walls to create a beautiful picture and artwork gallery?

The 2018 hallway renovation trends are…?

… monochrome colour schemes, with matching hallway rugs and runners. And if you have the budget, consider adding detail to a barren hallway with wood panelling.

Round coffee tables and how to style them at their best

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Round Coffee Tables

It may ‘only’ be a round coffee table, and you may not give much thought to where or how it is placed. After all, you just need it to be within reach of the sofa and armchairs.

But by not paying attention to this piece of furniture, you are missing an important styling trick. To help you out, we have some fantastic styling tips for all coffee tables, from a large to a small round coffee table.

Create a ‘visual reference’

We often talk of a focal point in rooms, as its inclusion helps the eye to make sense of the space. In effect, a well-placed round coffee table can do the same thing. It may not be the focal point but by being in the ‘right’ place is emphasising the space.

The beauty of a round coffee table is that its circular shape is naturally inclusive and can act as a point around which the seating options in the room can gravitate to. Ensure plenty of distance to walk around it to gain access to your sofa and chairs though!

Add detail

Adding detail to a room is done in many ways and a coffee table is just one way of doing it;

Vary heights – varying the height of furniture in a room stops it looking flat and one-dimensional. Coffee tables are great for adding height. The nest of reclaimed wood coffee table from the Kensington range can come with a glass top too, perfect for adding a hint of luxury to the industrial style living room.
Cluster – another way to add detail is to use matching or complementing side tables alongside the coffee table. For a quirky look, you could add square side tables alongside a roundtable but to promote a sense of cohesion, opt for complementing round side tables. This pretty Elm recycled wood table is perfect for acting as a small side table to frame the sofa. Team it with the beautiful Edale cream sofa, with exquisite button detail, for a stunning look to the living room.
Materials – cohesion is one thing, but it can soon tip into monotony. And so, if you don’t vary the height, consider varying the materials used instead. The rawness of the reclaimed wood top teamed with the elegance of the stainless steel leg detailing on the Kensington Luxe reclaimed wood round coffee table is simply stunning. Contrast the roughness of the top with the smoothness of a glass vase or another sculptured object. Alternatively, the super-smoothness of the marble top of this minimally designed Kensal round coffee table would be a stunning surprise in the industrial styled landscape of a living room.

Size – it is important! A large table works well where there is ample space to accommodate it, but if space is tight, don’t swamp the space. In effect, a well-placed coffee table that shines in the spotlight is as much about dimension as it is about the material. A small glass coffee table will dispatch its function just as well as large round coffee table, complete with a vast expanse of table top.

A round coffee table ticks so many boxes. How do you style yours?

Why a vibrant rug is much more than just a mat

Louis de Poortere Blue Rug in Childrens Bedroom

A rug makes a fantastic addition to any living room scheme, bringing with it sophistication and style. To make your living room’s rug work for your needs, think about the colour, texture, pattern and size of the rug.

If you have opted for cool tones with your furniture, flooring and wall choices, opt for a geometric pattern with a large pattern that brings together your colour palette. A large square pattern, like one of our Vintage Patchwork Yellow Rug, would work for a room with a more classic style. Alternatively, our Mad Men Central Yellow Interior Rug, with its stunning, subtle pattern will work beautifully with all wooden flooring, and compliment leather sofas perfectly.

For a decor scheme that makes use of primary colours and contemporary furniture, pick a rug with a fun design to create a coordinated look which will certainly make a statement. A design with flowing lines will add movement to your living room and will contrast the clean lines of contemporary furniture. Light wood or white furniture looks fantastic with a pop of colour – a blue rug like the Atlantic Ocean Blue Waves Rug or the Atlantic Ocean Blue Stripes Rug offer an eclectic, statement design in a colour which compliments most decor schemes. For something more subtle, the design also comes in grey.

Using rugs to separate out an open-plan space is a tried and tested method to break up your room without losing the fantastic open plan feeling. But you don’t need to go for contrasting colours. Two luxury rugs in a neutral colour can be accessorised with subtle pops of colour and sophisticated pieces like large glass chandeliers, decorative wall mirrors and classic, elegant furniture. The iconic style of a grey chesterfield sofa would be the perfect accompaniment to this polished style.

Finally, a rug is a great way to frame two sofas. In a narrow space, with two sofas, a large rug will make your seating area feel complete, pulling the look together and adding an artistic touch to your living room. A bright pattern or colour, like green or red, would look great to break up two cream sofas. Just make sure that your rug is large enough to fit underneath both sofas for a sleek, stylish finish.

Will you be adding a rug to your living room?

Bring a burst of colour in your home with tweed

Adding colour can be risky. Too much and it looks out of place and brash. Too little, however, can leave a room looking sparse and cold.

There are solutions to adding colour to a room, bringing with it warmth and texture: tweed. With a soft, open texture, tweed is a beautiful fabric made from spun wool. As a natural product, its beauty is enhanced using a mix of traditional and modern methods that make it a delightful and colourful addition to a room.

Moon Wool

Heard of Moon wool? It sounds out of this world – and it is! Since 1837, Abraham Moon & Sons have been creating exquisite wool products for use in furniture manufacture. Even today, they use the same wool suppliers from New Zealand and Merino Wool from South Africa to be assured of the very best quality.

It is Moon Wool that we use to create stylish bespoke pieces, just for you. And with some of our wool upholstered items also featuring Moon Wool, you know you are getting the very best. Warm to the touch, the colours and patterns available are many and varied.

And with your stylish eye, you will soon be able to add the zing of colour you need, with the help of Harris Tweed and Moon Wool furniture.

Modern meets Tradition

If you want a serious pop of colour, then the Kirk Moon wool armchair is the right choice to make. With deep purple or turquoise available, take a look at the unique finish for the back with contrasting piping that really sets this armchair apart. A perfect way, we think of mixing modern living room furniture with a hint of the traditional.

Strong Colour

Adding colour is not always about adding vibrant hues with extra zing. This deep blue armchair, the Napier Harris tweed chair, is perfect for adding depth of colour to a room. With minimal detailing, it is ostentatious or over-the-top, its height also contributing to it being an understated piece that makes a quieter statement. Keep accessories such as decorative mirrors light in detail too so that they create a cohesive sense of style.

Style it Out with Checks

Checked fabric armchairs are the perfect way of adding not only a burst of colour but detailing too. The Kramer Moon wool armchair has a range of options when it comes to coloured check and for any room, from the contemporary styled lounge to rustic heaven, this is a great choice. The unassuming shape also makes this armchair the perfect addition to the home study and the bedroom.

Not Just Armchairs…

The Birley Chesterfield sofa is also completely customisable and makes the perfect partner (complimentary or contrasting!) to any of our tweet or Moon wool armchairs. The checked Harris tweed works well with the supple brown leather, as well as with the large range of Moon wool patterns too.

The Power of Colour

Colour, no matter what shade or hue, has the power to transform a room. It adds detail, warmth and detail to the eye, perfectly complimenting any style.

What do you think: is tweed the new popular trend?

As you know, we canvass opinions on all kinds of interior design subjects and this time, we wanted to know your thoughts on tweed.

We Asked, You Answered

We wanted to know if you thought tweed, as a material for sofas and armchairs, was an upholstery choice that was on trend. It was a close-run thing but tweed just pipped leather into second place when it came to both sofas and armchairs.

What is tweed?

Tweed is a softly weaved wool, a material that is warm to the touch, appealing to the eye and surprisingly hard wearing and robust, perfect for the modern home.

Being made from wool, it is a natural product thus its insulation and cooling properties are legendary. Using only the best quality wool, manufacturers create all kinds of colours and patterns for use on armchairs and sofas using a mix of the old and modern.

And it is probably these modern patterns, colours and prints that make tweed an attractive and popular choice for the modern consumer, with an eye for style and detail.

Creating Your Bespoke Armchair

Fabric dining chairs are a delight but, for many of our customers, the mixing of fabric with sticky fingers, spills and stains at the dining table ‘rules out’ fabric.

We have a solution, as you would expect, that doesn’t compromise on style not blow your budget. The Castello dining chair is a thing of beauty, bringing sheer elegance to any dining table. Opt for the leather upholstered seat but why not include a Harris tweed upholstered back, choosing a check that compliments or contrasts (the choice is yours, after all).

When it comes to leather or fabric dining chairs, why choose when you can have both? Frankly, mixing the best of both worlds with leather dining chairs and Harris tweed is a very desirable solution.

Contemporary Styling…

… with a dash of the traditional is how we would describe the combining of leather and tweed, with the iconic shape of the Chesterfield sofa and armchair.

Let us consider this heady mix, for a moment, in the contemporary styled living room: you want a sharpness to the clean lines of your sofa and leather armchair, but you want the exquisite detailing that sets it apart from the clinical look. You want detail without the fuss, colour without brashness.

The answer is the combination of leather and tweed as seen with the Birley sofa and the grey armchair, with leather casing.

Long established beauty

It is a struggle between function and beauty, and not just in the living room. Leather, we assume is the must-have option, so practical and easy to maintain. A fabric is, we assume, the opposite, requiring dry cleaning, specialist equipment and effort to keep it looking and feeling pristine.

But tweed won’t let you down, especially Harris Tweed because it is made from the finest wool. The processing of the wool follows a long-established process – if it works, why fix it? – which produces a beautiful soft-to-the-touch fabric that can be used and admired for years.

Combining the traditional with the modern is not a step too far with Harris tweed and the finest leather.