dining room Archives - Page 7 of 39

10 Ways to Create a happy home

We have all been spending a lot of time within our own four walls of late, but now is the time to brighten your home, bring in the summer and make it your happy space once again. Here we look at some quick fixes to help you create a happy home

1. Embrace warming colours – is your colour scheme a bit dull? Do you want to add some bright accents? Lansford Dining Chair Saffron Dining Chairs could be just want you need to place around your rustic dining table to brighten up the space.

2. Fill your home with flowers & plants – these are proven to lift your spirits. Place a houseplant on a rustic sideboard in your dining room or a vase of fresh-cut flowers on the reclaimed wood coffee table in your living room.

3. Get a pet – we are absolutely not suggesting you dash out and get a puppy! Even a goldfish can have a positive health benefit, research suggests watching fish in an aquarium can help lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.

4. Make your bed extra comfy – cosy up your bedroom with a mattress topper and new pillows. Finish creating a perfect sleeping sanctuary by getting a new bed throw and some new scatter cushions on your solid wood bed. You can use this opportunity to bring in a new colour scheme to your bedroom.

5. Treat yourself to something you love and that makes you smile – if you have a room that is a bit lifeless, dated or you’ve just fallen out of love with it, then have a good clear out and buy just one new piece of statement furniture. An industrial style dining table in your dining space will give you a whole new look and bring your room right up to date.

6. Create a happy entrance – place a decorative bouquet of your favourite flowers on a hallway console table, add some word art or put a photograph on the wall that makes you laugh.

7. Use a few basic Feng Shui practices to encourage positive energy – declutter the entry to your home to allow energy in, keep windows clean, place sofas and beds in a commanding position in the room, keep pathway clear in the home and bring plants in for energy etc.

8. Keep on top of clutter – have regular clear-outs and look where you can improve storage options around your home.

9. Create a happy corner – somewhere where the sun shines at the end or the start of the day or overlooking your favourite part of the garden. Choose a place that’s cosy and cossetting in any room, even on the landing you could add a velvet armchair to this space and take a few minutes out of your day to sit there and enjoy it.

10. Capture all the senses – as well as things in the home you like to look at think about the other senses – use a diffuser to enjoy a smell you love, invest in a good home speaker system to enjoy your favourite tunes. Surround yourself with tactile cushions, blankets and rustic furniture to touch. Taste: make a point of one night every week, one member of your household chooses their favourite meal and you all sit around the dining table to eat together.

How to create an indoor-outdoor space that flows

Outdoor patio with rattan sofa and large glass window

Here we are looking at ways you can transform a small balcony, courtyard or patio into an outdoor masterpiece that will blend seamlessly with your indoor living space.

Some of the ideas in this blog would be perfect to create a small “outdoor extension” to your living room, kitchen or bedroom. You may find some great ideas to help brighten up your outdoor space if you are in a flat in town or have a small brick-walled courtyard out the back of your house …….and you might even find it makes both the indoor and outdoor spaces feel more spacious and light.

Wherever you can, choose natural materials

If you have a wooden interior floor consider wooden decking for your outdoor space. If you have a tiled floor then get tiles that are as close a match as possible to let the space flow. Stone also works well – it looks lovely and natural and is perfect for outside. When it comes to furniture, again choose something natural that would be used inside and out – a rattan sofa set for a living room and a rustic wood dining table paired with rattan dining chairs for a dining room. Reclaimed wood furniture fits in perfectly here.

Bi-fold, crittall or sliding doors will open up the space

To make the most of any available light and to make your space look as large and open as possible then big doors and windows that can slide open or fold back are a must-have. If you do have the opportunity to replace a window or door then make the new one you install as big as possible and you will get to see even more of your cosy garden space.

Think about walls inside and out

Just as you have with the floor, if your patio is surrounded by a brick wall, consider exposing the brick on one side in the inside, if the brickwork is a bit dull then you can paint it white. Or how about wood panelling to mimic fencing? Or some bamboo panels for an eco-friendly fix. If you are in a flat and want a bit of privacy when you are sat out then you can add thin bamboo panelling to the railings, if you don’t want to block out light then a nice thin panel would be ideal.

Match planting inside and out

You can have the same plants inside and out and set a theme for your plant pots to give the feeling of continuity from indoors to out. Plants don’t just have to be stood on the floor you can save space by having hanging baskets, wall boxes and plant stands. To mimic this indoors arrange houseplants on reclaimed wood shelving. If you have a wooden table and chairs then place a garden-inspired centrepiece to it. A tall plant in a pot by the doorway will help disguise any door or window frames and give the feeling of a continuous space. Fairy lights help make your outdoor space magical as day turns to night, you can wrap them around your plants which again will ensure your outdoor space doesn’t fade away in the darkness!

How to perfect alfresco dining indoors

Group of people eating around a rustic dining table

Create a magical outdoor dining scape table setting even if you don’t have an outdoors with our stylish garden dining tips…

A wooden dining table

First off, a wooden table is a must. We value nature more than ever before meaning many of us feel the need to connect with the outdoors. You can start this in your own home by introducing rustic wood and other natural materials. And, because we value and respect nature more then it should really be an authentic reclaimed wood or rustic dining table to be true return to nature!. Adding a wooden dining bench or wooden dining chairs will also give you a bit more of an outdoor feel during the summer months.

Decorate the table with green foliage and flower displays

A great way to bring nature into your dining space is to use natural table decorations, houseplants, twigs, green foliage and freshly cut flowers. If your table is small and you need all the space on it you can consider a reclaimed wood sideboard. This surface of this would be another great (and more permanent) place to add a beautiful natural-looking garden display that will also give you a whole load more storage space too!

If tabletop and room space is tight create a botanical display to hang over the table

Use a piece of wood and rope and entwine ivy, leaves and flowers to create a magical display. You can add some fairy lights to this to create some gentle candle-like lighting for a more intimate evening. Garlands around a mirror or along a mantlepiece or hanging on the wall will help make your dining space even more naturally magical.

Credit: Bex Partridge

Cover the table with natural linens

Here you can opt for a natural linen table cloth and play with layering, add a runner and garden colour napkins – choose a light and dark shade of green and add an accent colour like red, orange, yellow or lilac to mimic your favourite garden flowers. A combination of brown and green table linen is also great and would work particularly well with the beautiful, natural grain of a rustic wooden dining table.

Open the windows to let in fresh breezes

It’s always good to get some fresh air into your living space – we recommend you open your windows wide at every opportunity and let the gentle evening breeze into your room.

Weave fairy lights throughout the dining space

Use as many fairy lights as you like to mimic romantic garden lighting. Yes, hang them everywhere, around mirrors, pictures, along a sideboard wrap them around tall house plants or place a bunch of string lights in a glass dish on your large dining table….you can even add a touch of greenery and some stones to this to create your own unique table centrepiece! You will want good lighting for dishing up and while you are eating, to keep the garden feel going, we would suggest a bamboo pendant light over your dining table.

Serve an alfresco style menu

Serve the type of food you would usually have if outdoors, such as garden party favourites like antipasti, grilled meats, and a green garden salad. Consider share platters, tear and share bread and other traditional garden party favourites like burgers and grilled vegetables. For drinks, you can serve sangria, a delicious lavender champagne cocktail, or a summery, zingy and minty mojito! Enjoy!

Spotlight: Introducing our new Eastwood collection

Rustic dining table with fabric dining chairs and white linen table runner

Our new Eastwood range is here and we couldn’t wait any longer to tell you about it! This gorgeous new range is characterised by the rich oak wood used to craft it and beautiful rustic furniture fittings.

For the dining room

This collection includes the perfect rustic dining table to suit any space from the monastery to the refectory dining table. The tabletops on all of these proudly boast natural markings and undulations which will bring a little history and individuality into your dining space. These tables really do match many styles of dining chair from plush velvet in a bold colour, to a neutral fabric dining chair. If you want a solid wood sideboard to match your dining table then there are two different styles to choose from, either giving you loads more handy storage in your dining space.

For the living room

Sideboards are traditionally found in the dining room – but nowadays we like to see them in the living room too – a whole load of hidden storage for books, children’s toys, your DVD collection and so on. The Eastwood range does not stop there when it comes to living room furniture. Put your favourite display pieces on the rustic oak highboard and match up with a wood coffee table from this range. For something stylish to set the TV on there is the perfect media unit.

Other pieces from the range

The Eastwood range does not end with just these home staples, to add some reclaimed wood warmth in your hallway you can choose the rustic console table – this also looks great in the living room behind a sofa with a lamp!

Get your dining space ready for visitors

Friends gathered around a rustic dining table

Things really are starting to look up (at last) for this summer! With restrictions easing further, after one of the hardest years most of us will remember, we will be allowed to entertain our much loved and much-missed friends and family outdoors. And now of course we can host a small get-together indoors of six people or two households as well. We’ve all been waiting for this- life coming back to a bit more normal!

After the last-minute disappointment of Christmas and a scaled-down and chilly Easter, we have much catching up to do. Now we will no longer be held to ransom by our unpredictable weather we and can start planning some indoor celebratory dinner parties, as opposed to just barbecues and evenings, huddled around a fire pit! Time to dust off the best serving dishes and wine glasses and start planning your dinner party. Here we will be looking at different styles you can choose to go for.

Rustic setting

This is perfect for cosy cottages and old farmhouses – We think the Colette Reclaimed Wood Refectory Dining is the top choice if you are looking for a new statement wood table for your dining space, whether it sits in a dining room or you want to bring a rustic dining table into a farmhouse kitchen. To add a hint of sophistication you can add a velvet or fabric dining chair. When setting your table, ready for entertaining, we think tableware with a rustic air looks great on this such as earthenware, twigs in a vase and a crisp white linen table cloth. For placemats, we like a natural material like wicker.

Glamorous setting

This is what you expect to see in a smart city apartment or house. The Knightsbridge reclaimed dining table just has the wow factor whichever way you look at it. From the solid reclaimed wood tabletop to the very elegant metal legs to the gorgeous velvet chairs from the same range, this table will be a much-loved centrepiece in your dining space. When setting this for guests we think shiny and glamourous is the way to go! Silver candlesticks and a large vase with fresh-cut flowers for a real air of sophistication.

Modern industrial setting

The Picasso Industrial Oak Dining Table is the type of industrial dining table that just works beautifully in a modern kitchen/ diner extension. This is a versatile dining table that can be glammed up, mixed with industrial table dressings or go natural. House plants and neutral colours look great with this table to tie in with a no-frills and no-fuss industrial theme. Here we have paired it up with industrial dining chairs. Black tableware and crockery also work well to continue the industrial dining theme from the legs to the tabletop.

How to introduce industrial style to traditional homes

Velvet corner sofa with industrial coffee table

If you live in a more traditional or classic style home you may be thinking that incorporating industrial style is a straight no, no for you, but it can be done and can look stunning! Here are some ways you can inject some industrial style…

Pick a piece of industrial furniture for high footfall areas

In the hallway for example a slim console table with black industrial metal legs will always give a stylish welcome for visitors. Dress the top with a table lamp, some fresh cut flowers, a houseplant or some scented candles for a warm and homely feel when you walk in. In the kitchen, you can add a touch of industrial by choosing metal bar stools, opt for real or faux leather seats to further reinforce the look. And in the living room, just an industrial coffee table will instantly bring in an industrial theme.

Choose a neutral colour scheme

Let the black metal and wood of your industrial furniture be the feature. A neutral colour scheme is always a great base colour to style industrial features with, the black metal will stand out making each carefully chosen piece really catch the eye. Use a lighter colour in a dark room or opt for an atmospheric deeper grey if your room has plenty of light flooding in.

Photo featuring: Picasso Industrial Oak Dining Table

Change the flooring in a room

If your traditional house doesn’t already have a wood floor then look at reclaimed wood flooring to add character, salvaged oak planks are great for this. A concrete floor or a good quality laminate floor will add an instant industrial look in a large kitchen diner space. You can choose an industrial dining table that is finished with a slight hint of grey to the wood… this fits just right with dark industrial legs, hang a pendant light over the table and you have the perfect centrepiece in your dining space.

Photo featuring: Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table

Look for reclaimed wood furniture

Reclaimed wood and metal is a key driver to the industrial style. The rustic look of the wood and the strong metal structure of the industrial furniture are perfect together…. the reclaimed wood adds warmth, history and individuality. With the natural undulations and markings found in reclaimed wood furniture, you will have an eye-catching contrast to cold dark metal. Upcycling is also a great way to give old, tired-looking furniture pieces a new lease of life. You can look for old preloved items of furniture in second-hand shops – re-varnish them, paint them in black or dark grey or just tidy items up and change the handles to black metal.

How our lovely customers styled our dining tables

Industrial dining table with matching wooden bench

It’s no secret, but we love reclaimed wood furniture! Not just the fact that it is environmentally friendly but also the look, feel and uniqueness of it. Our customers love it too – we can see this in the gorgeous images that are often sent to us or posted on social of the furniture they have bought – beautifully styled and looking straight out of a home interior magazine.

The Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood is proving to be as popular as ever – this image was posted on Instagram by the lovely @bricksandshutters_at_number1 showing just how wonderful the Standford industrial table looks with a mix of wooden dining chairs and the coordinating Standford Industrial Reclaimed wood dining bench. An industrial sideboard completes the dining room furniture by providing stylish storage for serving dishes, table mats and other dining room essentials.

@bricksandshutters_at_number1

@lifeatnumber70 opted for the Kensington Luxe – this stunning table is crafted from salvaged railway sleepers and features shiny silver legs for an elegant industrial look. The clear dining chairs work beautifully here as they allow the feature legs and rustic table top to be seen in all their glory. A centrepiece on a reclaimed wood dining table always looks great like the garland of flowers and leaves used here – you can choose a simple vase with fresh seasonal flowers, twigs or a candlestick. We love how the sun fills this beautiful dining space and can imagine what a wonderful place this is for family and friends to gather.

@lifeatnumber70

@ourhawthorndenhome is demonstrating how great the Hoxton Rustic Oak Trestle Dining Table looks when paired with the sophisticated Florence Cream Fabric Dining Chairs. We love the detail of these upholstered dining chairs – let’s face it when the table is not in use you only see the back of a dining chair – the Florence chairs have this covered with decorative antique brass studwork and practical brass chair-back handles. We love that they so versatile and look just as great in a relaxed farmhouse kitchen as they do in a sophisticated dining room.

@ourhawthorndenhome

The Kensington industrial dining table was a great choice for @inside_no_1_ The tabletop is the same as the Kensington Luxe, crafted from salvaged railway sleepers, but the solid feature legs are in matt black industrial metal. This table has been paired with soft grey faux leather dining chairs. To achieve the industrial style you should match natural materials such as reclaimed wood with functional metal and leather or other natural materials, faux leather chairs are a great alternative if you prefer not to go with a real leather chair.

@inside_no_1_

What to consider before renovating your kitchen

Hands holding a tablet screen with photo of a white kitchen against a background of a building site with wooden beams and frame

A kitchen renovation is a big project – weeks or possibly even months of disruption (not to mention the cost) lie ahead. The heart of the home has so many different uses, such as preparing everyday family meals, hosting fancy dinner parties, children’s birthday parties, but also a place to work in, a place for homework or just somewhere to sit with a cup of coffee and have a chat with a friend. Good planning is imperative!

Make a rough sketch, taking note of where windows, doorways and other unmoveable fixtures are then add the essentials – oven, fridge and a sink. The units come next – be prepared that this will probably be the first sketch of many!

Grey modern kitchen with white stone worktops and gold vase with large green tropical leaf on top

Write out a list and ask yourself a list of questions to decide what you really need, and what you want in the kitchen – not just cupboards and appliances, but decisions, such as do you want a breakfast bar or an island? Consider that you need a one-metre clear space between units to be able to move around or add barstools. Does your main wood dining table go in this room, or will you just have a small breakfast table? Or will a small bar table and comfortable bar stools with backs be sufficient? Do you want to add an armchair or a small sofa to the room or maybe some other pieces of rustic furniture like a wooden sideboard or display unit for additional storage? Think about what you don’t like in your kitchen as it is, now you have the perfect chance to put it right!

Another good question to ask is how many appliances you need in the kitchen. This is the time to make sure everything you want in your new kitchen has permanent storage.

Next up is style. Are you going to go ultra-modern, traditional, retro or farmhouse? Whichever you choose, reclaimed wood furniture looks amazing with all different styles of interior, making it a great and versatile choice. A reclaimed wood dining table will last for many years and actually look better as the wood ages.

Photo featuring: Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Archie Faux Leather Dining Chair

Take the opportunity to go green – now is the time to work in ways to make recycling easier or set up smart lighting and heating. Plan how you will use the kitchen when preparing food – where do you need sockets? Remember it is way easier to put too many sockets and lights in now rather than trying to add more in a couple of years time.

Photo featuring: Industrial Lansdowne Rustic Wood Dining Table, Industrial Lansdowne Rustic Wood Dining Bench and Rattan Gaze Pendant Light

Lighting fixtures are of course another major consideration – maybe a mix of downlighters, work surface lighting and pendant ceiling lights….which incidentally look great over an industrial dining table and will give your space a really modern look.

Different ways to extend your home

Industrial loft conversion with extra large skylight windows

We’ve all been spending more time at home lately leading many of us to think more about the space we live in and how we could make it better. Of course, there is the option to move to a bigger house, but many of us are attached to our homes for various reasons – you may have lived in it for many years, it’s in a beautiful area or you have children that are attending a great nearby school? Maybe the cost and stress of moving are just too much for you and your family right now?

In this blog, we will look at different ways you can extend your home and create more space. Of course, before making any plans you should contact your local council about any planning permissions that may be required.

Front porch extension

There are a huge number of homes in the UK where you walk straight into the living room or just have a small entrance area. If you have some space to the front of your property, a porch extension is a great addition to your home. It can be a place to store shoes, coats, a pushchair or bike and you could add a bookcase or a hallway storage bench for other things you would like to hide away.

Photo featuring: Ellington Dining Table – Black

Side extension

If you long for a larger kitchen or open plan kitchen/ diner then many houses (especially Victorian semi-detached or terraced homes) sit on a plot that would allow a side extension. The great thing about this of course that you would only use a narrow area down the side of your house…. rather than eating into precious garden space too much. We all value our gardens so much more; it could be a tough one to call. A side extension would however give you enough space for new dining room furniture or maybe a small seating area where you can add a comfortable velvet armchair to sit in and enjoy the garden more.

Rear extension

This is definitely one of the most popular extensions – especially on suburban and inner-city houses. We, as a nation, love open plan living and in particular, the rear extension with plenty of light coming through large patio or bi-fold doors. Adding on a multifunctional family living space is the perfect option for many, with plenty of room for a rustic dining table, you can use a kitchen sideboard to zone the dining area and floor rugs to zone a seating area. If you are thinking of this option, now is the time to decide whether a two-storey extension would be a better long term investment. It will be easier and often cheaper to add two stories in one hit, rather than needing extra upstairs space five years down the line.

Loft conversion

A loft conversion can add around 20% value to your property – no wonder this is such a popular option – and of course it takes up no outdoor space from your garden. This is where you should be looking to create an additional en suite master bedroom with plenty of space for a statement king size wooden bed frame and other beautiful reclaimed wood furniture. It would also make a great playroom or hang out room for older children and teens.

Add a dormer window

If you already have a loft extension or a bedroom with a sloping roof then adding a dormer window will transform your space by bringing in extra light, giving additional full-height headroom and usable space.