kitchen Archives - Page 3 of 12

Choosing the right bar stools for your kitchen

Wooden breakfast bar with rustic wood bar stools

Here we have a look at what to watch out for when buying new bar stools for your kitchen. There are three main things to consider – stool height, usage and style/ colour.

Getting the dimensions right

The height obviously depends on the height of what you are going to sit at. But – an important reminder – bar chairs are generally a little taller than countertop stools. So if your kitchen island surface is the same height as your kitchen worksurface (90-95cm) you will be looking for a seat height between 60-75cm. If you have a high bar-style breakfast bar (101-106cm) then you will be wanting a seat height of 75cm and above. The Oakley brown leather barstool is a great choice as the height is adjustable – great for in the kitchen – but also won’t look out of place at a reclaimed wood dining table if you need to add an extra seat when entertaining.

Ideally, you want a minimum of 15 cm space in between the bar stools, this should give you plenty of space to eat, drink and turn without disrupting others sitting with you. You also should consider how much legroom will be needed and if you have the space for the stools if they do not tuck under the surface fully.

Usage

This depends on how you will be using this new seating area, if you are adding a place to spend time at – for evening meals and for people to sit for a longer time then bar stools with backs will be way more comfortable. I would also opt for a back if smaller children may be sitting on them so they can’t topple backwards. If however, it will be a spot for a quick breakfast or the occasional snack then you should not really need back on them.

Photo features from left: Dorset Reclaimed Wood Breakfast Bar Stool and Lansdowne Industrial Faux Leather Bar Stool

Style and colour

With so many styles to choose from this could be a bit of a minefield. Just because you have a light wood kitchen does not mean you have to have light wooden bar stools – you can go for a bold colour to add a modern contrast, use the opportunity to introduce an industrial element or opt for the classic leather bar stools. To bring in a luxurious look then you can opt for a classic velvet button back.

Photo features from left: Standford Blue Velvet Bar Stool and Chelsea Black Velvet Bar Stool

Adding a bar table

If you love the idea of a kitchen island, but lack the space then the Standford industrial reclaimed wood bar table is a great choice. Available in large for four stools and small for two stools, this can be styled with a whole array of faux leather barstools that will match or add contrast to your kitchen.

Style a rustic dining table with leather seating

Trestle rustic dining table with two leather industrial dining chairs and sun shining across

Wood and leather are a perfect pairing. So here we look at some of the different types of leather and faux leather dining chairs you can style with your dining table.

Leather dining chairs have always been a popular choice to pair with a rustic dining table – there is nothing like the luxurious feel, the smell, and the durability of a real leather dining chair, but for your family, a vegan leather chair might be a better fit. In this blog we look at just a few ways to team up wood and leather.

Photo featuring: Theo Faux Leather Dining Chair (pair)

1) Styling with a chunky rustic dining table

Here we have the gorgeous Standford large extending wooden table – quite a traditional style, so perfect in a farmhouse style kitchen but also works well in a modern Scandi theme. We think a delicate spindle back chair could look a little lost next to this chunky table. In this image, it has been teamed it up with the Standford industrial reclaimed wood bench.

Photo featuring: Standford Wooden Large Extending Dining Table & Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Bench

2) Styling with an industrial rustic table

Rustic industrial furniture is here to stay. Here we have the Rocco Industrial Rustic Oak Spider Leg Dining Table. The rough and rustic wood is finished in a lacquer. It is made using thick solid oak planks, we have styled this with brown PU leather chairs.

Photo featuring: Rocco Industrial Rustic Oak Spider Leg Dining Table

3) Go large

If you love to entertain and have a nice long dining table then you might want to consider a dining bench with back as well as dining chairs. The back will offer a little more comfort for your diners during a dinner party but as it is a bench, you can also squeeze up a bit and get an extra person around the table… without the need for an extra chair. The Cleo is one of those timeless pieces, it is made to order as a 2, 3 or 4 seater bench. Imagine how impressive the 4 seater looks sat along the side of a large dining table, and of course, you can add cushions and throws to add even more comfort and tie in with your dining room decor.

Photo featuring: Cleo Faux Leather Low Dining Bench

5 easy switches to get a modern farmhouse kitchen

Selection of wooden kitchen utensils including wooden board

In our last blog we looked at how to set about achieving the very current modern farmhouse look – in this blog we follow this up and look at quick and easy changes you can make, concentrating on the kitchen. Of course, we can’t all go out and get a completely new kitchen so we are concentrating on 5 things you can do on a smaller scale to get a look that you can elaborate on over time.

Farmhouse furniture

A farmhouse table is a great switch to make – the kitchen is the heart of just about every home, so it is great to have a space to be able to sit down in – whether for a quick breakfast, a bite at lunch or a cup of coffee as you flick through recipes and ponder on what to rustle up for dinner. If you don’t have loads of space, a smaller round table will also work, set in a cosy corner. A wood table with wooden dining chairs will introduce warmth and a homely feeling to your dining space, it’s an investment that will reward you and your family for years to come.

Farmhouse wooden dining table with wooden chairs in traditional kitchen

Add a rustic dining bench

A rustic kitchen table with bench seating just screams farmhouse. Historically benches used to be the common form of seating with the chairs being reserved for the most important people around the table. Wooden benches still conjure up images of medieval feasts with people crowded around a table laden with food and ale! And now they are back and right on trend – a reclaimed wooden bench has one main benefit….you can squeeze more people around your table.

Reclaimed wooden cabinets

A beautiful and rustic touch to any kitchen – you can opt for an open shelving unit, a kitchen dresser with cupboards and a glass-doored display unit on top. If you like the feeling of space and to keep things out of view you can opt for a lower level kitchen sideboard. As long as it is crafted from full of character reclaimed wood, it will be a perfect fit for the modern farmhouse kitchen.

Natural elements

Stick to natural fabrics – add a faux fur throw on a wooden bench, a jute rug under your dining table and seating area, wicker baskets for additional storage, plain or printed hessian cushions. A mix of earthenware and terracotta pots are perfect and will slot right in, making perfect plant holders, fruit bowls and utensil holders.

Finishing touches

This is an area where you can really reinforce your personal style. You can opt for unusual pendant lighting, you can bring in a slightly industrial element here which incidentally looks wonderful with reclaimed wood furniture. Hang some pictures on the walls – you can go for photos of your family and friends or choose paintings of rural landscapes, wall decals are also popular right now – you can look online to find a quote that really suits you and your family to really bring in the personal element.

More happy home New Year Resolutions: Part Two

Page from a spiral notepad with large numbers 2021 and plan

Following on from our last blog, here’s part two of our easy New Year happy home resolutions to get 2024 off to the most positive start possible.

Number 6 – Reorganise & de-clutter

Decluttering is a great way to make your home a more serene place. Go through your kitchen cupboards and have a good sort out! Just adding a small sideboard in your kitchen or dining room will give you so much extra storage space. If you haven’t worn some of your winter woolies by now then think if you will ever wear them again. If there are some you are unsure about then pop them away in storage, if you don’t miss them by spring you can probably donate or recycle some. Buying new bedroom furniture is a great incentive to declutter your bedroom, a wooden wardrobe with drawers is ideal with plenty of storage options.

Photo featuring: Luna Double Wardrobe

Number 7 – Cook one new thing a week

Cooking, especially weeknights, can get a bit repetitive! This can be something the whole family is involved in, not with just helping to cook but also let the kids help by making suggestions. Even if the kids just want pizza, they will still enjoy making one from scratch, maybe try out some new toppings, and then all sit around your rustic dining table to enjoy your efforts!

Number 8 – Cut down on alcohol

Avoid temptation and keep the bottles out of sight…Even though Christmas and New Year have been low key, we have probably all enjoyed a bit more to drink than normal. Keep your bottles out of sight and out of mind with the gorgeous Wardour Reclaimed drinks cabinet.

Number 9 – Get more sleep

We should all be getting 7-8 hours sleep a night – how many of us actually manage to do this? Turn your bedroom in a place you really want to spend time in, freshen it up with a lick of paint in a tranquil colour (blues and green are great for bedrooms) concentrate on comfort. Natural, warm feeling, eco-conscious reclaimed wood furniture is perfect for the bedroom – A Dulwich Reclaimed Wood Bed frame would be a dreamy addition to any bedroom, with a chest of drawers, a small bedside table and a wooden blanket box you have plenty of storage available to keep your bedroom clear and organised.

Photo featuring: Dulwich Reclaimed Wood Bed

Number 10 – Start writing a diary

A journal is a great way to clear and organise your thoughts and also vent your feelings at the end of the day – it’s also a great way to remember the little things that people so often forget. You can write this tucked up in bed before you go to sleep – but if you really want to knuckle down and create your own masterpiece you can get small dressing table for your bedroom that can double as a writing desk…….something like the Parquet Dressing Table would be ideal.

Photo featuring: Parquet Dressing Table

Quick-check – Last minute Christmas check list

To do notepad on rustic wood with green pine needles

Christmas is going to be quite a different celebration this year – but even if you are at home with just your immediate family or have a few extra guests over, you will want to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible….so all you’ll need to do is sit back, relax and spend valuable time with your nearest and dearest.

Here we have put together a list of a few things you might want to add to a last-minute to-do list.

Tidy round

Most of us will have this covered already! But it is surprising how quickly a room gets cluttered with a few extra guests and opened gifts. Not to mention the discarded wrapping paper. If you have a wooden sideboard in your living room put as much away in there as possible – If you keep your remotes on a rustic coffee table pop them in a drawer or on the shelf underneath it so you won’t be hunting around later. Tidy away shoes in the hallway, make additional space under a hallway storage bench to make some room for your guest’s shoes

Prepare the guest room for overnight visitors

You may know some guests will be staying over, but even if there is a chance some may unexpectedly stay, have the spare room hoovered out and some fresh clean bedding and towels ready and waiting to be used – having last-minute guests to stay will be a breeze! Place a festive plant or some Christmas decorations on the bedroom wooden chest of drawers, or place some festive cushions on the bed.

Think about seating

Seating around the dining table is always an issue at Christmas! Now is the time you should check if you have enough dining chairs. If you have an upholstered bench in the hallway you can easily bring it into the dining room ready to use. You may have an office swivel chair in a kids bedroom or the home office that can also be counted in. It’s not just in the dining room that you need to consider seating – you may need extra in the living room too so you can all sit down together and watch a festive family film after Christmas dinner.

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

Do you have everything for the table?

Do you have enough serving dishes and/or trays? How will you dish up Christmas dinner? Check you have serviettes, crackers, cranberry sauce, bread sauce, even salt and pepper. If you enjoy eating cold meats and cheeses for supper, or the next day, check you have some of your favourite pickles in. You might even want to get the table set now – rustic Christmas decorations and wreaths look beautiful on a reclaimed wood dining table and can be left in situ throughout the holidays.

Last-minute household essentials

Foil is one of those things that often gets forgotten about – I know I have done it myself! But things like toilet roll, matches, scented candles and especially batteries for the kids new toys or even the TV remote. It’s also worth checking on dishwasher tablets, kitchen roll, clingfilm for leftovers and the other things things that we do not purchase as regularly.

Treats to offer any unexpected guests

It’s always a good idea to have some extra bits in just in case you do get some unexpected guests. Mince pies, a spare box of festive chocolates, savoury nibbles and a couple of extra cartons of juice will keep well in the store cupboard.

Assortment of milk chocolates and white star biscuits on a brown plate

How to work out the best size for your dining table

Large reclaimed wood dining with white dining chairs and white plates

Whether you are planning a dining room extension, buying a new reclaimed wood dining table or moving into a new home you should work out what space you have to play with before you start planning the build or even look at dining room furniture. Bear in mind the shape of the room to help you choose the basic shape of the table – if your dining room is more of a square shape then you can use a square or round dining table. A round wood dining table will allow you to put things in the corner of the room like a dining room sideboard or plant pot. Of course, if the room is rectangular then a rectangular or oval table is perfect.

Wood dining table with white metal pendant lights and green plants

4 – 6 seater

The most popular dining room tables seat six – which comprises of two down each side and one at each end. The average size for a 6 seater table is generally somewhere between 75 x 150cm and 100cm x 1800cm. The amount of people you manage to comfortably seat around it does also depend on what type of dining chair you will be using with the table. A chair with arms will need a bit more room than a chair with no arms and if you opt for a dining bench then you will need less space and be able to fit more people along the side of the table.

To work out how much space you will actually need for the table and to pull the chairs in and out you should allow an absolute minimum of 70 cm around the table however 100cm+ is much better. Do remember to take into account any other furniture you want to put in your dining space. Ideally, your dining room will be somewhere in the region 3.5m x 4.5m to accommodate a four to six diner table, allow for seating and a sideboard.

Industrial dining table with wooden bench and reclaimed wood chairs

Photo featuring: Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Table & Reclaimed Wood Bench

6-8 seater

A six to eight seater dining table is generally somewhere around 90 x 180cm to 100 x 240cm so your room should be around the 4m x 4.5m size. A dining room does not have to have empty space, in fact, you don’t want your table to look a bit lost in the middle or be unable to create a more intimate atmosphere during dinner parties. If you really don’t want to get a bigger table in a large dining room then you can consider an extending dining table, some have leaves you can add just when you have guests while others will have a handy mechanism with a space to store the extensions within the table.

Large wood dining table with wooden chairs in bright dining room with wooden hanging pendant lights

8-12 seater

If you have a large household or just love to entertain and need a larger table then your table should be a minimum 140x300cm, however, your dining room will have to be in the region of 5m x 5.5m to fit this in. If your living space is open plan you may be able to get away with a little less space for the dining table. The Dorset Large Reclaimed Wood Extendable Trestle Table is perfect for the larger dining space. This rustic dining table will blend in perfectly with reclaimed wood furniture you already have in your kitchen or dining room. The large table can extend to 2.9 metres long, perfect for family nights and large dinner parties. The average width of a leather dining chairs is around 45 cm (without arms) so you could comfortably get 6 down each side, add a dining bench and you can squeeze even more around the table!

Photo featuring: Dorset Large Reclaimed Wood Extendable Trestle Table

Our favourite vegan chairs for your dining space

Red heart shaped sticker World Vegan Day words stuck on cork board

It’s world vegan day this weekend on November 1st so we thought we would look at animal-friendly and sustainable furniture that will help you take veganism beyond just the dining tabletop to around the dining table.

Small with pink bow around its neck walking in grass

The number of people switching to a vegan diet in the UK is rapidly increasing. Many are introduced to a plant-based diet during Veganuary, some go back to their normal diets, maybe with some tweaks – while many carry on, and permanently switch to a vegan diet. Just recently a large UK supermarket announced they will be dedicating a couple of aisles in some stores to only vegan food products which suggest that plant-based products are definitely gaining more widespread popularity.

Maybe you just like the look of a leather chair, or you have a household with young children and fabric dining chairs are just not practical, this is where easy wipe-clean faux leather dining chairs will come in. Every colour and style is now available on the market as well as a range of different quality materials being used with some looking and feeling more realistic than others. Below are three of our favourites!

Brown faux leather dining chairs with black steel legs and industrial dining table

Photo featuring: Cleo Faux Leather Dining Chairs in Tan

Chloe faux leather dining chair and bench

This is a hugely popular design available as a single chair and also as a bench and in grey or tan. You can try a mix of both colours around a reclaimed wood dining table to achieve a very current look. Consider these gorgeous high-quality vegan leather dining chairs if you are matching with an industrial dining table or with other reclaimed wood furniture. We are becoming more environmentally aware so this is the perfect combination thanks to the sustainable roots of reclaimed wood and vegan furniture.

Grey faux leather dining bench with grey cushion

Photo featuring: Cleo Grey PU Leather Industrial Dining Bench

Turner grey faux leather dining chair

The Turner PU leather chair is beautifully moulded to offer maximum comfort for long dinners! This chair is also available in tan or grey but with a gorgeous distressed leather finish, it’s perfectly suited to sit around a rustic dining table.

Photo featuring: Turner Faux Leather Dining Chair in Grey

Lansdowne faux leather bar stool

To create a small dining or breakfast area in the kitchen, a reclaimed wood bar table with bar stools is a great investment – a place where you can sit and enjoy a snack, a coffee in the morning or a spot to sit while you are preparing food. Pair the rustic solid wood industrial bar table with a set of faux leather bar stools and achieve a modern and environmentally friendly casual seating area.

Photo featuring: Lansdowne Faux Leather Industrial Bar Stools

Why is a dining bench a key trend for 2021?

Reclaimed wood dining table with matching dining bench and sheepskin throw

The dining bench is completely on-trend right now and works so well with reclaimed wood furniture. Here we look at some of the huge plusses it brings to your dining room or kitchen diner.

Choose your style

First and foremost benches are bang on trend right now and because of this, there are many different styles on the market to choose from. From the humble locker room style wooden bench and Scandi inspired designs, to a chunky industrial bench or a very elegant gold or silver legged velvet upholstered bench.

Wooden table with black steel spider legs and grey faux leather bench

Photo featuring: Mitcham Industrial Oak Spider Leg Dining Table with Cleo Faux Leather Dining Bench and Dining Chairs

Fit more around the table

This is, of course, one of the key benefits – you can squeeze more around the table if you want to. On the nights when it’s just your family dining you can spread out and have plenty of space, but when you have guests everyone can squeeze up a bit to make room for one or two extra people around the table. We love a dining bench and chairs combo – it’s a perfect choice for around a reclaimed wood dining table.

Reclaimed wood dining table with pedestal leg and grey fabric armchairs

Photo featuring: Hoxton Reclaimed Wood Refectory Dining Table

Save space

A bench will take up less room than a dining chair. If you have a corner you can fit a table in then a built-in bench could be just what you need. No need to pull chairs out, you can just slide in and use dining chairs on the remaining sides of the table – these work so well in kitchen / diner corners and of course you can get benches with hinged lids to make a bit of extra storage space too. Opt for a rustic wood dining table with a pedestal leg like the Mitcham oak table and you can fit a larger table in the space available….and no legs in the way to bang knees into. As a guide to help you work out how much space you need you should allow enough space so that when you sit on it the front of the bench is at the same line as the front of the table.

Wooden table and dining bench against kitchen island with grey chairs

A lower focal point

If your space is small then you can choose a reclaimed wood dining table and bench set with no back; this will make a small space look larger and less interrupted. Dining benches work really well against a wall or partition in the room as you can use this as the back of your bench. They are also great if you have a view you want to make the most of.

Wooden dining table in pale wood with matching dining bench and stool

Glam up your bench

You can treat a dining bench like a sofa. So go for it! Add some cushions and throws to glam it up. You can coordinate this with your existing colour scheme or take the opportunity to add some contrast to the room. You can position a floor lamp next to it, for more intimate after dinner lighting.

Make the most of a small dining area

White reclaimed wood breakfast bar table and stools with green plant

Whether you have a small space for dining or want to create a cosy dining nook or breakfast area in your kitchen, here we have put together a few ideas on how to make the most of limited dining space.

Make the space look larger

A small round dining table or an oval shape will make the space look bigger. Rounded edges are softer than a square or rectangular table so this will make your space look larger. Use a round table with a pedestal base and you have automatically added more seating space without those annoying table legs in the way to bang knees into. For this type of space, a round extendable table is perfect if you like to spend a bit of time entertaining friends.

Use a cosy corner

If you only have a corner in your kitchen or living room to play with, then a square or rectangular table with a dining bench works really well, benches can be pushed up against a wall to save space where you would normally have to pull chairs out to sit on. Another option is to get built-in benches, add some hinged tops to the benches and you also have additional hidden storage space. For extra comfort while dining, and perfect if you sit at your table for more than just eating, you can go with a dining bench with back – this will also add height to your dining space.

Photo featuring: Serenity Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Keep it simple

A reclaimed wood dining table is a lovely multifaceted piece of furniture, it will feel warm and homely and lends itself to so many interior schemes. If you add white, neutral coloured or even see-through chairs, the space will look a lot bigger, add a ceiling pendant light over your table and you are using the height of the room to again give the impression of there being more space.

Photo featuring: Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Bar Table

Breakfast bar table and stools

A bar table is the perfect solution in the kitchen if you have a small amount of space that you would like to use for informal evening meals, breakfast or for lunch on the go. As they are higher they can also double up as additional work surface space in the smaller kitchen…. and when you have guests for dinner they can sit down and keep you company while you get on with food preparation!

Photo featuring: Standford Large Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table

Extendable table

Extendable tables have come a long way – sturdy, and with easy to use (often hidden) mechanisms or extension leaves. They look so much better than adding the camping table at the end – or the rickety wallpapering fold down table! Most the time you can keep it not extended but it will be so easy to make room for additional guests. The Dorset extending trestle table ticks all the boxes, with the option of two extension leaves, it has a beautiful grey tint to the tabletop with white legs. Pair this with benches and you have a wonderful space-saving reclaimed wood dining set.

Photo featuring: Skandi Round Mirror

Add a wall mirror

A large wall mirror will work its magic in a small dining area, bouncing the light around and instantly creating the illusion of more space. We love to see the elegant octagonal Starlight mirror hanging over a cosy dining nook, with its gold frame adding a touch of glamour!