rustic Archives - Page 11 of 45

How to treat marks on reclaimed wood furniture

A reclaimed wood dining table, or any reclaimed wood furniture for that matter, are pieces of furniture that are investments and will be in your home, for you to enjoy, for years to come. Over time, accidents will and do happen, so in this blog we will look at ways to try to prevent accidents and how you can get your furniture looking as good as the day you bought it. The two most common are watermarks and minor dents.

The beauty of reclaimed wood is that it is never going to be a smooth, pristine, mark-free, piece of timber. The timbers used are salvaged from old buildings, factories or railway tracks, which means the wood is not going to waste but being skillfully recrafted and given a new lease of life. Of course, this means that the wood will have undulations and markings and we want those on reclaimed wood as they make each piece unique and gives them some history.

Because of these beautiful little features, the odd mark or scuff to your wood dining table will simply blend in and give it a little more character. However, some damage will leave a more lasting mark that you might not want to be a part of your table, water damage is one of those.

Corner of a rustic dining table with a brown and grey faux leather dining chairs and newspaper and spectacles on table top

Water damage

Be a little bit fussy! Make sure diners use coasters when drinking at the dining table, especially if they have ice in a drink – before they have even picked it up you may have a water ring under the glass…..and don’t forget to have coasters at the ready on pieces such as your reclaimed wood coffee table as well. To deal with water spillage you really need to dry it as quickly as possible . Dab it with a paper towel or something very absorbent to remove any water. This can then be wafted dry or left to dry naturally, the longer you leave it the more chance it has to soak into the wood. If you are standing a vase of flowers on your rustic dining table, then again use a coaster to place it on – or put them out of the way on another piece of furniture, such as a wooden sideboard where they are less likely to get knocked over by people reaching across the table.

Minor scuffs and dents

Waxing – that is all you really need to do to get any minor scuffs and dents to blend in with the rest of the table. It is actually best to wax or oil your table (depending on its original finish) regularly to keep it looking its best and to keep up, and build up, a good layer of protection. If the damage is a little more serious then you call a furniture technician to come to your home – they can work wonders on your rustic furniture.

Everyday care Do’s

– Use coasters for drinks and hot dishes

– Clean up spillages as soon as possible by dabbing gently with a paper towel

– Use a little water and a mild soap for daily cleaning

– Rub scratches or scuffs with wax or oil

Everyday care Don’ts

– Use abrasive chemicals

– Use furniture polishes containing silicone as they will build up over time

– Rub vigorously as this can damage the finish

House Tour: A 1930’s home with a rustic heart

Woman with long blond hair and light green top carrying a large bunch of pampas grass

If you haven’t found @jade.doutch on Instagram yet, you’re in for a treat! She transformed her 1930’s semi-detached property in Anglesey, Wales into a fabulous fusion of modern rustic and Boho/Scandi styles that not only we fell in love with, but her 100k plus followers.

Jade’s home is a masterclass in modern rustic design, celebrating the beauty of natural materials, modern subdued hues and tactile surfaces. Rustic furniture such as her gorgeous wood dining table in the open plan kitchen and wooden chest of drawers in her bedroom mix with modern and Scandi influences in the way of monochrome accents and faux fur accessories to bring a wonderfully styled home that is warm and inviting.

The Kitchen/Diner

It’s hard not to love everything about this room. From the combination of natural and dark grey painted wood cabinetry and open rustic shelves to the metal and reclaimed wood detailing, not to mention the grey bi-fold doors leading out to a wonderful wooden decked patio. The rustic dining table with its pale finish and chips, scars and markings add the character of this well-thought-out scheme.

The sitting area in the open plan kitchen/diner is a fantastic example of how to mix different interior themes. By keeping the same colour tone throughout, Jade has brought together industrial, rustic, scandi and boho styles in one beautifully cohesive curation. We love the industrial coffee table with its metal frame and concrete effect round top.

Living Areas

What makes this home perfect for modern-day living is the organic layout. The property features different rooms and zones to relax in, from a formal sitting room to a more relaxed living room, together with a TV room. Jade’s natural eye for style means each space blends harmoniously with the other, whilst each having its own identity. She has used accent furniture and soft neutral textures to bring the looks together. A vintage wooden sideboard mirrors the colours of the walls, whilst a rustic milking stool replaces sofa side tables.

The Bedroom & Shower Room

Jade has continued the same vibe of the downstairs into the upstairs of her home with her bedroom and bathroom reflecting the same rustic and boho style. In the bedroom, the large chest of drawers and wooden wardrobe provide essential storage, but the warm wood features add character and cosiness to the room. The shower room is one of Jade’s most liked images on Instagram, and it’s easy to see why.

For more gorgeous modern rustic interior inspiration follow Jade @jade.doutch.

All images Jade Doutch @jade.doutch

Fun things to do with the kids over Easter

Happy Easter words on a rustic wood table with iced biscuits cut in shape of rabbits and baking utentils

Easter is a time for new beginnings – spring is coming and life is starting to look a bit brighter after a long year. Although things are looking more promising we will still have some restrictions to abide by. With many attractions, cinemas etc. still closed, and a limit to the number of people we can see, we are looking at fun things you can do at home with the kids to keep you all occupied and happy over the Easter holidays.

Egg painting

This is fun for a whole range of ages. Get some dyes, transfers, stickers and stencils and really let the kids go to town. This is not the best activity to do around a rustic dining table as the dyes could stain the natural wood of the table; a work surface or kitchen island, covered in newspaper, is a much more sensible idea. Pull up the breakfast bar chairs for the kids and let their imaginations go wild. You can also get them to decorate their own baskets to display their creations in.

Paper flowers

Make some pretty paper spring flowers. These can be used to decorate Easter baskets, make a bouquet to stand in a vase on a reclaimed wood coffee table in the living room, or a cheery welcome on a small console table in the hallway. If you just want to add a little bit of spring to the hallway and keep the theme rustic to tie in with reclaimed wood furniture then some sprigs of spring blossom in a vase also look great!

Easter baking

Most kids love baking – we suggest some cupcakes with nests of mini chocolate eggs on top, easy to make and always look good on the Easter wood dining table! Another family favourite are plain biscuits that the kids can decorate however they choose – with hundreds and thousands, mini eggs decorative icing and so on. You can get egg shape cutters, bunny cutters, flowers and other spring theme cutters.

Easter Bunny tracker

Yes, just as there is an online tracker for Santa, there is now one you can sign up to so the kids can keep track of where the Easter Bunny is on Saturday night! Gather on your large sofa and follow with an Easter movie, such as Hop!

Easter egg hunt

This is classic Easter Sunday fun for the kids. This can work either in the house or if it is a nice day, in the garden. You can make up your own clues (there are plenty of ideas online) or buy a ready-to -go kit. If you are going to go it alone, get the kids crafting in the run-up to Easter and let them decorate their own collection baskets. To make the egg hunt for for all ages, get the children to find all the treats and then share out what they have found! For a healthier alternative, instead of chocolate eggs or sweets, hide small toys or gifts, such as yo-yo’s, colouring books or stickers.

What buyers like to see in a bedroom

Modern bedroom with large bed with white and dark green covers and cushion. Room also features tall houseplant

When potential buyers see the bedroom they are looking for calm, space and storage options. As it is a bedroom the bed should be the centrepiece.

First, pay some attention to the general state and style of the decor. If the room is a child’s room and decorated to their taste with posters and bold coloured walls then consider how the room would look with some of the posters taken down and a more gentle colour on the walls. This is more likely to appeal to the masses! Clear clutter away – there is possibly no end of stuff you can clear by packing it ready to be moved or donating to charities. Of course, you may still like to leave some items, it is a child’s room after all! Don’t forget to give the floor a quick assessment, does the carpet need a clean and freshen up? Or could you dress the room and make it look a little cosier with a new rug on the floor?

If the room is a double room then show how a wooden double bed fits in it. This will really help the buyer see the potential of the room rather than trying to visualise it during the few minutes they actually see the room. If it is a little on the small side add a slim bedside table to show there is still room for the essentials. The other option is to use a dressing table with drawers to double as a bedside unit as well as a desk or dressing table. Of course, if it is a single room then put a single bed in it, rather than trying to fit in a double. Reclaimed wood furniture is perfect for styling a bedroom. Its natural features warm the room and blend with whatever interior scheme you have.

Photo featuring: Onslow Reclaimed Wood Bed

Don’t overfill the room, this is quite an important note – don’t try to show how much storage is possible by overfilling with furniture leaving the room feeling claustrophobic. A wooden blanket box looks good at the end of the bed – plenty of storage, while still being low level and making the room appear as an uninterrupted space.

When it comes to finishing touches then you can go to town a little. As we are making sure the bed is the centerpiece you can dress it with an extra throw, some cushions, and a lamp placed on a bedside table or bedroom chest of drawers. If the room does not have a mirror then you may want to hang one over a dressing table, place a houseplant on a small chest of drawers or some flowers in a vase. Patterned curtains may again distract the house viewers attention – if possible switch these for some blinds or plain curtains which you can coordinate with the bed.

How to make your dining room your selling point

Minimalist dining room with wooden refectory dining table and black dining chairs with two hanging green plants and black ceiling pendant light

As a nation, we are in love with an open plan kitchen diner, but the traditional separate dining room still has its part to play when selling your home. Do not skip over this – here we look at some quick ways you can upgrade your dining room making it more appealing to a potential buyer.

Photo featuring: Boston Reclaimed Wood Monastery Dining Table

Invest in some new dining room furniture. This is a way to instantly inject some warmth and style into your dining room. If the room is large then make sure the new dining room furniture fills the space correctly. Don’t cram an 8 seater dining room table and chairs into the room if a 6 seater would fit and look much better, add a wooden sideboard if you have the space to illustrate that there is ample room for a decent-sized table, not to mention some handy dining room storage – you need to keep the room balanced. A reclaimed wood dining table is a feature in itself and can be styled to suit a traditional home or a modern dining space.

Photo featuring: Bladon Velvet Dining Chair

If your budget don’t run to all-new dining room furniture then you can just upgrade the chairs – look at some different styles of modern dining chairs – you would be surprised at how just this can transform a room. A mix of a dining bench and upholstered dining chairs is a quick way to give the room a more modern feel. When viewers look at your house they will be thinking about how they would use this room to entertain their own family and friends.

Photo featuring: Colette Reclaimed Wood Refecorty Dining Table

If your dining room is doubling up as a home office, schoolroom or playroom then no doubt there are things in there that do not really belong – tidy all objects and furniture away to their rightful homes! Consider restaging the room on viewing days; if buyers are expecting to see a room called the dining room this is what they will want to see!

Maybe the room would benefit from a lick of paint – if this is the case opt for something neutral – potential buyers will see it as more of a blank canvas that they can add their own colour scheme to without redecorating it first. This will also work for you, as you can add some accessories in a colour you like and take them with you to your new home.

Dress the table – pick out an accent colour and set the table ready for dinner – show homes generally do this to show buyers how the room can look when entertaining guests but just also a table runner down the centre and a vase of flowers or some candlesticks will just make the room look so much more attractive and used.

How to make spring cleaning more eco friendly

Words Zero Waste on concrete background with natural cleaning products

Here at Modish Living, we love anything that helps the environment. With spring and spring cleaning just around the corner, we thought we would have a look at how we can ditch some of the chemical cleaning products we use every day and substitute with something a little more gentle on our planet. Opting for reclaimed wood furniture in your home, and especially the kitchen, is a great way to start as you don’t have to use chemicals on it – all that is needed to wipe down your dining room furniture is a soft, dry cloth.

Start with non-toxic cleaning products. We are all so quick to grab a bottle of bleach or degreaser without thinking about the toxins they contain or the fact that most are in single-use plastic bottles. There are now some non-toxic cleaning product ranges available to buy, but there are many natural ingredients you already have around the home that you can use. The main ones are vinegar, lemon and bicarbonate of soda.

Vinegar is a great degreaser and descaler – immerse your shower head in white vinegar overnight and see the sparkling result in the morning. Vinegar is also a great thing to use to clean windows and mirrors, scrunch up some newspaper and dip into vinegar and you’re good to get cleaning that winter grime off.

Lemon gives a fresh clean scent and is a natural cleanser. Combine white vinegar with lemon – leave for a couple of weeks to infuse and you will have a beautiful smelling spray cleaner. Using lemon is also a great way to create a scouring pad for metal, just cut it and sprinkle some salt on the exposed part for an eco-friendly scourer and cleaning preparation. To keep your home smelling fresh in-between cleans, rather than air fresheners use the natural fragrance of essential oils. Get a diffuser to stand on a small side table in the living room and blend your favourite smelling essential oils to give your home a pleasant aroma.

Ditch the disposable cleaning wipes and paper towels, it’s all too easy to grab some disposable wipes along with the grocery shopping. But for a more planet-friendly option, swap these for reuseable cleaning cloths that you can throw in the machine with your normal clothes wash. Or create cleaning rags from old clothes. If you have a few old t-shirts in your wooden wardrobe that have seen better days, rather than binning them, cut them down and use as cloths.

Another easy eco swap is to sweep the floor. There’s no need to grab the vacuum cleaner every day – you can easily sweep around floors – and to be honest, taking rugs out to beat them will most likely get them cleaner than vacuuming – they can also be left out for a bit to air and it’s a bit of a workout too!

Finally, reuse glass jars. Now is the perfect time to clear out the kitchen cupboards and get rid of those out of date pickles! Instead of sending the glass jars to the recycling centre, wash them out and reuse them to store food in, instead of plastic containers, or keep a few handy and try making your own pickles or jams. Why not fill some with little posies of fresh or dried flowers to pop around the house? Tie a piece of ribbon or twine around the top for a little decoration – just the right size for on bedroom side tables, a rustic dining table or on a wooden sideboard in the living room.

House Tour: A modern farmhouse retreat

Living room with rustic coffee table and grey brick chimney breast with large bay window

@bellwayhometorhead

We’ve had our eye on Instagrammer @bellwayhometorhead for some time and with over 35k followers, we’re clearly not the only ones who have fallen for her modern farmhouse style. Her use of natural textures and a neutral palette presents a wonderfully calming and cosy feel, which is complemented with beautiful rustic furniture.

The Property

Purchased in 2003, Lynn Mooney, better known as @bellwayhometorhead on Instagram, and her husband, Drew, and golden retriever, Marley, were attracted to the newly built detached property in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, because of its semi-rural location and good sized rooms. Over the years they have made significant renovations to the property, including a new kitchen, en-suite, dining room doors and lighting. The result is a delightfully inviting home with calming neutral colours and modern rustic furniture.

@bellwayhometorhead

The Style

Modern rustic farmhouse style would best describe the overall look of the home. Neutral colours and natural textures blend with carefully selected pieces of wooden furniture, such as the wonderful rustic dining table, to create a perfectly balanced and harmonious scheme throughout.

Favourite Rooms

The kitchen/diner with its beautiful two-tone Shaker kitchen units in soft grey and off-white. The colour complements the wooden flooring and white full-length shutters on the bi-fold doors, giving the room a distinct New England mixed with the Hamptons feel. The soft faux throws on the wooden bench and basket accessories add texture, whilst the industrial hanging pendant lights over the wooden dining table brings the look right up to date.

@bellwayhometorhead

Furniture Highlights

The refectory-style farmhouse dining table is an eye-catching piece. Lynn chose a combination of wooden dining bench and dining room chairs for seating to give a laid-back dining experience.

@bellwayhometorhead

The grey painted narrow console table in the living room is also a wonderful piece. Styled with two large rustic table lamps, it doubles up as a TV unit with the television above. Staying in the living room, the wooden rustic coffee table with natural wood top and white painted frame matches the colour scheme of the room.

@bellwayhometorhead

Get the Look

Recreate Lynn’s style with reclaimed wood furniture from our collections…

Chelwood Medium Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Serenity Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Mayfair Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table

For more of Lynn’s modern farmhouse style visit her on her Instagram @bellwayhometorhead.

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 reasons rustic furniture makes our heart flutter

Wooden heart with red gingham ribbon on rustic wood

Reclaimed wood and rustic furniture are so popular right now. We have found the top five top reasons why people fall in love with wood furniture produced from salvaged timbers.

1. It’s environmentally friendly

Why should we waste perfectly good wood? This is a natural resource that does not need to go into landfill or be burnt. Reclaimed wood furniture is generally hand finished meaning expertly skilled craftsman are employed to give each piece a unique and personal touch.

2. It has its own story and history

This is where reclaimed wood furniture really does shine – the timbers used are often over 100 years old and have been salvaged from factories being demolished or old railway tracks that are being replaced. It is full of character and history. Brimming with gorgeous natural undulations, just waiting to be given a new lease of life.

Photo featuring: Knightsbridge Reclaimed Wood Medium Sideboard

3. It fits into any scheme

A piece of rustic furniture adds character and texture to your room. A natural wood, large sideboard in a dining room or living room will bring a natural and warm earthiness whether your style is retro, traditional or ultra-modern. If you fancy a move around, this sideboard can be used in a different room as reclaimed wood pieces just slot in with so many different styles of furniture. You can move a wooden sideboard into a dining room, kitchen, living room, home office, conservatory or a hallway,

4. A love that will last a lifetime

Solid reclaimed wood is transformed into pieces of furniture, such as reclaimed wood dining table and reclaimed wood shelves that will last a lifetime – in fact they grow old very gracefully, looking even better as the wood ages! Your family and friends will love to gather around a rustic dining table for a family feast. Another great feature of choosing reclaimed wood is that any general wear and tear marks will blend in and add your own story to the piece. To keep reclaimed wood looking great, just go over it every now and then with some clear wax or oil – depending on the finish.

Photo featuring: Kensington Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

5. It’s glamorous too

Please don’t think reclaimed wood furniture is only for the farmhouse look! The Kensington table above is a perfect fit for a sophisticated dining space, as is the Redmond Reclaimed Elm dining table. These are just two ranges that elevate reclaimed wood to a higher level. A shiny industrial element is added in the shape of silver polished legs – pair these gorgeous tables with sumptuous velvet dining chairs for the ultimate high-end dining space.