rustic Archives - Page 29 of 45

Simple steps for a perfect Christmas day dinner

Beam Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Bench

With the Big Day weeks away, many of us are turning our thoughts to planning Christmas Day dinner, a truly wonderful spectacle and fantastic family time. With a plan, you have a vision of the day in its entirety. You have everything in place beforehand with no last minute internet shopping or a dash to the shops.

1 The Christmas day menu

Top of your list should be deciding what you plan on feeding your guests at dinner, as well as various snacks throughout the day. There is also the drinks menu to consider too. Spend time being inspired by recipes, as well as considering festive feasts from other countries.

Once the menu is complete, make the shopping list and start your online shop, ordering vegetables from your local greengrocer and so on.

2 Turn your attention to the KITCHEN

This room is an important space all year round but when it comes to the festive season, it will be the place that is under pressure. It needs to be tidy with everything in its place and within easy reach. If you are bringing out the Christmas crockery from the large sideboard or the kitchen dresser, swap them with your ‘normal’ set to give you plenty of room.

3 Deep clean the DINING ROOM

Declutter the dining room, swapping one set of beautiful accessories for your festive-themed ones on your small display cabinet. Bring in the outside by using what nature gives us such as beautiful holly sprigs with red berries, pine cones and more.

4 Consider the setting

It may be part of the fun spending Christmas dinner balancing wobbling on an old chair but wouldn’t it be nice to have everyone enjoying a pleasant seat with plenty of elbow room?

If ever there was a time to invest in an 8-seater reclaimed wood dining table, it is now. If you are worried it will look too big, opt for an extendable reclaimed wood rustic dining table that will party ‘fold away’ when you don’t need the entire space.

Upholstered dining chairs add colour and texture and perfect for everyday use as well as special occasions. Finding enough comfortable seating is an annual nightmare but there is a solution – a dining bench. From plain, simple, stylish and functional benches to those with back, sides and a little more embellishments, they are an investment worth making.

5 The details

Christmas shouldn’t be about worrying that everything is perfect or running around from morning until night, but it is a busy time. The more guests you have, the busier it is.

You need to think through the smaller but still important details;

Assign tasks – from someone always making sure people have a drink, to guests’ coats being collected and retrieved to clearing the table, loading the dishwasher, there are many tasks that can be assigned to others.
Entertainment – you don’t need to book Coco the clown and even though there are gifts galore, a board game or two to keep everyone amused is an investment you can bring out year on year.

The basics – from having more than enough toilet rolls to tissues, wipes and all of those small things that make a huge difference when you don’t have them.

Finally, enjoy your festive season, no matter what you are doing or who you share it with.

Inspiring ideas to create a festive hallway

The hallway is the space where you will welcome guests and visitors when they call by this Christmas so why leave the hallway bear of festive cheer?

1 Declutter

Top of our list before you start adding tinsel and garlands is to give the hallway a de-clutter and a spring clean. It’s tempting after a long day at the office to just kick your shoes off and throw your coat on the wooden hallway bench but when everyone does that, you end up with a coat-and-shoe-mountain.

And you’ve probably noticed that some of those items really don’t need to be there…

De-clutter – take stuff out of the hallway that could ‘live’ somewhere else in your home
Consider updating the storage – a simply wicker basket for scarves, hats and gloves is a great way to stop items creeping through the hallway or being lost

Have a downstairs cloakroom? It is bound to be the place that your guests will want to visit. As well as a deep clean, add some typical festive scent with a room deodoriser.

2 Update the console table

We all know that the lack of space in the hallway can create a pinch point but that doesn’t mean the hallway should be without a stylish piece of furniture or two. If you do nothing else, add a hallway console table.

A half-moon console table adds shape and texture to a hallway but if you feel the better option would be the better option, why not opt for the rustic furniture charm of the Belfort narrow console table? The gold coloured frame and the beautiful black reclaimed wood top are very festive as well as glamorous.

3 Ambience and atmosphere

Creating ambience and atmosphere is done by appealing to the senses – and the hallway is the perfect place to create the welcoming, festive atmosphere;

Scent – what aromas and scents do you associate with Christmas? Heavier spiced scents so choose room deodorisers and candles that are scented with cinnamon or berries. Scented potpourri sat in a ceramic bowl on your hallway console table will be gently wafted through the hallway as people move around.
Lighting – the romance of lighting should never be understated and if there is one thing you can get away with at Christmas it is an abundance of twinkling lights! From garlands trailing up the bannister with pretty lights to clustering lights in bowls on the hallway window ledge, there are many different ways of adding light to the hallway. The softer and gentler the glow, the better.

4 Don’t forget the porch or entrance

Technically not the hallway but we are all for creating the right impression from the doorstep. Candles in beautiful lanterns holders, a pretty wreath on the door are just two festive charms we add to our porch.

And finally, we think that adding a Christmas tree is one of the best hallway decorating ideas. It sets the tone beautifully, and the ideal place to hide a present or two to gift your guests as they are leaving.

Create a festive bedroom

Christmas decorations aren’t just for the living room and the dining room – the bedroom can enjoy a touch of festive spirit too. But mindful you don’t want to clutter this relaxing space, just how can you add Christmas decorations? Here, we give away a few bedroom decorating ideas you’re sure to love.

Au naturel

Gaudy coloured baubles and brightly coloured tinsel have their place but in the bedroom, opting for a more natural feel is a great way of adding Christmas cheer. Try these ideas this Christmas;

Bedroom features

If you are gifted a bedroom with architectural features such as a sweeping bay window or a beautiful fireplace, make these the focal point of your Christmas decorations. Something as simple as a garland across the fireplace is a sheer delight, especially if you opt for an artificial one complete with tiny, twinkling lights. Or, add real-life bunches of evergreen holly with its bright red berries to top your reclaimed furniture.

Add a miniature Christmas tree

We asked our followers on Instagram and Houzz about the number of trees they have in their house and it seems that many of us are a ‘two Christmas tree household’! The main tree occupies the living room whilst the other Christmas tree will often be in the hall or the dining room.

Only a handful of people of those who responded said would consider adding a Christmas tree to their bedroom but we think a miniature tree – especially a beautiful real tree in a pretty ceramic pot – is a wonderful addition.

Christmas trees are great in kids bedrooms too. Add a timer to the fairy lights and you won’t be making midnight runs around the house switching off the lights.

Bedroom furniture
Baubles on the bed side tables – don’t throw away those old bauble missing their string or hooks. Instead, cluster them in pretty festive bowls and add to the bed side table.

Stars on the wardrobe – wooden ornaments, especially the shabby chic painted ones are ideal for adorning various bedroom furniture items but we think they look great on the small wardrobe or scattered about the rustic shelves in the bedroom.
Lights on the headboard – again, those twinkling lights will add a festive and warming touch to your stylish boudoir.
Don’t forget the window ledge – a great place for everything from candles to fir cones with lashings of glitter, the bedroom window ledge is ideal for adding a few festive touches. Cluster a bunch of small Christmas trees in pots at one end, with a pretty star at the other.

Christmas Decorations on Wooden White Window

Bedlinen, cushions and throws

Using plenty of warm colours is also a great way of adding decadence to your bedroom over winter but we also love some of the festive themes bedlinen, throws and cushions that come to the market at this time of year.

And when Christmas is passed, you can pop them into your wooden blanket box for safe keeping until next year. Opt for passionate reds or cools blues, with some of the snowflake designs being an absolute delight too.

Do you decorate your bedroom? Do you add Christmas decorations to the kids’ rooms or do you prefer your Christmas decorations in the living room only?

Make sure your guests feel at home this Christmas

Renovating or revamping your guest room typically feels pretty far down the to-do list. Unless you’re someone who makes use of their guest room very regularly, often giving the guest room a little bit of love can feel a little… pointless.

But with Christmas just around the corner, now is the time of year your guest room will probably get the most use. That makes it the perfect time to update your room.

Functionality

If you haven’t got much time to spare, making sure that your room is functional is the best approach. So think about the problems you have currently, and solve them.

Missing a stylish reclaimed wood bed and comfortable mattress combination for your guests to get a good night’s sleep? That’s easily solve-able. Perhaps your guests are lacking a light for reading on your bed side tables or somewhere to store their clothes, like a large chest of drawers? Whatever it might be, think about how you can make your guests’ stay that little bit more enjoyable.

Work within your budget

Christmas is an expensive time, so your guests will forgive you if your guest bedroom does not look like it’s fit for a 5* hotel. But of course, there are plenty of things you can do without breaking the bank.

Making a list of things you’d like to add/do to your room and doing a little research is the best way to ensure you do not blow the budget.

Comfort and Style

If you have the basics of a guest bedroom already, there are plenty of ways you can add a little personality and warmth to your guest bedroom without spending many pennies.

Fresh white bedding is always a good shout, as is a lovely cosy blanket or two which guests can use if they get cold overnight. Add some plump, scatter cushions which match the colour scheme of your room to create a truly inviting bed.

There are also other ways of adding colour and texture. Vintage rugs, like those from expert rug designer Louis de Poortere, add warmth and charisma to any space. Alternatively, a comfy armchair upholstered in velvet or soft fabric will be appreciated by guests. If you are lacking other storage space, this will also be a place they can drape coats and jackets. When you are not using your guest bedroom, you can always move your armchair into your living room or kitchen/diner to get the most out of your investment.

The Little Things

And of course, your room may already be almost ready to go. But there are always little things you can do to make your guests feel special.

Adding a glass and a carafe beside the bed is one of the most thoughtful things you can do (particularly after a night of Christmas celebrations). Fresh flowers also look lovely and add a personal touch.

If you use your guest bedroom for extra storage, make sure to clear a space when guests are on the way. A few empty drawers or hangers are sure to be appreciated.

And finally… top up your towels. Provide a stash of fresh towels and flannels and put there somewhere in clear view so they don’t have to spend time searching for them, or feeling awkward about asking.

Take a look at our full collection of reclaimed wood furniture and rustic furniture on the Modish Living website – a whole world of possibilities when it comes to renovating awaits.

Versatile and beautiful – How to style the reclaimed rustic table

The rustic style is ever-popular and yet it is not one that is afraid to change and morph as our likes and tastes change. This means that key pieces such as the Farringdon dining table remain a popular choice for customers, whether they are creating a formal dining room or in need of a robust reclaimed wood dining table in the family kitchen/diner.

We showcase the versatility of this dining table with these three stunning reclaimed wood furniture looks.

The family kitchen/diner

A busy space that is used for everything from family meals to snacking, homework and more, you need a dining table and chair set that is robust but still styled along the rustic lines.

The larger extending table is easily a 6-seater dining table, perfect for the busy family kitchen diner and when you opt for a dining bench along one long side of the table, you have ample space for lots of your children’s friend too.

For easy to keep clean chairs, we suggest the wooden dining chairs from the same range. A fabulous accessory would be this oversized wall clock with golden numerals, ideal for pulling together the rustic style in the family kitchen/diner.

The dining room

If you want to create a more formal look in the dining room, the Farringdon extendable dining table still packs a punch, as do most rustic dining tables with their reassurance presence.

The Farringdon dining and chairs set is a great starting point, with the grey upholstered dining chairs offering a luxurious feel to the formal dining room.

Continue the rustic style with a sideboard with wine rack combined, an ideal addition to any dining room.

If there is one room where you can add drama without limits it is the dining room. start with the floor, adding a beautiful platform to the rustic dining table with this beautiful blue rug from the Lois de Poortere collection.

Ring the changes with this simply exquisite contemporary bulbous hanging pendant light, the golden tones and uncluttered styling fitting with the rustic appeal, whilst adding a note of interest and luxury.

Everyday dining room

If you have the luxury of being able to use two dining spaces, one for more formal entertaining and the other for everyday dining, then you have double the opportunity to adopt two rustic dining tables!

The Farringdon table with chairs and dining bench set is a great starting point for the rustic dining room, ably supported by the rustic ladder shelving unit for keeping accessories and other items close by. We feel the dining bench is underrated as an ideal addition, great for informal dining and those impromptu get-togethers around the dining table.

If you hanker after drawer space in the dining room, a slimline rustic console table would fit the bill perfectly. With a shelf below and two deep drawers, this is an ideal piece for any room in the house.

Again, we have opted to add colour and texture with a beautiful rug. This beige with hints of blue traditional patterned rug being an inspired choice.

How to beautifully style sideboards with wine storage

They are the perfect addition at any time of the year but the sideboard with wine storage comes into its own during the festive, party season. Just how can you style this must-have reclaimed furniture piece so that it shimmers through all seasons?

In the dining room

A recent addition to our range is the Kensal Collection, a collection we chose for its modern, Scandinavian appeal that offers so much. The sideboard is a common feature in the dining room – makes perfect sense to us! – and so Kensal sideboard with wine rack looks perfect alongside the console table from the same range.

Balance the symmetry in the dining room with an extending dining table from the same range. Use industrial style dining chairs to add a hint of the unexpected – these wire-framed back chairs, with leather seating is just one example. Or, you can add more than a note of decadence with upholstered chairs if you feel you want to add both a different texture.

The dining room rug is an essential piece, the platform on which everything is held aloft and we know that the drama of the mineral black rug from the Lois de Poortere collection is more than perfect.

In the living room

Whenever we look at reclaimed wood furniture and other pieces, we exam just how versatile a piece they are – not every piece should be pigeon-holed – in other words, a sideboard with wine storage isn’t just for the dining room.

It has all the elegance you would expect of a piece for the living room and with the many practical elements of this large sideboard with wine rack, again from our new-in Kensal Collection, you can see why is it ideal for the living room.

As well as a rack for wine, there is a cupboard for spirits and mixers complemented by a drawer for other items that really don’t need to be on display.

We have paired this sideboard with the patchwork blue rug, a colour that we love with a brown leather armchair. The oversized metal wall clock is the ideal accessory that is neither lost not over the top.

In the open plan living room

In an open space, you have more options when it comes not just to size but the detailing too. In effect, you can go for more and it still looks understated in the space. Of course, the sideboard with wine rack, like this large sideboard with cupboard and drawer space, can also be used as an item for zoning the space.

The reclaimed wood coffee table on wheels is also ideal in a larger space because again, the chunky metal frame and its generous dimensions won’t swamp the room. Against the beautiful sideboard, there is a connection rather than a competition of ‘who is best’?

The note of change in this scheme is the addition of a grey sofa – you may have been expecting brown leather – but we think the neutrality of the grey allows all the pieces to stand out, a factor that is aided by the grey rug.

Get ready for holiday season with a beautiful drinks cabinet

The festive season is on the doorstep and that means one thing – Christmas parties! We love a get together with family and friends but we love hosting them more. And that means sorting out the drinks cabinet ready for the planned parties and the ad hoc ‘one for the read’ parties that we are bound to have in the coming weeks.

Don’t have a drinks cabinet? Then this is why you really need to take a look at making this your must-have purchased this holiday season.

1 Great for entertaining

If you enjoy hosting parties as we do, then a fully stocked drinks cabinet will make your life so much easier when it comes to the planning and hosting of a festive get-together.

Not sure what to stock your mini-bar with? We have some great tips;

Start small… – and that means making sure you have the basics in place including a good range of mixers, as well as the main spirits and drinks people tend to ask for.
Simple is better than… – having all those drink bottles lined up and no idea how to mix the cocktails that people are asking for.
Don’t forget… – the dressy bits like the glace cherries and the slices of lemon, all of which can be placed in dishes and popped in your drinks display cabinet before the party starts.
Invest in… – a range of glasses that will be perfect for the cocktails you are about to serve as well as the G&Ts heading your guests way.

2 Fits right in

You may have visions of a drinks cabinet being a large piece of furniture without any real style or character.

Of course, if you are placing the drinks cabinet in the dining room, you will want to look great but not outshine the reclaimed wood dining table with leather dining chairs that take centre stage, and quite rightly too.

The Bahamas wooden drinks cabinet is a stunner in its own right but perfect for the traditional styled, farmhouse or even rustic-style dining room next to a rustic dining table. It may be called a ‘drinks cabinet’ but what we love about this is the fact that when the holiday season is over, you can turn it into a dining room sideboard.

3 Great in the living room

The drinks cabinet also makes the perfect addition to the living room – but if you have a stupendous hallway, it makes a great addition there too, the perfect transition point between the living room and kitchen (where all great parties happen!).

But again, if you are worried about it not being the style you want, you need to take a look at the versatility of some of our pieces.

This beautiful oak display drinks cabinet is, frankly, a sheer delight for the industrial or even the rustic living room.

Imagine this beautiful piece with chevron inlaid detailing, alongside your leather armchair and other reclaimed furniture in the living room? Adding detailing without imposing, it is one of the best examples of a drinks cabinet on the market today.

Is a drinks cabinet something you have considered for the upcoming holiday season?

Going more green – our pledge to use less plastic

Like most retailers, we are constantly looking at how to reduce packaging and plastic, without compromising the safety of our products in transit.

But our attitude to being eco-friendly doesn’t end there – it is about everything we do, from packaging to the back office.

With a growing emphasis on everyone doing their bit for the environment, we have decided to take a closer look at what we do and how we do it. We have built our business of sustainable credentials – we are one of the few leading furniture manufacturers who offer reclaimed wood furniture and wood from sustainable sources across our entire range from the reclaimed wood dining table to the drinks display cabinet – but that doesn’t mean we are not continually looking to improve.

Not just plastic

Plastic has revolutionised our lives but at Modish Living, we have understood for a long time that being eco-friendly is not just about ditching plastic.

Reclaimed wood furniture is by no means substandard but by repurposing slow growing timber, by purchasing a reclaimed wood coffee table or dining table, our customers are investing in pieces that are higher quality than many budget flat-pack pieces.

Mango wood is our material of choice in collections that are not made from reclaimed timber. Mango wood is a by-product of the fruit industry. It too is slow growing with a dense structure that makes it perfect for furniture, especially carved pieces. When the tree is no longer giving a high yield of fruit, only then is it felled and made into furniture.

Oak is another material that we ensure is sustainably sourced. For example, in the Hoxton Collection, the oak used is European, while in the Hudson Living Chilson Table, it is of French origin. In the Kingsbridge collection, the oak used is reclaimed. We aim to make this the case for every new collection we add to our website to ensure our ongoing commitment to the health of our planet.

Plastic-not-so-fantastic

It has given us cheap products and hard wearing components but the love affair with plastic is over.

We are taking steps to reduce our use of plastic. We are sourcing a biodegradable bubble wrap that offers our beautiful Beam Collection, for example on our beautiful reclaimed table, the protection it needs in transit without filling landfill with plastic.

Paperless business

Like most other businesses, we have significantly reduced our consumption of paper. For the small number of things we do print – the occasional marketing material – we do so on recycled paper when this is practicable.

We also work with our suppliers to make their packaging and business with us less reliant of paper, especially as many printed things are not really needed.

But what do these changes mean for our customers? Are consumer opinions really changing? We took to our social media channels to find out.

Consumer attitudes

There is a shift in how consumers are thinking about plastic. For example, we wanted to know if people would consider buying recycled plastic furniture.

The majority of people said yes, they loved the idea but had yet to make a purchase. Those that had made a purchase had done so with recycled plastic outdoor rugs, an interesting choice.

Plastic straws created an interesting debate with some people advocating the purchase of metal straws whilst others found that paper straws were just as good. However, in our recent poll, most people said that they have no need for straws, paper, plastic or otherwise, so they were ditching them completely.

Small steps, taken consistently

We once read that the best way of making changes that helped the environment was the make small changes but consistently. So we’ve ditched paper unless we really need to print, we are making strides to reduce packaging and use better options, and we will continue to source the best collections made from reclaimed wood or from sustainable sources like Mango wood. We care about our customers, and our environment, and we strive to do the best for both, now and in the future.

4 Great tips for creating the autumn hallway

Creating a welcoming hallway is one way of creating the right impression. And with the chill of autumn well and truly with us, you want to create a stylish and warm welcome.

We’ve come up with four great combinations for the autumn hallway using a flat weave rug, some stunning reclaimed furniture and more…

Traditional chic

Start with the floor with this look, opting for the patchwork rug in various shades of greys and browns. From this build onto the platform with the narrow console table.

This reclaimed wood console table is simply stunning, especially when you add a large table lamp and cluster candles together too. Place the large wall clock above it and you have perfect symmetry in the hallway.

For pulling on and off shoes, you need a place to sit in the hallway and we think this bench makes the ideal addition. Functional it may be, but with the beautiful rug to frame it and a cushion or two to soften the edges, it makes a fantastic addition (and it makes a great display place for your carved pumpkins too!).

Industrial drama

The industrial look is full of character and again, starting with the floor, this black rug will make an instant statement.

The industrial hallway console table works perfectly with it as does the oversized black Roman numeral wall clock.

If it feels too stark for you, add feminine touches such as flowers or clusters of candles.

Farmhouse hallway

The farmhouse style is always a delight to work with. In our farmhouse hallway, we have combined the refined wood with natural materials such as wicker, deliberately keeping colours at the lighter end of the spectrum.

Starting with the floor, the traditional pattern of this salt and pepper rug brings interest and warmth to the space and is ideal next to the beautiful hallway console table with drawers from the Chelwood Collection.

The small bench with upholstered cushions and two wicker baskets is the perfect storage option, especially in the smaller hallway. The wicker log basket is perfect for offloading the school bags and keeping order in the hallway or you could always use it to store chunks of wood for the fire too.

Rustic delight

Similar to the farmhouse style, the rustic look has a slightly less refined edge but no less welcoming this autumn.

Again, start with the floor. This slightly darker shade of salt and pepper grey rustic rug is the ideal starting point – or you could opt for a beige rug – which is great for a hallway that sees a lot of traffic throughout the day.

The console table in a rustic hallway would be chunkier in appearance and style, similar to this three-drawer Colette console table.

As well as being beautiful, its drawers and two shelves make it the ideal practical addition.

Adding a touch of something different is this beautiful wicker basket-cum-bench, complete with metal hinges and leather straps. Sturdy, this is great for storing bags and shoes without compromising on the rustic style.

Add this oversized clock to the hallway for yet more detail and you have the makings of a welcoming hallway.